A candidate may have his or her name printed upon the nonpartisan general municipal election ballot as candidate for any office to be filled at the election. To become a candidate, a declaration of candidacy must be filed with the county election board no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on the first Monday in February and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the next succeeding Wednesday. A candidate must also be a registered voter at an address within the municipality, or of the ward where the office is from a ward for at least six (6) months prior to filing a declaration of candidacy. Filing as a candidate in a nonpartisan municipal election or voting for such candidate shall not affect one's party affiliation or regularity.