W. Va. Code § 3-5-8

Current through 2024 First Special Session

Section 3-5-8 - Filing fees and their disposition

Every person who becomes a candidate for nomination for or election to office in any primary election shall, at the time of filing the certificate of announcement as required in this article, pay a filing fee as follows:

(a) A candidate for president of the United States, for vice president of the United States, for United States Senator, for member of the United States House of Representatives, for Governor and for all other state elective offices shall pay a fee equivalent to one percent of the annual salary of the office for which the candidate announces: Provided, That the filing fee for any candidate for president or vice president of the United States shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars commencing with the two thousand four filing period;

(b) A candidate for the office of judge of a circuit court and judge of a family court shall pay a fee equivalent to one percent of the total annual salary of the office for which the candidate announces;

(c) A candidate for member of the House of Delegates shall pay a fee of one-half percent of the total annual salary of the office and a candidate for state Senator shall pay a fee of one percent of the total annual salary of the office;

(d) A candidate for sheriff, prosecuting attorney, circuit clerk, county clerk, assessor, member of the county commission and magistrate shall pay a fee equivalent to one percent of the annual salary, excluding any additional compensation or commission of the office for which the candidate announces. A candidate for county board of education shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars. A candidate for any other county office shall pay a fee of ten dollars;

(e) Delegates to the national convention of any political party shall pay the following filing fees:

A candidate for delegate-at-large shall pay a fee of twenty dollars; and a candidate for delegate from a congressional district shall pay a fee of ten dollars;

(f) Candidates for members of political executive committees and other political committees shall pay the following filing fees:

A candidate for member of a state executive committee of any political party shall pay a fee of twenty dollars; a candidate for member of a county executive committee of any political party shall pay a fee of ten dollars; and a candidate for member of a congressional, senatorial or delegate district committee of any political party shall pay a fee of five dollars.

Candidates filing for an office to be filled by the voters of one county shall pay the filing fee to the clerk of the county commission and candidates filing for an office to be filled by the voters of more than one county shall pay the filing fee to the Secretary of State at the time of filing their certificates of announcement and no certificate of announcement shall be received until the filing fee is paid.

All moneys received by the clerk from the fees shall be credited to the general county fund. Moneys received by the Secretary of State from fees paid by candidates for offices to be filled by all the voters of the state shall be deposited in a special fund for that purpose and shall be apportioned and paid by him or her to the several counties on the basis of population and that received from candidates from a district or judicial circuit of more than one county shall be apportioned to the counties comprising the district or judicial circuit in like manner. When such moneys are received by sheriffs, it shall be credited to the general county fund.

W. Va. Code § 3-5-8