Candidacy

Form, Content, and Procedure for filing for candidacy:

An application for a place on the ballot must be in writing; signed, sworn by the candidate before a person authorized to administer an oath; and dated; timely filed with the district's filing authority; and contain specified information about the candidate:

• The candidate's name, date of birth, and occupation

• The candidate's residence address or the address at which the candidate receives mail with a description of the location of the candidate's residence

• The candidate's length of continuous residence in Texas and in the district as of the date the candidate swears to the application

• If available, a public mailing address and email address at which the candidate receives correspondence relating to the campaign

• The office sought, including any place or other distinguishing number and an indication of whether the office sought is for a full or unexpired term

• A statement that the candidate is a U.S. citizen, has not been determined by a court to be mentally incapacitated, has not been convicted of a felony, is aware of the nepotism law, and swears an oath to support and defend the U.S and Texas Constitutions and laws. 

Eligibility:

An individual is eligible to be a candidate for, or elected or appointed to, a Texas school board if the individual:

• Is a U.S. citizen

• Is 18 years of age or older on the first day of the term to be filled at the election or on the date of appointment, as applicable

• Has not been determined by a final judgment of a court, exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right the vote

• Has not been finally convicted of a felony

• Has resided continuously in the state for 12 months and in the territory from which the office is elected for six months immediately preceding the following date:

  • For an independent candidate, the date of the regular filing deadline for a candidate's application for a place on the ballot

  • For a write-in candidate, the date of the election at which the candidate's name is written in; or

  • For an appointee to an office, the date at which the appointment is made 

• Is registered to vote in the territory from which the office is elected on the date described above; and

• Satisfies any other eligibility requirements prescribed by law for the office. 

The Texas Education Code imposes additional requirements:

To be elected to the school bard, an individual must be a qualified voted; 18 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen a Texas resident, a registered voter, not determined to be totally or partially mentally incapacitated by an appropriate court, and not finally convicted of a felony. 

• A person is ineligible to serve on a school board if the person has been convicted of a felony or an offense under Texas Penal Code Section 43.02(b) regarding prostitution