118.591 Nomination of presidential preference primary candidate by petition -- Qualification of candidate through filing of notice of candidacy. (1) Any person seeking the endorsement by a political party for the office of President of the United States, or any group organized in this state on behalf of, and with the consent of, the person, may file with the Secretary of State certified petitions signed by five thousand (5,000) persons who, at the time they sign, are registered and qualified voters in the Commonwealth and are affiliated, by registration, with the same political party as the candidate for whom petitions are filed. (2) The petitions shall be filed by the petitioners with the Secretary of State no later than the first Friday following the first Monday in January preceding a presidential preference primary. (3) The petitions shall state: (a) The name of the candidate for nomination and the party of which the candidate is a member; and (b) The name and address of the chair of the group circulating such petition. (4) The Secretary of State shall determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with him or her and shall immediately communicate his or her determination to the chair of the group which has filed the petitions. (5) In lieu of the petition requirements of subsections (1) to (4) of this section, a candidate may qualify to appear on the presidential preference primary ballot of the candidate's political party by filing with the Secretary of State, no later than the first Friday following the first Monday in January preceding a presidential preference primary, a notice of candidacy signed by the candidate and either of the following: (a) A certification by the Federal Election Commission that, by the filing deadline, the candidate has qualified for matching federal campaign funds; or (b) Evidence that, by the filing deadline, the candidate's name is qualified to appear on the presidential preference primary ballot of the candidate's political party in at least twenty (20) other states. (6) The Secretary of State shall determine the sufficiency of the documentation provided pursuant to subsection (5) of this section and shall immediately communicate his or her determination to the candidate or the candidates's agent. Effective: November 6, 2019 History: Amended 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 187, sec. 7, effective November 6, 2019. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 3, sec. 1, effective January 29, 1996. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 296, sec. 16, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 48, sec. 53, effective July 13, 1990; and ch. 431, sec. 5, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 470, sec. 21, effective July 15, 1986. -- Created 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 29, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1986.