Secretary of State
Elections Over? Not Quite – Filing for 2007 Races Begins

          (Frankfort, KY) – Although many Kentuckians may have thought that the election season ended with yesterday’s election, a new cycle officially begins today.  Potential candidates for Kentucky’s constitutional offices may now begin filing with the Office of the Secretary of State.  Candidates will either appear on the May 22, 2007 primary or November 6, 2007 general election ballots.

 “This election cycle should be exciting in Kentucky coming on the heels of the largest election in Kentucky’s history,” stated Secretary of State Trey Grayson.  “Hopefully, many citizens will give serious consideration to becoming candidates for one of our constitutional offices.”

 Primary candidates, including political party candidates, have until January 30, 2007 to file for office.  Independent candidates or political group candidates must file a statement of intent by April 2^nd, but have until August 14^th to file their petitions.  Each date includes a 4:00 p.m. EST deadline.

Constitutional offices that file with the Secretary of State include:

Governor/Lt. Governor Slate
Secretary of State

Attorney General

Auditor of Public Accounts

State Treasurer

Commissioner of Agriculture

           In order to help candidates seeking political office, the Office of the Secretary of State previously developed a ballot access procedural manual titled: Declaring Your Candidacy.  This manual has been updated for this election cycle and 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.

Nine judicial positions that were created by House Bill 382, as enacted by the 2006 General Assembly, will also appear on the 2007 ballots. The bill created seven (7) new circuit judgeships and two (2) district judgeships and has an effective date of January 1, 2007 as provided by gubernatorial veto.  Because the positions are not effective until January 1, candidates for those offices cannot file until January 2, 2006.  Their deadline will also be on January 30, 2006.

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, please visit www.sos.ky.gov/elections.

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