2014 CANDIDATE FILLING PROCESS

All candidates must file Nomination Papers in order for their name to be printed upon any official ballot. HRS §12-3. To obtain Nomination Papers, candidates must first complete an Application for Nomination Papers.

Nomination Papers are available from the first working day of February in every even numbered year, Monday, February 3, 2014. HRS §12-2.5. Nomination Papers must be filed not later than 4:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday in June, Tuesday, June 3, 2014. HRS §12-6.

Nominations Papers may be obtained at the following locations:

Candidates for federal offices – Office of Elections, County of Hawaii Clerk’s Office, County of Maui Clerk’s Office and County of Kauai Clerk’s Office.

Candidates for state offices – Office of Elections, County of Hawaii Clerk’s Office, County of Maui Clerk’s Office and County of Kauai Clerk’s Office.

Candidates for county offices – Your respective City/County Clerk’s Office

SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT

Nomination Papers must be signed by a specified number of properly registered voters who are qualified to vote for the candidate in the upcoming election.

Minimum number of valid signatures required for:

· United States Senator, United States Representative, Governor and Lieutenant Governor are not less than twenty-five (25) valid signatures of qualified voters. HRS §12-5.

· State Senator, State Representative, Mayor, Council Member and Prosecuting Attorney are not less than fifteen (15) valid signatures of qualified voters. HRS §12-5(b).

· Office of Hawaii Affairs is not less than twenty-five (25) valid signatures of qualified voters. HRS §12-5(c).

For a signature to be valid, the individual signing the Nomination Paper:

· must live and be properly registered to vote in the district from which the candidate seeks election;

· may sign Nomination Papers for only one candidate for a particular elective office if there is only one seat available, however if more than one seat is available the individual may sign as many Nomination Papers as there are seats to be filled; and

· must include the last four digits of his/her social security number, name, signature, date of birth, and residence address (a mailing address is not acceptable). HRS §12-3 and §12-4.

Candidates are advised to file their Nomination Papers early and to obtain more signatures than required in anticipation of invalid or unqualified signatories. Once Nomination Papers are filed, candidates will not be allowed to add more signatures.

CANDIDATE NAME ON BALLOT

At the time of filing, candidates must designate the name they want to appear on the ballot, including Hawaiian and/or English equivalents or nicknames. Candidates are allowed a maximum of twenty-seven (27) typed spaces on the ballot for their name. The twenty-seven (27) spaces include all letters, spaces, and punctuation marks. Titles are not permitted as part of a candidate's ballot name. Ballot names will be in the format prescribed by the Office of Elections to ensure consistency and equality.

Candidates verify and confirm the correct spelling of their ballot name at the time of filing. Once nomination papers are filed, no changes to designated ballot names are allowed except for changes made by the Office of Elections to ensure consistency and equality.

FILING FEE

There shall be deposited with each Nomination Paper a filing fee. Filing fees vary depending on office sought. Please refer to HRS §12-6 for a breakdown of filing fees for each office.

Candidates filing at the Office of Elections or the City/County of Honolulu Clerk’s Office must pay their filing fee by cash, money order, or certified cashier’s check. Candidates filing at the County of Hawaii, County of Maui and County of Kauai Clerk’s Office must pay their filing fee by money order or certified cashier’s check. Personal or campaign checks are not accepted.

Candidates for state and county offices who agree to abide by the state’s voluntary campaign expenditure limits may receive a discounted filing fee. Candidates on Oahu need to file the Affidavit to Voluntarily Agree with Campaign Expenditure Limits with the Campaign Spending Commission. Candidates who are in the County if Hawaii, County of Maui and County of Kauai need to file their affidavit with their respective County Clerk’s Office. Affidavits need to be filed before filing Nomination Papers.

Candidates who have filed the Affidavit to Voluntarily Agree with Campaign Expenditure Limits must not exceed their expenditure limits. Candidates who exceed their expenditure limits must notify the Campaign Spending Commission, Chief Election Officer, contributors, and opponents. They must also pay the full filing fee. Candidates need to contact the Campaign Spending Commission as soon as they exceed their expenditure limits.

