Candidate Guide

Introduction

Contributing to the political process can be accomplished in many ways. Consider behind-the-scenes work that matters to you and the causes that you support.

  • Join a board or commission at https://boards.utah.gov/s/. The roles here contribute significantly to current, ongoing work in the community
  • Register as a volunteer at https://userve.utah.gov/ and at https://userve.utah.gov/volunteer/ to support community projects and programs
  • Join a charitable cause and work towards mission goals for that program. Examples would include Planned Parenthood, Equality Utah, NAMI Utah, Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters Utah, or any identity or issue cause that is important to you.
  • Get involved locally. Attend city and county council meetings, school board meetings. Join the PTA. If you are partisan, join a House District and become a party delegate.
  • Support a campaign. Whether its a candidate, and issue, or a protest, get engaged. Community forums like the r/SaltLakeCity subreddit, or community calendars, or political action sites like mobilize.us regularly post events that you can be part of.
  • Engage in your communities that you are part of. Whether you are an alumni, credentialed professional, tradesperson, advocate, artist, athlete or gamer; there are communities that you can be a part of that have an element of giving back or becoming engaged.

Develop a Strategy

What is your platform about? You will want to create a clear and simple message for constituents.

  • Understand your message, make it clear and simple
  • Who are your biggest supporters?
  • Where will funding come from?
  • Will you use a Campaign Manager?
  • DON’T go into debt for a campaign
  • Matt Lyon/Blueprint Public Affairs is typically behind unaffiliated candidates

Register for candidacy

  • Candidate Filing Period
  • Understand disclosures and reporting requirements. There are different disclosure requirements based on race. For state races you will use disclosures.utah.gov
  • Filing is public, note that the form you complete will be available on the web
  • Know how your name should appear on ballot – this is how you will be known during the campaign and will be your “identity” for voters
  • File with IRS as a 527 org
    • see https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/political-organizations/filing-requirements-for-political-organizations
  • Open bank account for “committee to elect” or ‘friends of” campaign account
    • EIN is required from IRS
  • Recommended: open a post office box to receive mail. Privacy is the main issue here.
    Open campaign fundraising account
  • Create your fundraising page
    • ActBlue, WinRed are partisan fundraising platforms
    • Anedot, FundHero are nonpartisan fundraising platforms

Design

Your campaign will need a

  • colors?
  • logo?
  • motto?

Online Presence

  • register domain and create website
  • select social media handle (ideally one across all platforms)
  • register with platforms you will have presence on

After you register

  • Candidate registration information is available publicly
  • Be ready for solicitations
  • Survey Requests

Research

Essential Timeframes

Disclosures sites will follow a similar calendar

Nov – May

May – Sept

  • Conventions take place

Sept – Nov

  • Labor Day is an anchor for most campaigns. Signs will show up this weekend if they haven’t already been placed. Mailers will begin to be sent out

Voting Period

  • Early Voting/Mail-in Voting
  • General Election
  • Ballot Curing