Trending
CHARLESTON -- The time to register to run for public office in the upcoming 2018 elections is underway in national, state and local races, the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office reported.
The Secretary of State has a informational packet available on its website at "https://sos.wv.gov/elections" under the heading "Running for Office in West Virginia (2018)."
Candidates will be nominated and elected in the 2018 election cycle for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senator, House of Delegates, County Commission, Board of Education, State Executive Committee, District Executive Committee (Congressional, Senatorial and Delegate), County Executive Committee and any vacancy that must be filled by either the Primary Election or General Election.
Generally, only West Virginia residents (who also meet the age and other requirements) are eligible to run for office. "Residence" has been defined by the West Virginia Supreme Court as the place where someone actually lives and intends to live indefinitely. A business location is not a residence. Simply owning property in this state does not establish residency. A Post Office Box does not establish residency.
There are four recognized political parties in West Virginia of which candidates can run under: Democratic Party, Libertarian Party, Mountain Party and the Republican Party.
If people are planning to raise money as a candidate, they will need to file pre-candidacy paperwork. This is not declaring candidacy for a office. It is a procedural tool that provides prospective candidates the ability to raise money in support of their candidacy prior to filing their Certificate of Announcement.
Candidates may expend personal finances without filing a Pre-candidacy Registration Form.
"However, all campaign-related financial activities are subject to disclosure requirements," the candidate packet states.
Candidates must submit the Certificate of Announcement Form to declare their candidacy for public office.
All required information on the form must be provided, and the form must be signed and notarized. Forms missing any information or signatures will be rejected. Importantly, candidates cannot re-file a corrected Certificate of Announcement after the filing deadline.
Also, prospective candidates should know that the information provided in the Certificate of Announcement must be accurate and correct. Providing false information may result in a criminal prosecution.
For the 2018 election cycle, candidates must file a Certificate of Announcement between today and midnight on Saturday, Jan. 27.
"The Certificate of Announcement cannot be accepted prior to January 8, 2018," the candidate packet said. "If the form is received or postmarked before January 8, 2018, it will be rejected and returned. Filings that are mailed must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service before midnight on January 27, 2018."
In addition to campaign finance filings, within 10 days of filing the Certificate of Announcement candidates must also file a Candidate Financial Disclosure Statement with the West Virginia Ethics Commission.
"If this Statement is not returned to the Ethics Commission, the candidate's name may not be placed on the ballot or the candidate may not be allowed to take the oath of office," the candidate packet said.
The filing office for a candidate's Certificate of Announcement depends on which public office the candidate seeks.
The Secretary of State's Office is for candidates for federal office, statewide office, state Senate, House of Delegates, judicial offices (excluding magistrates) and those running for an office in more than one county.
The County Clerk's Office is for candidates for an office that is entirely within one county and includes magistrates.
The Municipal Recorder/Town Clerk's office is for candidates for a local municipal office, like a city or town council or other elected office at that level.
Some offices require candidates to be of a certain age and to be a resident for a length of time before the election, by the time of filing for office or by the time of taking office.
Candidates for U.S. Senate have to be 30 years old and be a nine-year resident of the state; U.S. House of Representatives candidates have to be 25 years old and a seven-year resident; State Senate candidates have to be 25 years old and a five-year resident; and State House of Delegates candidates have to be 18 years old and a resident of the district for one year.
County Commission and Board of Education candidates need to be 18 years old.
"All candidates for county office must be qualified voters and some offices have additional qualifications. For more information, you may contact the West Virginia Association of Counties at (304) 346-0591," the candidate packet said.
All candidates for county office must file with their respective county clerk. The filing fee for county offices is one percent of the annual salary, except for the Board of Education which the filing fee is fixed at $25. Because county classification is used to determine salary, the county clerk will have to be contacted for the filing fee.
A candidate's last day to withdraw her or his name from the ballot and decline to run as a candidate for public office is Feb. 13, (third Tuesday following close of candidate filing), and in the General Election is Aug. 14,(84 days before the election).
"Such candidates must file a Certificate of Withdrawal in the same filing office as required for the Certificate of Announcement," the candidate packet said. "This filing must be received in the correct filing office by the deadline; postmark date does not apply.
"Withdrawals after those dates may occur only with approval of the SEC (State Election Commission)."