Candidates who declare themselves indigent may have the filing fee waived. Indigent candidates need to complete and file Nomination Papers, Affidavit to Establish Indigence of Candidate, and Petition to Place the Name of an Indigent Candidate on the State of Hawaii Primary or Special Election Ballot. The petition needs to be signed by currently registered voters who constitute at least one-half of one percent (1/2%) of the total voters registered at the last preceding general election in the district from which the candidate seeks election. HRS §12-6.

FILING NOMINATION PAPERS

Candidates must file nomination papers at the office of issuance. The deadline to file nomination papers is:

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014, 4:30 p.m.

All candidates are advised to file their nomination papers early. State law prohibits exceptions or extension to the filing deadlines.

When filing Nomination Papers, all candidates must certify, by self-subscribing oath, that they:

· will qualify under the law for the office they are seeking;

· have determined all of the information on their Nomination Papers, except for the information provided by registered voters who signed the nomination papers, are true and correct; and

· are in compliance with §831-2, HRS, dealing with felons.

Partisan candidates are required to certify, by self-subscribing oath, that they are a member of a qualified political party in Hawaii. Candidates who are not a member of a political party but certify they are may be challenged and disqualified.

County Candidates are required to certify, by self-subscribing oath, that they have complied with the relevant provisions of the applicable county charter and county ordinances pertaining to elected officials.

All candidates are required to provide a notarized written oath or affirmation. The oath or affirmation statement is on the Nomination Papers. HRS §12-7. Candidates must provide the notary public with an identification card, such as a driver license or state ID, containing a picture and signature.

RESIGNATION FROM OFFICE

Certain elected state or county public officials must resign from the office currently held before being eligible as a candidate for another state or county elective office. This applies only if the term of the office presently held is not normally scheduled for election in the same year as the office sought. Candidates must resign from office before filing their nomination papers and must certify, by self-subscribing oath, that they have complied with Hawaii State Constitution, Article II, Section 7.

WITHDRAWAL OF CANDIDACY

Candidates may withdraw in writing not later than 4:30 p.m. on the day immediately following the close of filing for any reason. HRS §11-117.

For reasons of ill health, candidates may withdraw in writing not later than 4:30 p.m. on the fiftieth day prior to an election. The notice shall be accompanied by a statement from a licensed physician or physician assistant indicating that such ill health may endanger the candidate’s life. HRS §11-117.

CHALLENGE OF NOMINATION PAPERS

Objection or challenge of a candidate may be made by a registered voter, an officer of a political party whose name is on file with the Chief Election Officer, the Chief Election Officer, or the County Clerk in the case of a county election. HRS §12-8.

All objections must be filed in writing by 4:30 p.m. on the sixtieth day or the next earliest working day prior to the primary or special election. The deadline to file a candidate objection for the 2014 elections is, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 4:30 p.m. Please refer to the 2014 Candidate Objections factsheet for more information.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to filing Nomination Papers, candidates are required to file reports with the Campaign Spending Commission and with the State Ethics Commission or the County Board of Ethics in the case of a county election. Please contact the appropriate agency for more information on fulfilling these requirements.

Campaign Spending Commission

235 South Beretania Street, Room 300

Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: 586-0285

Website: http://hawaii.gov/campaign

Hawaii State Ethics Commission

1001 Bishop Street, Suite 970

Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: 587-0460

Website: http://hawaii.gov/ethics

County of Hawaii, Board of Ethics

Phone: 961-8251

County of Maui, Board of Ethics

Phone: 270-7742

County of Kauai, Board of Ethics

Phone: 241-4919

City & County of Honolulu, Board of Ethics

Phone: 768-7786

This Factsheet is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as an authority on the Hawaii election law and deadlines. Requirements and/or deadlines may change pending changes in legislation. Consult the Hawaii Revised Statutes and other sources for more detailed and accurate requirements.

Office of Elections
802 Lehua Avenue
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
Phone: 808-453-VOTE(8683)
Neighbor Island Toll Free: 1-800-442-VOTE(8683)

TTY: 808-453-6150

Internet: www.hawaii.gov/elections

Office of Elections – FSBO112N

Rev. 05/06/13