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Board seeks election-office guidance after confusion over primaries, independents and filing deadlines
Summary
Ulen board members said county changes to filing rules have residents unsure whether town seats will appear on partisan primaries; the board will meet with the elections official to clarify how residents should register and will send clear instructions to potential candidates.
Town officials spent significant time clarifying how to register for town-board elections after an elections official told a board member that recent changes could place town filings in a primary process. Members said that could confuse residents because the town’s board is officially nonpartisan and historically did not use primaries for local seats.
The discussion identified two filing paths: signing up now under a party designation to appear on a primary ballot, or filing later as an independent with required signature petitions for the general election. Several members said they prefer to encourage residents to run as nonpartisan candidates and asked staff to confirm which filing options apply to Ulen. The board asked two members to meet the elections official before Feb. 6 to get definitive guidance and to prepare an explanatory email for residents once the town has exact instructions.
Board members expressed concern about voter confusion if town candidates appear on partisan primary ballots and agreed to ask the county elections office for written clarification and step-by-step forms the town can publish to assist potential candidates.
