On November 4, five of the nine Bucks County Row offices will be up for election or re-election to their positions.
In Bucks County, row officers are elected in an “at large” voting system of four-year terms and some of the office election terms are staggered by two year intervals. Every eligible and registered voter across Bucks County will cast a vote for each office – regardless of the municipal location in which candidates reside.
Candidates for Bucks County Row Office must be at least 18 years of age, and a Bucks County resident for at least one year prior to the election. Row officers cannot also be federal employees, a member of Congress, a member of the Board of Health, a member of a municipal legislative body or a school board director.
What’s a prothonotary?
According to the Bucks County official website, here’s what they do:
A prothonotary is responsible for managing civil and family court documents and essentially serves as serves as the chief clerk of the Civil Division of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. The prothonotary will “docket, scan and process civil and family court documents” according to state and county requirements.
In the role, the prothonotary handles birth certificate requests, passports, legal name changes, Right to Know requests, landlord/tenant appeals and Protection from Abuse form filings, among others.
The family division handles divorce, custody arrangements and protection from abuse order filings. The civil and passport division is the hub for form filings to set in motion processing such documents.
In the case of a death or resignation by any county row official other than the Bucks County District Attorney, Pennsylvania’s governor may make interim appointments until a new official can be elected.
For the death or resignation of the District Attorney, the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Board of Judges would make an interim position appointment, the website said.
Candidates:
