Background of the Office:

• Candidates for this office are nominated in Primary Elections and elected in General Elections of odd years
• This office is on the ballot in 2027.
• Each term is 4 years. (OH Const. Art. XVIII §7; R.C. 733.02, 733.24)
• Each term begins on the 1st business day in January following the election.

What are the requirements to run for Bellevue City Mayor?

Candidates for this position must:

• Live within Bellevue City.
• Be a qualified elector of the City for a continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to the date they file for office or are appointed (City Charter. Art. XI, §11.02 (A))
• Be a registered elector of Bellevue City.
• Be at least 18 years of age. (OH Const. Art. V, §1, Art. XV §4)

How do I run for Bellevue City Mayor?

1. Obtain petition(s)
   • Partisan candidates should complete petition Form 2-I. (Note:  Petition forms should be printed on legal sized, 8 1/2″ x 14″ paper)
     • Use the Partisan Candidate Petition Instructions before circulating your petition to prevent any errors that might disqualify you from the ballot.  
   • Nonpartisan candidates should complete petition Form 3-N. (Note:  Petition forms should be printed on legal sized, 8 1/2″ x 14″ paper)
     • Use the Independent and Nonpartisan Candidate Petition Instructions before circulating your petition to prevent any errors that might disqualify you from the ballot.
2. Required signatures.
   • Collect between 50 and 150 signatures.
3. Candidates running this position are required to file petitions at the Sandusky County Board of Elections.
   • Partisan Candidates must file their petitions no later than 90 days before the date of the Primary election. (R.C. 3513.05, 3513.257)
   • Independent and Nonpartisan candidates filing for this office are required to file petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than the day before the Primary Election.
4. Pay filing fee by check or with the exact change of $45.00. (R.C. 3513.10, 3513.261)

What are the Campaign Finance Requirements?

All candidates running for office who spend any money, including their own personal funds, must file a Designation of Treasurer (Form 30-D) and complete subsequent reports. Candidates for this office should file with the Sandusky County Board of Elections

What are the Candidate Financial Disclosure Requirements?

Non-incumbent candidates must file with the Ohio Ethics Commission no later than thirty days before the general election. (R.C. 102.02(A)(4)(b))  Incumbent candidates must file by May 15th.  (R.C. 102.02(A)(4)(a)).

Background of the Office:

• Candidates for Bellevue City Council are elected in odd year General Elections.
• Bellevue City Council members are elected either at-large (city-wide) or by ward.
• There are three at-large city council seats.
  • The at-large seats are on the ballot in 2025.
• There are 4 wards in Bellevue. Only two wards are in Huron County: Ward 3 and Ward 4.
  • Each ward seat is on the ballot in 2025.
• Each term is 2 years. (R.C. 731.03)
• Each term begins on January 1st following the election. (R.C. 731.03)

What are the requirements to run for Bellevue City Council?

Candidates for this position must:

• Live within Bellevue City.
• Be a qualified elector of the City for a continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to the date they file for office or are appointed (City Charter. Art. XI, §11.02 (A))
  • If running for a Ward Seat, candidates shall be residents of the ward for a continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to the date they file for office or are appointed during their term of office. (City Charter. Art. XI, §11.02 (A))
• Be at least 18 years of age. (OH Const. Art. V, §1, Art. XV §4)

How do I run for Bellevue City Council?

1. Partisan candidates should complete petition Form 2-I. (Note:  Petition forms should be printed on legal sized, 8 1/2″ x 14″ paper)
   • Use the Partisan Candidate Petition Instructions before circulating your petition to prevent any errors that might disqualify you from the ballot.
2. Nonpartisan candidates should complete petition Form 3-N. (Note:  Petition forms should be printed on legal sized, 8 1/2″ x 14″ paper)
   • Use the Independent and Nonpartisan Candidate Petition Instructions before circulating your petition to prevent any errors that might disqualify you from the ballot.  
3. Required signatures.
   • Council at Large seats:
     • Collect between 50 and 150 signatures.
       • Partisan Candidates are required to file their petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than 90 days before the date of the Primary election. (R.C. 3513.05, 3513.257)
       • Independent and Nonpartisan candidates filing for this office must file their petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than the day before the Primary Election.
   • Ward Council seats:
     • Collect between 25 and 75 signatures.
       • Partisan Candidates are required to file their petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than 90 days before the date of the Primary election. (R.C. 3513.05, 3513.257)
       • Independent and Nonpartisan candidates filing for this office must file their petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than the day before the Primary Election.
4. Pay filing fee by check or with the exact change of $45.00. (R.C. 3513.10, 3513.261)

What are the Campaign Finance Requirements?

All candidates running for office who spend any money, including their own personal funds, must file a Designation of Treasurer (Form 30-D) and complete subsequent reports. Candidates for this office should file with the Sandusky County Board of Elections.

What are the Candidate Financial Disclosure Requirements?

Non-incumbent candidates must file with the Ohio Ethics Commission no later than thirty days before the general election. (R.C. 102.02(A)(4)(b))  Incumbent candidates must file by May 15th.  (R.C. 102.02(A)(4)(a)).

Background of the Office:

• Candidates for this office are nominated in primaries and elected in odd year general elections.
  • Independent candidates appear only on the general election ballot.
• This office will have 1 seat on the ballot in 2029.
• Each term is 6 years. (R.C. 1901.07)
• Each term begins on January 1st following the election. (R.C. 1901.07)

What are the requirements to run for Bellevue Municipal Court Judge?

Candidates for this position must:

• Live within Bellevue City.
• Be a registered elector of Bellevue City.
• Be at least 18 years of age. (OH Const. Art. V, §1, Art. XV §4)
• Cannot be 70 years or older on commencing date (OH Const Art. IV, §6(C))
• Attend a Judicial Candidate Campaign Practices Seminar approved by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct within a year before and no later than 60 days after being certified by the appropriate county board of elections.

How do I run for Bellevue Municipal Court Judge:

1. Partisan candidates should complete petition Form 2-H (Note:  Petition forms should be printed on legal sized, 8 1/2″ x 14″ paper)
   • Use the Partisan Candidate Petition Instructions before circulating your petition to prevent any errors that might disqualify you from the ballot.
2. Nonpartisan candidates should complete petition Form 3-I. (Note:  Petition forms should be printed on legal sized, 8 1/2″ x 14″ paper)
   • Use the Independent and Nonpartisan Candidate Petition Instructions before circulating your petition to prevent any errors that might disqualify you from the ballot.
3. Required signatures. (F.C.C. Art. X §10.01(B))
   • Collect between 50 and 150 signatures.
     • Partisan candidates are required to file petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than 90 days before the date of the General election. (R.C. 3513.251, 3513.261)
     • Independent and Nonpartisan candidates filing for this office must file their petitions with the Sandusky County Board of Elections no later than the day before the Primary Election. 
4. Pay filing fee by check or with the exact change of $45.00. (R.C. 3513.10, 3513.261)

What are the Campaign Finance Requirements?

All candidates running for office who spend any money, including their own personal funds, must file a Designation of Treasurer (Form 30-D) and complete subsequent reports. Candidates for this office should file with the Sandusky County Board of Elections.

What are the Candidate Financial Disclosure Requirements?

All judicial candidates must electronically file with the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct (through the Ohio Ethics Commission’s website) no later than thirty days before the first election that year in which their name appears on the ballot unless they already hold a judicial office and must disclose by May 15th for the office instead. (R.C. 102.02(A)4)(b))