People interested in running for an elected office in Catawba County can file for candidacy starting noon Monday.

The filing period to run for elected offices in Catawba County is Feb. 8 through Feb. 26. Those interested in running for an elected office must file with the Catawba County Board of Elections during this period to be eligible.

To file, candidates go to the Catawba County Justice Center in Newton and fill out the appropriate paperwork. The paperwork determines if each potential candidate meets the eligibility requirements for the office. 

It doesn’t matter when candidates file within the filing period, as long as their paperwork is submitted by the deadline.   

 “Some people like to be the very first in line Monday morning and others like to be the very last,” said Larry Brewer, Catawba County director of elections. “It just depends on the person.”

Candidates also have the option to mail in their paperwork.

 Requirements for each office vary. Most require that the candidate be at least 21 years old and a qualified voter of the state.

Candidates must meet the requirements for their desired office, as well as pay a filing fee. To review requirements for each office, go to www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/elect/factsheet.pdf. Filing fees range from $5 to $1,740 depending on the desired office.

The filing fee for each partisan office this year is 1 percent of the office’s salary, Brewer said.

Offices up for election in Catawba County this year are: three seats on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, sheriff, clerk of superior court, N.C. senate 42nd district and N.C. House districts 88, 89 and 96,

The offices of U.S. senator, U.S. 10th congressional district representative, district attorney for the 25th judicial district, superior court judge for district 25-B and district court judge district 25 are also up for election. Candidates for those offices file with the North Carolina Board of Elections.

Three seats on the Catawba County Board of Education and two supervisors for the Soil and Water Conservation District are also up for election. These races have no primary election, and the filing period is June 14 through July 2 for the Soil and Water Conservation District and June 7 through July 2 for the Board of Education.

The primary election is May 4. A second primary will be held June 22, if necessary. The general election is Nov. 2.