Qualifications for Elected Office
If you are interested in running for an elected position, please complete the forms found here and deliver to the County Clerk office. The following positions will be filed with the Secretary of State's Office:
| Office | Qualifications | Authority | Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| President (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 35 years of age, a natural born citizen, been 14 years a resident within the United States. | U.S. Const. Art 11, § 1 | Primary $1,000.00 / General $500.00 |
| Vice President (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 35 years of age, a natural born citizen, been 14 years a resident within the United States. | U.S. Const. Art 11, § 1 | Primary $1,000.00 / General $500.00 |
| United States Senator (Staggered 6 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for 9 years, and, when elected an inhabitant of the State for which he is chosen. | U.S. Const. Art. I, § 3 | $500.00 |
| United States Representative (2 Yr Term) | Must be at least 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and, when elected, an inhabitant of the State for which he is chosen. | U.S. Const. Art. I, § 3 | $500.00 |
| Governor (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age, and have been a citizen and resident of Kentucky for at least 6 years nextpreceding his election. | Ky. Const. § 72 | $500.00 |
| Lieutenant Governor (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age, and have been a citizen and resident of Kentucky for at least 6 years next preceding his election | Ky. Const. § 72 | N/A |
| Attorney General (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age at the time of his election, shall have been a resident citizen of teh State at least 2 years next before his election, and shall have been a practicing lawyer 8 years before his election. | Ky. Const. §§ 91, 92 | $500.00 |
| Secretary of State (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age at the time of his electoin, and shall have been a resident citizen of the State at least 2 years next before his election. | Ky. Const. § 91 | $500.00 |
| Auditor of Public Accounts (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age at the time of his election, and shall have been a resident citizen of the State at least 2 years next before his election. | Ky. Const. § 91 | $500.00 |
| State Treasurer (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age at the time of his election, and shall have been a resident citizen of the State at least 2 years next before his election. | Ky. Const. § 91 | $500.00 |
| Commissioner of Agriculture (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 30 years of age at the time of his election, and shall have been a resident citizen of the State at least 2 years next before his election. | Ky. Const. § 91 | $500.00 |
| State Senator (Staggered 4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, resided in the State 6 years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the district for which he may be chosen. | Ky. Const. § 32 | $200.00 |
| State Representative (2 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, resided in the State 2 years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the county, town or city, for which he may be chosen. | Ky. Const. § 32 | $200.00 |
| Supreme Court Justice (Staggered 8 Yr Term) | Must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of both the Commonwealth and the district from which he is elected for 2 years next preceding his taking office, licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least 8 years | Ky. Const. § 122 | $200.00 |
| Jude of the Court of Appeals (8 Yr Term) | Must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of both the Commonwealth and of the district from which he is elected for 2 years next preceding his taking office, licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least 8 years. | Ky. Const. § 122 | $200.00 |
| Circuit Judge (8 Yr Term) | Must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of both the Commonwealth and the district from which he is elected for 2 years next preceding his taking office, licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least 8 years. | Ky. Const. § 122 | $200.00 |
| District Judge (4 Yr Term) | Must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of both the Commonwealth and of the district from which he is elected for 2 years next preceding his taking office, licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least 2 years. | Ky. Const. § 122 | $200.00 |
| Commonwealth's Attorney (6 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, resided in the State 2 years and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate, and have been a licensed practicing lawyer for 4 years. | Ky. Const. § 100 | $200.00 |
The following positions will be filed with the County Clerk
| Office | Qualifications | Authority | Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court Clerk (6 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate, and that he is qualified for the office for which he is a candidate. Additional Requirement: must receive a passing grade of 70% or more on a written examination prepared and administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts. | Ky. Const. § 100 SCR 1.060 | $50.00 |
| County Judge / Executive (4 Yr Term) | At the time of the election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. | Ky. Const. § 100 | $50.00 |
| County Clerk (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. | Ky. Const. § 100 | $50.00 |
| County Attorney (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county in which he is a candidate, and have been a licensed practicing lawer for 2 years. | Ky. Const. § 100 | $50.00 |
| Sheriff (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State for 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. | Ky. Const. § 100 | $50.00 |
| Jailer (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. The General Assembly has consolidated the offices of sheriff and jailer in counties containing a city of the first class and in urban county governments. | Ky. Const. § 100 KRS 71.110 | $50.00 |
| Coroner (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. | Ky. Const. § 100 | $50.00 |
| Property Valuation Administrator (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election int he county and district in which he is a candidate. Additional Requirement: must posess a certificate issued by the Revenue Cabinet showing that he has been examined by it and that he is qualified for the office. | Ky. Const. § 100 KRS 132.380 | $50.00 |
| Surveyor (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. Additional requirement: at the time of filing must provide county clerk with evidence tat he or she holds a Kentucky license as a professional land surveyor. | Ky. Const. § 100 KRS 73.020 | $50.00 |
| Magistrate / Justice of the Peace (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate. | Ky. Const. §§ 100, 234 | $50.00 |
| County Commissioner (4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 24 years of age, has been for 2 years next preceding his election, a resident of the county and a citizen of Kentucky, must have been a bona fide resident of the district he proposes to represent for at least 1 year preceding his election. | KRS 67.060 | $50.00 |
| Constable (4 Yr Term) | At the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate (Shall possess the same qualifications as Sheriffs.) | Ky. Const. §§ 100, 101 | $50.00 |
| Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors (Staggered 4 Yr Term) | Shall be a resident of the county or district in which he serves as a supervisor, and upon moving from the county or district, the supervisor shall be ineligible to serve as a supervisro and his office shall be vacant. | KRS 262.240(4) | $20.00 |
| Mayor (Staggered 4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the city for nto less that 1 year prior to his or her election, a qualified voter in the city, and shall reside in the city throughout his term of office. | KRS 83A.040(1) | $50.00 |
| Legislative Body (2 Yr Term) | Must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the city for not less than 1 year prior to his or her election, a qualified voter in the city, and shall reside in the city throughout his term of office. | KRS 83A.040(4) | $50.00 |
| Board of Education (School Board) Member (Staggered 4 Yr Term) | Must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky for at least 3 years preceding the election, a voter of the district for which he is elected, completed at least the 12th grade or has been issued a GED certificate or has received a high school diploma in the external diploma program, and files an affidavit certifying completion of the 12th grade or the equivalent with his nominating petition. The candidate must not hold a state office requiring the constitutional oath or be a member of the General Assembly, nor may he hold or discharge the duties of any civil or political office, deputyship, or agency under the city or county of his resident, nor at the time of election is directly or indirectly interested in the sale to the board of services, supplies, or equipment purchased with school funds, nor has been removed from a board of education for cause, nor as a relative employed by the school district. | KRS 160.180(2) | $20.00 |
| Write-In Candidates (Allowed only in General Elections) | See qualifications for desire office. | KRS 117.265 KRS 118.255 | $50.00 |