Each day, Monday through Friday of this week, is the annual filing for elective offices. Citizens walk into the auditor's office in the county courthouse, step up to the counter, fill out the forms, and write a check. The clerk stamps their filing as approved and they walk out of the courthouse a candidate for elective office. It is Americana - a ritual of our democratic process - a hallmark of our republic. Each day at 5 p.m. we would know who had filed and the evening news would report it. But times continue to change.

Now, a citizen can file online anytime of day or night - and be approved with the acceptance of their online credit card payment. Yep - Doug Ericksen could file for county executive late tonight and his name would appear immediately on the official list of candidates. At 10 p.m. or at 2 a.m. From today, Monday, June 6, at 9 a.m. until Friday, June 10, at 4 p.m. candidates can file online from their home anytime - 24 hours a day.

The final filing action will still be at the auditor's counter on Friday from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - with online filing closed and the last minute filing circus in play. Anyone at the counter by 4:30 will be able to file. To reduce the chaos of the circus, Auditor Shirley Forselof has taken to only admitting those who intend to file, plus the news media after 4 p.m.   Note - see clarification below.  

So, a question that Election Supervisor Pete Griffin answered for me today was this: what is the time delay from a candidate filling out the paperwork at the counter and it being displayed online? Pete said they now type in the information almost as the candidate is filling out the form and as soon as the payment is accepted they hit the button and the candidate is posted to the auditor webpage. Within 30 seconds of their passing a check across the counter.

New times are with us. A tip of the hat to Pete Griffin - and to our secretary of state - for enabling these changes. Our democratic republic benefits when we have more access to our government systems.

Update - Tue, Jun 7.  Our Auditor, Shirley Forselof, has asked that I clarify the process at the end of filing on Friday afternoon.  All members of the public will be allowed into her office until 4:30 closing.  Those wishing to file for office will be asked at 4:25 to step up to the counter.  And other persons and media will be asked to step away from the counter while candidates complete their filing.