Thinking of running for office in Chatham County? Most candidate filing processes — including eligibility, paperwork, campaign finance rules, and signage regulations — are governed by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Individuals must meet basic state requirements and complete filings within official deadlines.

This includes:

• Being a registered voter in North Carolina
• Being qualified to vote for the office sought
• Being at least 21 years old by the date of the general election
• Filing a Notice of Candidacy and paying the filing fee
• Organizing a campaign finance committee within 10 days of first activity
• Providing a campaign email, phone number, and residential address (all public)
• Withdrawing any previous filing before switching to a different contest

For full instructions, deadlines, forms, and legal requirements, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections using the resources below.

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