JOHNSON RELEASES FILING STATISTICS

HELENA—Thursday, March 20 was the last day candidates were allowed to file Declarations for Nomination to run for state and federal offices.  The office of Secretary of State Brad Johnson released final statistics for the 2008 filing season today, along with comparison data for previous years.

Total Filings                    Legislative Filings                       Other (usually statewide) Filings

2008      364                                    302                                                  62

2006      376                                    307                                                  69

2004      344                                    302                                                  42

2002      325                                    291                                                  34

2000      410                                    314                                                  96

This year represented the first year candidates could file for office online.  Of 364 total filings, 164 of those were online, or 45 percent.

On the last day of filing, Johnson called the online system “a tremendous success.” He said “It makes the government more efficient, and it makes it easier for people to participate in their government.”

###