Candidate Petitions

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County Elections

  • Contact & Filing Entity: Office of the Union County Clerk, Election Division: 908-527-4996.
  • Filing Deadline for Partisan Primary Election: 4pm on or before the 71st day prior to the election
  • Filing Deadline for Independent Candidates for the General Election: 4pm the day of the Primary Election

Municipal Elections

Contact & Filing Entity: The municipal clerk of the municipality in which you wish to file a candidate’s petition

Filing Deadline for Partisan Election: 4pm on the 71st day prior to the election

Municipal Non-Partisan Elections

  • Contact & Filing Entity: In Union County, Hillside is the only municipality to hold non-partisan elections.
  • The Hillside Municipal Clerk is the contact and filing entity. 973-926-3000

School Board Elections – November

  • Contact & Filing Entity: Office of the Union County Clerk, Election Division: 908-527-4996
  • Filing Deadline for School Board Election: by 4:00pm on the last Monday in July

Offices for the School Board Election – November 5, 2024

Coming soon

2024 Instructions for Annual School Election Petitions

Candidate Nominating Petitions must be filed with the County Clerk by the deadline of Monday, July 29, 2024 before 4:00 p.m.

The County Clerk’s Office is located at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the County Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4996 for more information or Kimberly.perrotto@ucnj.org.

A Petition Form can be obtained by using the link below or in person at the County Clerk’s Office.

Notice to All School Board Candidates

A new law effective July 1, 2018 permits School Board Candidates to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on the ballot if they wish with 1 or 2 other candidates.  It also permits a short non-political slogan not to exceed 3 words.

Candidates are required to file a specific affirmation that they have not been convicted of crimes that would disqualify them from office with their petition.  Please call the County Clerk’s Elections Office if you have any questions at 908-527-4996.

Qualifications and Instructions for Petition

Qualifications

Candidates filing a nominating petition for school board must meet the following qualifications:

  • Must be a citizen of the United States of America
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be able to read and write
  • Must be a resident for at least one year preceding the date of election in the municipality where he/she is to be elected
  • Is not disqualified as a voter pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:4-1
  • Is not disqualified from membership for the conviction of crimes pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1*
  • Is a registered voter in the school district

*Within 30 days of election or appointment to the board, a member must undergo a criminal history background investigation through the New Jersey Department of Education.

Instructions for Petition
  1. Before circulating the petition complete section “A. Nominating Statement” and section “B. Signatories” above the area for the signatures, printed name, residence mailing address and e-mail address.
  2. Then have voters sign, print their name and print their complete residence.
  3. Once all signatures are gathered the person who circulated the petition for the signatures must take the oath in section “C. Verification” before a notary public.
  4. Section “D. Notice” is the notice to which all candidates must comply.
  5. In section “E. Candidate’s Acceptance and Oath of Allegiance” the candidate must take the oath before a notary public.