New Candidate Filing Deadlines Apply
January 10, 2020: Deadline for partisan city offices and nonpartisan positions with primary elections.
June 2, 2020: Deadline for nonpartisan city offices without primary elections.
These dates are earlier than the previous deadlines of the last Tuesday in January (primary) and the second Tuesday in August (general).
Over 2,200 elected city positions will be on the ballot in 2020. While this “off year” only includes 15 regular elections (and possibly a few special elections) for mayor, almost all city legislative body seats will be up for a vote. Current and potential elected city officials need to understand recently passed changes to the filing deadlines to ensure they make the ballot.
For the dozens of cities that have primary elections for city races, the candidate filing deadline has been moved to January 10, 2020. Senate Bill 60 (2019) moved the deadline from the last Tuesday of the month (January 28) to the first Friday following the first Monday in January. This applies to all partisan offices and elected positions in nonpartisan cities that have not waived the primary. If the appropriate filings are not submitted to the county clerk by 4:00 p.m. local time on January 10, then the candidate will not appear on the primary or general election ballot.
For all other city races, House Bill 381 (2018) adjusted the candidate filing deadline for the general election. The new deadline is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June, which is over two months earlier than the previous deadline in August. In the cities that have waived the primary, candidates will not appear on the general election ballot unless they submit the appropriate filings to the county clerk by 4:00 p.m. local time on June 2.
The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is unchanged. It is still the fourth Friday of October, (October 23, 2020). Only individuals who file with the county clerk their intent to run as a write-in candidate are eligible to receive votes in the general election.
Search for your city to see if it waives the primary.
Get the candidate filing forms and learn more about becoming a candidate.
The Kentucky League of Cities serves as the united voice of cities by supporting community innovation, effective leadership and quality governance.
