Thinking about tossing your hat into the ring? Well you’d best hurry up, because time is running out for potential candidates to place their name on the ballot for this year’s primary elections. Primary candidates have until by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 to file for office.
“More than 170 candidates have already filed,” said Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Commonwealth’s chief election officer, “and we anticipate more will file leading up to the deadline.” Secretary Grimes recommends candidates file in advance of the deadline in case documents are not acceptable; there currently is no opportunity to correct or re-file paperwork after 4 p.m. on January 31.
Offices that file with the Secretary of State that are regularly scheduled to occur in 2012 include:
• U.S. President
• U.S. Senators
• U.S. Representatives
• State Senators in odd-numbered districts
• State Representatives
• Kentucky Supreme Court Justice in district 7
• Commonwealth’s attorneys for jurisdictions that include more than one county
In addition, candidates for the unexpired terms for Court of Appeals judge for the 4th appellate district, 1st division, and district judge for the 31st judicial district, 1st division, must file by January 31.
Citizens who are interested in running for an office may access the filing forms required to run for these offices on the Secretary of State’s website, at http://app.sos.ky.gov/ElectionsDYC/. These forms can be printed out and submitted either by hand delivery or by mail. The forms will have detailed instructions to help the candidate fill out the forms properly. The application will also provide sample forms for offices that file with the county clerk.
In order to help candidates seeking political office, the Office of the Secretary of State developed a ballot access procedural manual titled: Declaring Your Candidacy. This manual provides Kentuckians with a quick guide to filing for political office.
Although the publication focuses primarily on candidate filing procedures, sample forms for attaining ballot access, and qualifications for each elective office, it also includes other important and pertinent election information that may affect candidates. The manual contains an election schedule, sample filing forms of various types, contact information for state election agencies, and answers to candidates’ most frequently asked questions.
For more information about filing to run for elected office in Kentucky, to obtain a copy of Declaring Your Candidacy, access FastTrack Elections, or to view a list of candidates, please visit www.sos.ky.gov/elections.
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