ALL candidates wanting to run for county office in the August general election must qualify by February 17, 2022.
If anyone is interested in running for a county office, the petition deadline is Noon, February 17. Independent candidates and Republican and Democratic candidates must all have their petitions turned in to the election office no later than 12:00 Noon, February 17, 2022.
“There has been a lot of confusion concerning when Independent candidates should pick up their petitions,” said Yvonne Gibbs, Smith County Administrator of Elections. “A common misconception exists that Independent candidates do not have to pick up their petitions now, because they will not be on the ballot until August. This is not true. Independent candidate petitions are due at the same time as party candidates running for any of the local county offices.”
One result of having a May primary is that it moves the qualifying deadline for all candidates to an earlier date of February 17 instead of in April.
“All candidates desiring to run for one of the local county offices or for a 15th Judicial District Office has a petition deadline quickly approaching of 12:00 Noon, February 17, 2022,” said Gibbs. In addition to the full-time county offices, this will include county commissioners from all districts and school board members in the New Middleton, Rock City, Carthage and Elmwood Districts.
Tax Assessor is the only full-time county office that will not be on the ballot in 2022. Normally the tax assessor and road superintendent elections are held in a different election year than the other county offices.
“However, due to a vacancy, the office for road superintendent will be included on the May primary ballot,” she continued. “Therefore in August, we will be electing a road superintendent to fill the unexpired term until 2024.”
Gibbs said a simple way to explain a primary is to think of it as playoff games. The Republican and Democratic parties are having two separate elections or playoff games on the same day in May (election day).
“Actually on May 3 there are two elections, one election for Republicans and one for Democrats to decide which one candidate will represent their party for a specific office in August. Winning the playoff games does not make you a champion, but allows you to play in the Super Bowl,” she said. In similar fashion, winning the May primary election, does not allow the candidate to take office, but allows the nominee(s) to proceed to the August ballot. The August ballot will have one candidate for an office representing Republicans and one representing Democrats, along with any properly qualified Independent candidates. Whoever wins the election in August will take office. For voters to have a choice between Republican, Democratic and Independent candidates, petitions must be submitted by candidates from both parties and from independent candidates as well. Otherwise in the August general election, voters may have fewer candidate options.
