Ballot Preparations Calendar

Ballot Preparations - Primary Election Calendar
Before January 9	Return any certificates of announcement received before filing period.
January 9	Secretary of State provides list of all vendors authorized to print ballots.
January 9 to January 28	Candidate filing period: Certificate of announcement & filing fee received in correct office or postmarked by U. S. Post Office by 12 midnight, Jan. 30 [Note: Not all filing offices open until midnight]. Candidates using filing fee waiver file petitions containing 4 valid voter signatures per dollar of filing fee by Jan. 30.
January 15 to January 30	Period to appoint ballot commissioners after 5 day notice to executive committee
February 7	Last day for candidates to file personal financial disclosure to Ethics Commission (within 10 days after filing certificate of announcement).
February 14	Last day for candidates to withdraw (filing officer must receive written notice signed by candidate and notarized by deadline or name may not be removed from ballot).
February 21	Uniform drawing for ballot position in all counties beginning at 9 a.m.
February 28	Secretary of State certifies candidates to clerks; [WV Code specifies that the ballot must be certified by the SOS and reach the clerks by the 70th day before the election. SOS will mail certification to reach clerk by drawing].
March 1	Last day filing officer may accept appointments by executive committees to fill vacancies for primary ballot; Mar. 3 for chair.
March 1 to March 12	Ballot commissioners meet to certify ballot & deliver to printer for layout; mail certified copy to Secretary of State (approx. dates).
March 1 to March 31	Printers prepare ballots; ballot commissioners review and approve proofs; ballots printed (approx. dates).
March 23	Absentee ballots delivered.
March 27	Last day for write-in candidates for board of education to file.
April 12 to April 18	Publish sample ballot.
May 8	PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.
May 14	Canvass Begins.
June 7	Deadline to transmit certificate of results to Secretary of State office.
July 1	Board of Education members take office.

Ballot Preperations - General Election Calendar
August 1	Deadline for minor party and independent candidate for President.
August 6 to August 21	Candidate filing period for unexpired term of Board of Education vacancy occurring after close of filing for primary election.
August 14	Last day of occurrence of vacancy on ballot for following reasons to appoint candidate for general election: Disqualification or incapacity of candidate; Death, resignation of incumbent in office not on ballot occurring between Jan. 29 - Aug. 12.
August 14	Last day for candidate to apply for withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances.
August 20	Last day for appropriate executive committee to file appointment to fill general election vacancy for: Disqualification or incapacity of candidate; Withdrawal for extenuating circumstances, if approved by State Election Commission; Death of incumbent in office not on ballot.
August 22	Last day for executive committee chair to appoint for above reasons, if committee meets but fails to appoint.
August 22 to August 28	Secretary of State certifies candidates to clerks; [SOS will mail certification to reach clerk by drawing].
August 28	Uniform drawing for ballot position in all counties beginning at 9 a.m.
September 6 to September 17	Ballot commissioners meet to certify ballot & deliver to printer for layout; mail certified copy to Secretary of State (approx. dates).
September 21	Absentee ballots delivered.
September 25	Write-in candidate filing deadline for general election.
October 9	Ballots and supplies delivered to clerk.
October 11 to October 17	Publish sample ballot.
October 12	Last day of the occurrence of the death of a nominee for which an appointment to fill the vacancy on the ballot can be made.
October 16	Last day for committee to fill vacancy caused by death of nominee occurring no later than 25 days before the general election.
November 1	Last day for write-in candidate to file in case of death of nominee if death occurred between Oct. 12 - Oct. 28.
November 6	GENERAL ELECTION DAY