Candidates

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Candidates

If you wish to become a candidate for public office, please review the information on this page. If you would like additional information, please contact the Montgomery Election Center. The Election Center is non-partisan and cadidate-neutral, but available to answer questions and provide information as needed.

General Qualifications for Public Office

Any candidate for public office in Alabama must be:

At least 18 years of age (minimum age requirement varies by office);
A registered voter;
A United States citizen (length of citizenship requirement varies by office); and
A resident of Alabama (length of residency requirement varies by office).

Minimum Qualifications (by office)

Office	Age	State Res.	U.S. Citizen	Term Length	Term Limit
U.S. Senate	30	1 day	9 years	6 years	None
U.S. House	25	1 day	7 years	2 years	None
Governor	30	7 years	10 years	4 years	2
Lt. Governor	30	7 years	10 years	4 years	2
Sec. of State	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Atty. General	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Auditor	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Treasurer	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Ag. Comm’r.	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Pub. Srv. Comm.	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
Supreme Court	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
Civil Appeals	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
Crim. Appeals	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
State Bd. of Ed.	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
State Senate*	25	3 years	1 day	4 years	None
State House*	21	3 years	1 day	4 years	None
Circuit Judge*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
District Judge*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
District Atty.*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
Probate Judge*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
Circuit Clerk	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
Sheriff	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
Co. Bd. of Ed.*	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
County Comm.	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
Mayor*	18	90 days	1 day	4 years	None
City Council*	18	6 months	1 day	4 years	None

Becoming a Candidate

You may become a "candidate" for political office by:

Qualifying with a political party recognized by the State of Alabama;
Reaching the contribution/expenditure threshold for the office sought (see Fair Campaign Practices Act link); or
Filing a valid petition to gain ballot access as an independent or municipal candidate.

Within five (5) calendar days of becoming a candidate you must file the Appointment of Principal Campaign Committee form witht the Secretary of State or Judge of Probate (see Fair Campaign Practices Act link).

All candidates for political office and elected officials must file a Statement of Economic Interests with the Alabama Ethics Commission (see Candidate Forms link).