With 2020 being an election year, more people than normal are thinking about running for public office and what it would take in order for them to become an election official. And while you might be thinking about how much good you could do for your community if you were in office, you first have to get yourself into office.
If this is something you’ve been considering, here are three things you should do as you prepare to run for a public office.
Find A Knowledgeable Lawyer
For those who don’t have much experience with politics or the laws that have to do with running for office, Maya Noronha, a contributor to Forbes.com, shares that one of the very first things you should do is to find a knowledgeable lawyer that you can work with.
There are all kinds of laws that you need to follow in order to legally run for office and not get in trouble. Laws regarding how you raise funds, who you should have on your campaign team, how and where you choose to advertise for your campaign, when to turn in certain paperwork, and more all need to be followed to the letter of the law. If you don’t adhere correctly, you could wind up ineligible to run or in legal trouble, in addition to losing face with the voters. But with a good lawyer on your side, you should be able to maneuver through this often confusing world.
Build Your Self Confidence
Being on the campaign trail can take a lot of strength, both mentally and emotionally. And even if you win, you’ll still need to withstand what people say to you while you’re in office. Because of this, Kevin Daum, a contributor to Inc.com, advises that you do whatever you can to build your own self confidence before you start running for office.
In politics, there’s a lot of hostility, both between those who are running and those who don’t want to see you win. It’s only through your own sense of self and strength in who you are that you’ll be able to withstand these blows.
Get Your Family On Board
When you’re running for office, it’s more than just your individual life that’s going to be affected. Everyone you know and love, especially your family, will have much more intense scrutiny on them as well.
According to AmericanMajority.org, you should make sure that all of your family is on board with your running for office before you get started. If they aren’t, it can make things much harder for you, as this can be a big strain on both your campaign as well as your relationship with them.
If you’re thinking about running for office, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare.
