Candidates — Filing Steps
Steps for Candidates Filing for 2008 State/County Elections
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Learn | Find out about the offices and eligibility requirements. Start with Get Ready to Run. If you don't plan to run as a major party candidate in the primary election, check out Alternative Ballot Access. For information about write-in candidacy, go to Write-In Candidates |
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Decide | Choose the office you plan to seek. If the office is divided into districts or circuits, make sure you contact your county clerk to verify the district in which you live. |
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Prepare
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Download the certificate of announcement and instructions. Read the instructions and complete the forms -- or contact the Secretary of State or County Clerk to get a form. Find the filing fee for state and district offices. For county offices, contact your county clerk for filing and fee information. |
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FILE! | The filing period is January 14 - 26, 2008.
You may file in person during business hours. On the last day of filing, Saturday, January 26, the Secretary of State's office will be open from 8:30 a.m. until midnight. If you file in the county, be sure to find out the hours your county clerk's office will be open. You may mail your certificate of announcement and filing fee. If you do so, it must be received during the filing period, or bear a legible U. S. Postal Service postmark with a date no later than January 26. If you mail at the last minute, make sure you see the postmark. |
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Follow Up
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Download the WV Ethics Commission financial disclosure form and complete the form. File it with the Ethics Commission no later than 10 days after you file for office. |
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Set Up Your Campaign | Decide whether you will have a committee and a treasurer, or be your own financial agent. Go to Starting a Campaign and take those steps to get started right. |
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Change Your Mind? | To withdraw and get your name off the ballot your signed and notarized statement of withdrawal must be received no later than February 12, 2008 at the office where you originally filed. If you 'withdraw' later than that your name will remain on the ballot. |
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Attend the Drawing for Ballot Position | The County Clerk of every county will conduct a drawing for ballot position at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 19, 2008. You may attend, or send a representative. The drawing is public and supervised by the county clerk and the ballot commissioners from the Democratic and Republican Parties. |
