This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish a requirement for independent candidates seeking political office to file their certificates of announcement in January of the election year. Specifically, it mandates that all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, must submit their filing between the second Monday and the last Saturday of January before the primary election day. The bill also clarifies that this requirement applies to various offices, including those filled on a nonpartisan basis, and stipulates that the Secretary of State's office and county clerks must remain open for extended hours on the final day of the filing period.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the content of the certificate of announcement, which must be sworn before a notary public and include details such as the candidate's name, office sought, and party affiliation. It also outlines the process for verifying a candidate's party affiliation and the consequences for providing false information. The amendments enacted by the Legislature in the 2024 Regular Session will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-5-7