GEC - Nomination & Filing Procedures

Where to Obtain Nomination Papers/Candidate's Packet
The Guam Election Commission is the only agency authorized to issue nominating petitions / candidate’s packets. The procedures to obtain them are as follows:

  1. A person interested in pursuing public elected office must personally pick up nominating petitions or a candidate’s packet. Otherwise, he/she shall authorize another individual to retrieve such documents on their behalf by presenting to the Guam Election Commission an authorization letter.

  2. In case of a team (Governor / Lt. Governor), either individual shall pick up nominating petitions or a candidate’s packet, or authorize another individual to retrieve such documents on their behalf by presenting to the Guam Election Commission an authorization letter.

  3. In the event there is a group of individuals, not less and no more than five (5), and are registered voters – who are interested in sponsoring a candidate as permitted by Title 3 GCA, are permitted to pick up nominating petitions or a candidate’s packet without obtaining the required authorization of the candidate, however, a letter signed by the five individuals shall be filed with the Guam Election Commission.
Circulators
Your nominating petitions may be circulated by yourself and/or by any other person(s) of your choice. For the petition to be valid, each circulator must sign the “Certificate of Circulator” on the last page of the petition.
 
Caution to Circulators
Circulators should caution prospective signers that they may sign no more than the authorized number of petitions per office, as follows:
OFFICE NUMBER OF PETITIONS  
Governor & Lt. Governor 1  
 
Senator 15  
 
Non-Voting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives 1  
 
Attorney General of Guam Not Required  
Guam Education Policy Board   School District
Distritun "Lagu"
3 Dededo and Yigo
Distritun "Katan"
2 Barrigada, Chalan Pago-Ordot, Mongmong-Toto-Maite and Mangilao
Distritun "Luchan"
2 Agana Heights, Asan-Maina, Piti, Hagatna, Sinajan, and Tamuning
Distritun "Haya"
2 Agat, Inarajan, Merizo, Santa Rita, Talofofo, Umatac, and Yona
 
Mayor 1  
Vice Mayor 1  
Public Auditor Not Required  
Consolidated Commission on Utilities Not Required  

Petitions for Guam Education Policy Board must be signed by registered and qualified voters in the candidate’s school district. Petitions for Mayor and Vice Mayor must be signed by registered and qualified voters in the candidate’s municipality and/or village.
 
Number of Required Signatures
The following shows the minimum number of registered voter signatures required for each public elected office up for election:
OFFICE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES
 
Governor & Lt. Governor 500
Senator 250
Non-Voting Delegate to U.S. House of Representatives 500
Attorney General of Guam Not Required
Guam Education Policy Board 150
Mayor 100
Vice Mayor 100
Public Auditor Not Required
Consolidated Commission on Utilities Not Required
 
Important Note to Candidates/Circulators
Candidates / Circulators are advised to get more than the required minimum number of signatures in the event some of the signers are found to be non-registered voters. Signers should be encouraged to include their birth dates to aid in the verification process.

If a signer cannot be positively identified due to a name or an address change, the signature will not be counted. Providing the requested information makes the task of identifying a signer and validating his or her signature much easier.

Any petition that does not meet the required number of registered voter signatures will not be accepted after the deadline.
 
Where to Submit Petitions and Filing Fees
Petitions are to be filed with the Guam Election Commission office along with a filing fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100). If your method of payment is by check, the check should be made payable to Treasurer of Guam. Candidates for Public Auditor, Attorney General of Guam, Guam Education Policy Board, and Consolidated Commission on Utilities are exempted from paying a filing fee.
 
When to File Petitions
Section 6112 of 3 GCA provides for candidates for elective offices to file their declarations of candidacy with the Guam Election Commission not more than one hundred thirty (130) days and no less than sixty (60) days before an election.

For purposes of the Primary Election 2006, candidates for the Office of Governor/Lt. Governor, Senator, Non-Voting Delegate, Attorney General and other elected offices may file their petitions no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2006, and no later than 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, 2006.

Candidates for the Public Auditor, Attorney General of Guam, Guam Education Policy Board and Consolidated Commission on Utilities may file their petitions no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2006, and no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, 2006.
 
Your Name on the Ballot
We must have your full legal name as you wish it to appear on the ballot by Tuesday, July 11, 2006. A candidate for any office may request that his name be further identified on the ballot by the addition of an identifying word or phrase not derogatory or obscene and not exceeding twenty (20) letters. The word or phrase may consist of family names, titles, occupation or profession, business name, aliases, nicknames by which the candidate is known in the community, and campaign slogans. A candidate may not use the name of an office he has previously held unless he uses the prefix “ex” in front of the name of the office, except that an incumbent shall have “incumbent” printed next to his name.
 
Order of Name on the Ballot
For those offices to be nominated at the primary election, the Guam Election Commission will draw names for ballot position on Saturday, July 15, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., in Suite 200, GCIC Bldg, 414 West Soledad Avenue, in Hagatna.

For those offices to be elected at the general election, the drawing of names for ballot position will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., in Suite 200, GCIC Bldg, 414 West Soledad Avenue in Hagatna.