Today is the last day for candidates interested in running for municipal office to file to be on the ballot this spring.
Prospective candidates have until 12 p.m. to file to be on the ballot for the May 2 primary elections. There are 36 local offices with 52 seats on the ballot this election cycle, with offices in all of the county’s cities and towns up for grabs.
Residents who are interested in running for county, township or municipal offices can file for office at the Johnson County Voter Registration located in the basement of the Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin.
To seek nomination, a candidate must belong to the Democratic or Republican Party. Election officials verify party affiliation using two methods, according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office:
- The political party ballot requested by the candidate at the two most recent primary elections in Indiana where they voted matches the party listed on their filing, or
- The candidate files a certification from their county chair affirming their membership in that political party.
The declaration of candidacy for primary nomination, known as a CAN-42 form, requires the candidate to affirm their party affiliation and attach the certification, if required.
Candidates for local office also must file a financial disclosure statement before a declaration of candidacy may be accepted, officials say.
Both the Indiana Election Division and the Johnson County Election Board are not allowed to accept late candidate filings.
There are several offices that had no local candidates by the close of filing Thursday: Edinburgh Clerk-Treasurer, New Whiteland Town Council Ward 1 and New Whiteland Town Council Ward 4. Edinburgh Town Council at-large had one candidate for the three seats that will be on the ballot as of Thursday.
If a candidate for these offices don’t file to run today, local political parties can fill in the gaps on the ballot through slating.
CORRECTION – Feb. 3 at 8:32 a.m.:
A previous version of this story included Prince’s Lakes Clerk-Treasurer as an office that had no local candidates file. This was incorrect as Erica Giger, the Republican incumbent, filed for the office on Jan. 20. The story has been updated to reflect that.
