Become a Candidate

NOTE: Application deadline was February 17, 2023. View Applications Received.

Candidate Qualifications

  • Citizen of the United States
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Qualified San Antonio voter by the filing deadline
  • Resided in San Antonio for one year before filing your application
  • Resided in the respective council district for at least 6 months before filing your application and continue to do so throughout the term of office. 
    • If your area was annexed into the City recently, you must have lived at your residence 6 months before annexation.
  • Not have been mentally incapacitated by a final judgment of a court or have been finally convicted of a felony unless pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities of that felony conviction.
    • Successful completion of probation or parole does not make a convicted felon eligible to hold an elected office.
  • Non-refundable Filing Fee of $100 (cash, check or money order only, credit cards are not accepted) payable to the City or  instead of the Filing Fee, submit the required number of petition signatures.
  • Two of the following residency documents with address matching that as noted on the Application for a Place on the Ballot:
    • Valid Texas Driver’s License or Identification Card
    • Valid Bexar County Voter Registration Certificate
    • Current utility bill
    • Most recent personal bank statement
    • Most recent government check
    • Most recent paycheck
    • Most recent government document with name and address (original to be presented if it contains a photograph)

Secretary of State general requirements for candidacy filing.

Candidate Filing Process

Required Forms

Cost

A non-refundable Filing Fee of $100 payable to the City of San Antonio. You can pay with cash, check or money order only. Credit cards are not accepted.

Instead filing fee, submit the required number of petition signatures on the petition form(PDF, 28KB) with the:

  • Filing Checklist
  • Application for a Place on the Ballot
  • Residency documents

The petition Circulator is required to sign the Circulator’s Statement on each petition they circulated.

Petition Signatures May 2023 General Election(PDF, 118KB)

Where to File

You can file by mail or in person at:

Office of the City Clerk
100 Military Plaza, Suite 101
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Directions

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

It is recommended that Applicants call 210-207-7253 to schedule an appointment. Applications will be processed in the order of the Applicant’s arrival. Please allocate enough time for parking, City building security protocols, and the processing of your application which is estimated to be 30-minute processing time.

Due to space limitations, only the applicant and one other individual will be allowed in the City Clerk’s Office at a time.

Parking

A limited number of spaces marked "Visitor" are available on the north side of the building.

City Tower Parking Garage
115 N. Main St.
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Directions

When to File

Applications for a Place on the Ballot will be accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.

All applications and supporting documents including the required filing fee of $100 or signed petitions are required to be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2023. Staff will be available to notarize the application free of charge.