Secretary of State
Write-In Candidates Face Deadline for Upcoming Election

(Frankfort, KY)  Candidates who want to be eligible to have their votes counted as a write-in candidate for the upcoming election have until October 27, 2006 to file with the appropriate filing officer. 

 “As we head into the homestretch of the 2006 election cycle, I want to encourage those individuals who are considering running as a write-in candidate to file to run as soon as possible,” stated Secretary of State Trey Grayson.  “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.”

Candidates who must file with the Secretary of State have until 4:00 p.m. EDT to file their papers, while 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 choose to mail their filing papers, the documents must still be received in the appropriate office by 4:00 p.m. on the 27th, 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’s Attorney (if the jurisdiction is multi-county)

Grayson noted that the office had heard from some clerks that some offices currently have no one on the ballot or write-in candidates.  He stated that this was “an excellent opportunity for engaged citizens to become involved directly in their government.”

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 office 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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