Secretary of State
Candidate Filing Deadline Quickly Approaching

(Frankfort-KY) With more races on the ballot than at any time in Kentucky’s history, the 2006 Election cycle is shaping up to have the largest number of candidates vying for Kentuckians’ votes in the history of the Commonwealth.  Time is running out, however, for potential candidates to place their name of the ballot.  Primary candidates, including political party candidates and candidates for non-partisan races that file with the Secretary of State, have until January 31, 2006 to file for office. 

“We are less than two weeks away from the deadline,” said Secretary of State Trey Grayson, the Commonwealth’s chief election officer.  “Our office’s election staff is already extremely busy, and we anticipate that filings will continue up until the last minute.”

As of Friday, January 20, 2006, over 525 people had filed candidacy papers with the Office of the Secretary of State, and many additional candidates are expected to file before the deadline.  In 1998, 611 candidates filed to run for office with the Secretary of State, the largest number of candidates to file with the office to date.  Election officials believe that they are well on their way to surpassing that number. 

Candidates for offices that file with the Office of the Secretary of State may file their papers with the office until 4:00 p.m. EST on the January 31st.  Candidates for offices that file with the local county clerk will have until 4:00 p.m. local time to complete their filings. If candidates chose to mail their filing papers, the documents must still be received in the appropriate office by 4:00 p.m. on the 31^st, and thus, candidates are asked to plan accordingly. 

The following offices must file with the Office of the Secretary of State:

• United States Representative
• State Senator (even numbered districts)
• State Representative
• Justice of the Supreme Court (1, 2, 4, 5 unexpired term, 6)
• Judge of the Court of Appeals
• Circuit Judge
• District Judge
• Commonwealth Attorney (if the jurisdiction is multi-county)

In order to help the thousands of candidates, both new and old, seeking political office, the Office of the Secretary of State has developed a ballot access procedural manual titled: Declaring Your Candidacy.  For the first time, Kentuckians will have 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.

“Candidates would be wise to file prior to the deadline date and time in the event their documents are not acceptable for filing,” stated Mary Sue Helm, election administrator for the Secretary of State.  “There is no opportunity for correction of documents after that date and time.”

The record number of races on the ballot is due to the 1992 constitutional amendment creating an “off year” in election cycles.  Every four years, Kentucky does not have a regularly scheduled election.  To accommodate this change, some offices terms were altered to ensure that no election fell on the “off year.”  This is the first time since the amendment passed that this large number of races has appeared on the ballot at the same time.

For more information about filing to run for elected office in Kentucky, to obtain a copy of Declaring Your Candidacy, or to view a list of candidates who have filed for office, please visit www.sos.ky.gov/elections.

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