WV HB2608

Requires independent candidates for political office to file their certificate of announcement during the same January filing period as party-affiliated candidates (second Monday through last Saturday in January before the primary election)

Applies the existing partisan candidate filing deadline uniformly to all candidates, eliminating any separate or later filing deadline for independent candidates

Candidates must file with the Secretary of State for multi-county offices or with the county commission clerk for single-county/local offices, with the same midnight deadline for receipt or postmark

The Secretary of State's office must remain open until 11:59 p.m. on the final filing day, and county clerk offices must be open from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.