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Ballot Preparation

PRIMARY ELECTION — 2008

• Before Jan. 14 Return any certificates of announcement received before filing period.
  
• Jan. 14 Secretary of State provides list of all vendors authorized to print ballots.
  
• Jan. 14 - 26 Candidate filing period:
  * Certificate of announcement & filing fee received in correct office or postmarked by U. S. Post Office by 12 midnight, Jan. 26 [Note: Not all filing offices open until midnight].
  
• * Candidates using filing fee waiver file
  petitions containing 4 valid voter signatures per dollar of filing fee by Jan. 26.
  
• Jan. 15-30 Period to appoint ballot commissioners after 5 day notice to executive committees.
  
• Feb. 5 Last day for candidates to file personal financial disclosure to Ethics Commission (within 10 days after filing certificate of announcement).
  
• Feb. 25 Last day filing officer may accept appointments by executive committees to fill vacancies for primary ballot; Feb. 27 for chair.
  
• Feb. 12 Last day for candidates to withdraw (filing officer must receive written notice signed by candidate and notarized by deadline or name may not be removed from ballot).
  
• March 4 Secretary of State certifies candidates to clerks; [WV Code specifies that the ballot must be certified by the SOS and reach the clerks by the 70th day before the election. SOS will mail certification to reach clerk by drawing].
  
• Feb. 19 Uniform drawing for ballot position in all counties beginning at 9 a.m.
  
• Feb. 28 - Mar. 15 Ballot commissioners meet to certify ballot & deliver to printer for layout; mail certified copy to Secretary of State. (approx. dates)
  
• Feb. 28 - April 1 Printers prepare ballots; ballot commissioners review and approve proofs; ballots printed (approx. dates).
  
• April 1 Absentee ballots delivered.
  
• Apr. 1 Last day for write-in candidates for board of education to file.
  
• Apr. 14 Deadline for minor party and independent candidates to appear on November 4, 2008 general election ballot to file certificate of announcement & pay filing fee. (Except for President)
  
• Apr. 17-23 Publish sample ballot.
  
• May 4 Last day for appointment to fill vacancy on general election ballot caused by failure to file to be filed by executive committee; May 8 for filing of appointment by chair if committee meets to make appointment but fails to act.
  
• May 12 Deadline for minor party and independent candidates to file petitions for nomination to appear on November 4, 2008 general election ballot.
  
• May 13 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.
  
• May 16 Canvass Begins.
  

GENERAL ELECTION — 2008

• June 13 Deadline to transmit certificate of results to Secretary of State office.
  
• July 1 Board of Education members take office.
  
• Aug. 12 Last day for candidate to apply for withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances.
  
• Aug. 4 -19 Candidate filing period for unexpired term of Board of Education vacancy occurring after close of filing for primary election.
  
• Aug. 1 Deadline for minor party and independent candidate for President
  
• Aug. 12 Last day of occurrence of vacancy on ballot for following reasons to appoint candidate for general election:
  *Disqualification or incapacity of candidate;
  *Death, resignation of incumbent in office not on ballot occurring between Jan. 29 - Aug. 12.
  
• August 12 Last day for appropriate executive committee to file appointment to fill general election vacancy for:
  *Disqualification or incapacity of candidate;
  *Withdrawal for extenuating circumstances, if approved by State Election Commission;
  *Death of incumbent in office not on ballot.
  
• Aug. 23 Last day for executive committee chair to appoint for above reasons, if committee meets but fails to appoint.
  
• Aug. 20-26 Secretary of State certifies candidates to clerks; [SOS will mail certification to reach clerk by drawing].
  
• Aug. 26 Uniform drawing for ballot position in all counties beginning at 9 a.m.
  
• Sept. 4 - 20 Ballot commissioners meet to certify ballot & deliver to printer for layout; mail certified copy to Secretary of State (approx. dates).
  
• Sept. 23 Absentee ballots delivered.
  
• Oct. 7 Ballots and supplies delivered to clerk.
  
• Oct. 9 - 15 Publish sample ballot.
  
• Oct. 10 Last day of the occurrence of the death of a nominee for which an appointment to fill the vacancy on the ballot can be made.
  
• Oct. 14 Last day for committee to fill vacancy caused by death of nominee occurring no later than 25 days (Oct. 11) before the general election.
  
• Sept. 23 Write-in candidate filing deadline for general election.
  
• Oct. 30 Last day for write-in candidate to file in case of death of nominee if death occurred between Oct. 14 - Oct. 30.
  
• Nov. 3 Last day for write-in candidate to file in case of death of nominee if death occurred on Nov. 2
  
• Nov. 4 GENERAL ELECTION DAY.