Except as provided in Part 5, Candidates Not Affiliated with a Party, or Part 6, Write-in Candidates:
(1) except as provided in Subsection (2), the filing period to file a declaration of candidacy for an elective office that is to be filled at the next regular general election:
(a) begins at 8 a.m. on the first business day in January of an even-numbered year; and
(b) ends at 5 p.m. on the fifth business day in January of an even-numbered year; and
(2) for the 2026 election year only, the filing period to file a declaration of candidacy for the office of United States representative:
(a) begins at 8 a.m. on March 9, 2026; and
(b) ends at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026.