KRS § 118.125 Procedure and form for candidate to have name printed on primary ballot -- Form in which name may appear on ballot. (Effective January 1, 2027)

118.125 Procedure and form for candidate to have name printed on primary ballot -- Form in which name may appear on ballot. (Effective January 1, 2027) (1) Except as provided in KRS 118.155, any person who is qualified under the provisions of KRS 116.055 to vote in any primary for the candidates for nomination by the party at whose hands he or she seeks the nomination, shall have his or her name printed on the official ballot of his or her party for an office to which he or she is eligible in that primary, upon filing, with the Secretary of State or county clerk, as appropriate, at the proper time, a notification and declaration. (2) The notification and declaration shall be in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State. It shall be signed by the candidate and by not less than two (2) registered voters, who at the time of signing are of the same party as the candidate and from the district or jurisdiction from which the candidate seeks nomination. Signatures for nomination papers shall not be affixed on the document to be filed prior to the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the year in which the office will appear on the ballot. The notification and declaration for a candidate shall include the following oath: "For the purpose of having my name placed on the official primary election ballot as a candidate for nomination by the ------ Party, I, ------ (name in full as desired on the ballot as provided in KRS 118.129), do solemnly swear that my date of birth is ----- (month/day/year), that my residence address is ----- (street, route, highway, city if applicable, county, state, and zip code), that my mailing address, if different, is ----- (post office address), and that I am a registered ------ (party) voter; that I believe in the principles of the ------ Party, and intend to support its principles and policies; that I meet all the statutory and constitutional qualifications for the office which I am seeking; that if nominated as a candidate of such party at the ensuing election I will accept the nomination and not withdraw for reasons other than those stated in KRS 118.105(3); that I will not knowingly violate any election law or any law relating to corrupt and fraudulent practice in campaigns or elections in this state, and if finally elected I will qualify for the office." The declaration shall be subscribed and sworn to before an officer authorized to administer an oath by the candidate and by the two (2) voters making the declaration and signing the candidate's petition for office. The two (2) voters making the declaration and signing the candidate's petition for office shall not be participants in the Safe at Home Program under KRS 14.300 to 14.318. However, the signature of a Safe at Home Program participant shall not invalidate the candidate's filing, shall not disqualify the candidate from appearing on the ballot, and shall not constitute grounds for challenging the candidate's nomination or election. (3) When the notice and declaration has been filed with the Secretary of State or county clerk, as appropriate, and certified according to KRS 118.165, the Secretary of State or county clerk, as appropriate, shall have the candidate's name printed on the ballot according to the provisions of this chapter, except as provided in KRS 118.185. (4) Titles, ranks, or spurious phrases shall not be accepted on the filing papers and shall not be printed on the ballots as part of the candidate's name; however, nicknames, initials, and contractions of given names may be acceptable as the candidate's name. Effective: January 1, 2027 History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 97, sec. 8, effective January 1, 2027; and ch. 175, sec. 11, effective April 14, 2026. -- Amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 125, sec. 14, effective June 27, 2025. -- Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 224, sec. 15, effective April 27, 2024. -- Amended 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 88, sec. 6, effective July 15, 2020. -- Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 79, sec. 10, effective July 15, 2008. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 275, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 201, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 458, sec. 18, effective July 15, 1994. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 186, sec. 1, effective November 5, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 48, sec. 39, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 470, sec. 23, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 317, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. -- Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 394, sec. 19, effective July 15, 1982. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 7, sec. 1, effective June 19, 1976; and ch. 54, sec. 24, effective March 10, 1976. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 130, sec. 102, effective June 21, 1974. Legislative Research Commission Note (1/1/2027). This statute was amended by 2026 Ky. Acts chs. 97 and 175, which do not appear to be in conflict and have been codified together.