Registration deadline Dec. 2 for political hopefuls

Come Dec. 2, if you don't change, you can't run.

Potential political candidates -- and those who are sure about their political plans -- have until Sunday, Dec. 2 to change their voter registration or register to vote, state election officials confirmed today.

Fran Roach, assistant state election board secretary, said state law requires candidates to be a registered voter of a political party six months prior to the filing period.

Filing period for the 2008 election cycle is June 2 through 4.

Candidates who don't register by the deadline or who don't change their registration by the deadline, would not be eligible to run for state office.

Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Paula Roberts urged potential candidates to compete their registration now.

"If they want to make sure, they should get their registration done by Nov. 30 at the county election board office," she said.

Changes also can be made at tag agencies, public libraries and the post office.

"People should make sure they have their registration date stamped while they are standing there," Roberts said. "That's the date we go by."

The rule is part of state law governing elections.

"To file as a candidate for nomination by a political party, to any state or county office, a person must have been a registered voter of that party for the six month period immediately preceding the first day of the filing period," the law states.

Political hopefuls wanting more information should call the election board at 366-0210.