SECRETARY DANIELS CLOSES 2008 CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD
Monday, Mar 10, 2008
Secretary Daniels strikes a gong to signify the close of the 2008 candidate filing period.
Over 300 candidates filed for state and district offices
(LITTLE ROCK, ARK.)—Secretary of State Charlie Daniels officially closed the weeklong 2008 candidate filing period at noon today in a brief ceremony at the Arkansas State Capitol.
The candidate filing period began at noon on Monday, March 3. Act 1049 of 2007 moved the filing period up from the third Tuesday in March to the first weekday in March and shortened it from two weeks to one week in order to extend the timeframe for election officials to transmit absentee ballots to military and overseas voters.
During this period, 257 candidates filed for the 231 state, district, and nonpartisan judicial offices up for election this year. Secretary Daniels previously certified the petitions of 61 nonpartisan judicial candidates, which brings the overall total to 318.
64 of the 231 open seats are contested, including 35 out of the 100 open state representative seats, 4 out of the 18 open state senate seats, and 25 out of the 107 open nonpartisan judicial seats. A complete listing of candidates can be found at www.arelections.org under “Candidate Information.”
10 individuals filed notices of candidacy to run as independent candidates in the November 4 General Election. In order to get on the ballot, they must submit petitions with the requisite number of valid signatures for their prospective office to the Secretary of State’s office by the May 1 deadline.
The deadline to register to vote in the May 20 Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan General Election is April 21. Voters can view their voter registration status, find their polling place, and learn more about voting in Arkansas at www.votenaturally.org.
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Contact: Natasha Naragon
Phone: (501) 683-1441
Email: natasha.naragon@sos.arkansas.gov
Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels
256 State Capitol Building
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1010
Website: www.sos.ar.gov
Email: arsos@sos.ar.gov
