Guilford County Announces Candidate Filing Period, Important Deadlines Ahead

Guilford County’s Board of Elections released a formal notice on Nov. 20, 2025 setting the candidate filing window for county offices this December. Candidates must file notices of candidacy and pay required filing fees in person at county BOE offices or arrange for notarized materials to be delivered and received by the closing deadline of noon on Dec. 19, 2025. The county specified BOE office locations in Greensboro at 301 W. Market St. and in High Point at 325 E. Russell Ave. The release also listed filing fee amounts for a range of offices including state legislature seats, district attorney, clerk, sheriff, county commissioners, and board of education seats. Judicial and federal candidates are required to file in Raleigh.

The announcement establishes hard deadlines and procedural requirements that will shape the early stages of next year’s local campaigns. The requirement that materials be received rather than postmarked emphasizes the need for timely submission and could present logistical challenges for candidates relying on courier services or remote campaign staff. The combination of in person filing and notarization options means campaign teams must plan for either physical presence at BOE offices or secure notary services in advance.

For voters, the filing period sets the timeline for when candidate fields will begin to solidify and when primary ballots, should primaries be required, will be populated. A compressed filing window can influence the diversity and number of candidates who enter races, which in turn affects voter choice and competition for seats that oversee county budgets, schools, public safety, and other local services.

Institutionally, the BOE release included procedural guidance and contact information for prospective candidates and campaign teams. Transparency around fees, locations, and submission procedures is essential for equitable access to the ballot, and the BOE’s published details are a step toward that goal. Local civic groups and prospective candidates will now need to weigh the calendar and administrative requirements as they decide whether to run, and campaigns that move quickly will have the advantage in organizing volunteers, fundraising, and outreach ahead of the filing deadline.