Secretary of State
Office of the Secretary of State Sets Candidate Filing Record – One Day Remains for Candidates to File

(Frankfort-KY) With only one more day for primary candidates, including political party candidates and candidates for non-partisan races that file with the Secretary of State to run for office, the Office of the Secretary of State set a new record for candidate filings during an election season.  Other candidates have until 4:00 p.m. EST, January 31, 2006 to file for office. 

“Our office was confident that this would be a record breaking election season,” said Secretary of State Trey Grayson, the Commonwealth’s chief election officer.  “We are delighted that so many individuals have chosen to participate in our democratic process by running for elective office.”

As of Monday, January 30, 2006, 614 people had filed candidacy papers with the Office of the Secretary of State, and many additional candidates are expected to file up until the last minute before the deadline.  The previous record for filings with the Office of the Secretary of State was set in 1998 when 611 candidates filed to run for office.  Election officials believe that this number is indicative of other filings with county clerks across the state resulting in the largest number of candidates on the ballot in Kentucky’s history.

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)

“We still anticipate a large number of filings in the remaining hours.  Candidates should remember that all documents must be received in our office by 4:00 p.m. EST and that a postmark will not suffice,” Grayson commented.  “Candidates would also be wise to file early in order to correct any mistakes before the deadline passes.”

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 – a ballot access guide, or to view a list of candidates who have filed for office, please visit www.sos.ky.gov/elections.

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