Pre-Candidates
Pre-Candidacy for Future Elections
The West Virginia Legislature added pre-candidacy provisions to campaign finance law in 1982. Filing a pre-candidacy form allows prospective candidates to "test the waters" to see if seeking office is the right decision. Once a pre-candidacy form is filed a candidate may lawfully begin to accept contributions and make expenditures for the election. Federal candidates must comply with Federal Election Commission rules, although some Federal candidates may also file a precandidacy form in the Secretary of State's office.
A list of names, addresses and offices for those who have filed a pre-candidacy form is now available for viewing and printing using the Acrobat Reader by clicking on the link below. For help with downloading or using the Reader, go to Acrobat Reader Help.
Earliest Filing
A Pre-Candidacy Form may be filed, and contributions received and expenditures made only during the the term of office immediately preceeding the term for which a person may be a candidate, but no sooner than four years before the next term begins. For those considering other future elections, here are examples of earliest dates.
- A candidate for an office having a two-year term may file a pre-candidacy form up to two years before the beginning of the term. For example:
| House of Delegates |
For the 2010 election: December 1, 2008
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Municipal Office (2-yr)
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For the 2009 election: July 1, 2007
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- A candidate for an office having a four, six, eight or twelve-year term may file up to four years before the beginning of the term. For example:
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Constitutional Office
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For the 2012 election: January 15, 2009
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Supreme Court
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For the 2012 election: January 1, 2009
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Circuit Judge
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For the 2012 election: January 1, 2009
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Family Court Judge
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For the 2012 election: January 1, 2009
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State Senate
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For the 2012 election: December 1, 2009
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Where to File
A Pre-candidacy statement is a campaign finance filing, and is made with the same filing officer who will handle the committee designations and campaign finance reports. Filings go to the:
- Secretary of State -- for all candidates for statewide office, all legislative offices, multi-county judicial circuits and other multi-county offices.
- County Clerk -- for all candidates for single-county judicial circuits and all county offices.
- Municipal Recorder or Clerk -- for all candidates for municipal office.
Tips for Filing
Office: As a prospective candidate, you are not required to name the office to be sought. If a candidate is considering two offices at different filing levels, such as county commission and State Senate, the candidate should file with the Secretary of State. If the decision is made to file for county office, the other filings will be transferred to the County Clerk.
Committee Treasurer or Financial Agent: Make decisions early about how campaign finances will be handled. If you plan to have a campaign committee, you will save a lot of headaches by organizing the committee at the same time you file pre-candidacy. See Campaign Finance: Getting Started for more information and forms to establish a committee.
Form: Download and print the pre-candidacy form on your computer, then complete the required information and submit the form to the proper filing officer. Click the pencil image below to download the form. Forms on this site require the Acrobat Reader. See Acrobat Reader Help for information and tips for completing forms.
Form F1 - Pre-candidacy Registration Form
Filing: No fees are required for the pre-candidacy filing. Find the address below, and be certain your filing is received by the filing officer before you accept any contribution to your campaign.
Secretary of State: Building 1, Suite 157-K, 1900 Kanawha Blvd, E., Charleston, WV 25305
County Clerk: Get the address for your county from our Roster of County Clerks.
Municipal Recorder or Clerk: Check our municipal rosters, or call your city hall to get the address.