FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2010
Contact: Matthew Dunlap
207-626-8400

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap Reminds Candidates for County, State and Federal Offices of Filing Deadline for June Primary Election

AUGUSTA, MAINE—Candidates vying for party nominations in the June 8, 2010 primary must have their party nomination petitions filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Augusta no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, March 15th, pursuant to Maine statute. This provision applies to candidates for county, state and Federal office.

Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap also noted that Friday, March 12th is a scheduled state closure day, and on that day it will not be possible for candidates to file their papers in Augusta. “Candidates are working hard to get signatures on their petition forms so they can appear on the ballot,” said Dunlap. “As we approach the deadline for filing, candidates with completed paperwork should file as soon as is practical to ensure that their filing is complete and is received in a timely manner.”

Candidates for county, state and Federal offices are required by law to obtain signatures from members of their political party in the district in which they wish to represent on a petition form supplied by the Secretary of State, and then have those signatures verified by the clerks in those towns. Once the forms are verified and duly notarized, they must be submitted to the Secretary of State prior to the March 15th deadline.

Qualified candidates will have their name placed on the June 8th primary ballot. Non-party or unenrolled candidates have until June 1st to submit their signatures to appear on the November election ballot. While they have longer to circulate petitions, they must gather twice as many signatures and can collect them from any registered voter in the district in which they wish to represent.

Candidates who are successful at obtaining their party’s nomination in June will then appear on the November general election ballot.

Numbers of party signatures required for placement on the June ballot appear as follows:

  • County offices other than Commissioner 150
  • County Commissioner 50
  • Representative to the Legislature 25
  • State Senator 100
  • Representative to Congress 1,000
  • Governor 2,000

The office of U.S. Senate is not up for election in Maine in 2010.

"We’re going to have sufficient staff available on the 15th to make sure that all candidates who come to file are able to do so,” said Dunlap. “But with many candidates with many petitions, I would urge folks to not wait and make sure they get them in. After 5:00 pm, if they haven’t gotten to us, by law we can’t accept them.”

For more information on qualifications for running for county, state, or Federal office in Maine, check the web at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec