Candidate Filing for 2012 Offices

You are Invited to File for Elected Office!

• What: Candidate Filing for 2012 Federal, Judicial, Legislative, County Offices
• When: 12:00 p.m. Monday, February 13, 2012-12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 29, 2012
• Where: Election Services, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville NC 28801

Things to Know:

Filing Instructions:

Step 1: Verify your registration. You must live within the jurisdiction of the office in which you intend to file. Call 250-4200, or contact the State Board of Elections at (919) 733-7173 or 866-522-4723, if you have questions about your registration or jurisdiction.

Step 2: Determine whether or not you have an active or inactive committee on file with Election Services. (Please call 250-4200 if you have any questions.)

Step 3: New and returning candidates must determine if they plan to spend or receive over $1000 on the campaign during the election cycle. Keep in mind, any personal money a candidate spends counts toward the $1000 limit. ($1000 is the threshold for reporting purposes. If you do not plan to spend or receive more than $1000 during the election cycle, you will complete the “New Candidate Under Threshold” forms and will not be required to report as long as your committee remains under the $1000 threshold.) Candidates planning to exceed the $1000 threshold will select the “New Candidate Over Threshold” forms. 

Step 4: Returning candidates may need to complete the forms below to notify Election Services of any changes:

• Certification to Return to Active Status (CRO-3300)
• Certification of Threshold (CRO-3600)
• Certification of Treasurer (CRO-3100)

Step 5: Print out and review the appropriate group of forms based on your threshold selection.

Step 6: Organize your committee and hold a meeting. 

1. Choose a name for your committee.
2. Appoint a treasurer. (Spouses are prohibited.)
3. Open a separate bank account to be utilized exclusively by the committee.

Step 7: Contact the State Board of Elections for information on how to complete in-person or online treasurer training. (http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=19

Step 8: Mail your completed committee forms or bring them in person to the address below within 10 days of spending or receiving any money in support of the candidate’s candidacy or within 10 days of filing a Notice of Candidacy.

Election Services
Attn: Rachel Rathbone
35 Woodfin St.
Asheville, NC 28801

Federal Offices: All Notices of Candidacy, together with the proper filing fee, must be in the possession of the State Board of Elections by Noon on Friday, February 29, 2012, to be accepted. This does not mean in the mail at that time, and all Notices arriving after that time cannot be accepted. The filing fee must be paid with individual check or money order, payable to the “State Board of Elections”. Business or corporate checks are not accepted. The State Board of Elections is located at 506 North Harrington St., Raleigh, NC 27603. Additionally, if you plan to be a 2012 candidate for Federal office, you or your treasurer, need to contact the Federal Election Commission for filing requirements. Their toll free number is 1-800-424-9530.

Judicial Offices: All Notices of Candidacy, together with the proper filing fee, must be in the possession of the State Board of Elections by Noon on Friday, February 29, 2012, to be accepted. This does not mean in the mail at that time, and all Notices arriving after that time cannot be accepted. The filing fee must be paid with individual check or money order, payable to the “State Board of Elections”. Business or corporate checks are not accepted. The State Board of Elections is located at 506 North Harrington St., Raleigh, NC 27603.

*Please note: A portion of the Notice of Candidacy, Verification by County Board, must be completed prior to the submission of the form to the State Board of Elections. This portion of the Notice of Candidacy may be completed before the filing period opens. Bring the Notice of Candidacy to Buncombe County Election Services located at 35 Woodfin St., Asheville.

Legislative and County Offices: All Notices of Candidacy, together with the proper filing fee, must be in the possession of the Buncombe County Board of Elections by Noon on Friday, February 29, 2012, to be accepted for Legislative and County Offices. This does not mean in the mail at that time, and all Notices arriving after that time cannot be accepted. The filing fee must be paid with individual check or money order, payable to “Buncombe County Election Services”. Business or corporate checks are not accepted.

Legislative committees file organizational papers and submit campaign finance reports to the State Board of Elections, PO Box 27255, Raleigh NC 27611-7255.

County committees file organizational papers and submit campaign finance reports to the Buncombe County Election Services office located at 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 during the filing period.

Additional Information

Please use the following link to access fact sheets and filing forms for all offices: sboe.state.nc.us/items.aspx?id=4&s=4

Step 9: If you choose to wait until the filing period to submit your organizational committee papers, bring them, along with your filing fee, in the form of a check or money order, to the appropriate elections office beginning at 12:00 p.m. Monday, February 13, 2012 thru 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

2012 Offices and Filing Fees

Step 10: Please contact Rachel Rathbone, Buncombe County Election Services, at 250-4218 if you have any questions in regard to campaign finance. We look forward to serving you!