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General Information on Petitions

These sample forms are all in Acrobat PDF format. You will need the Adobe (TM) Acrobat Reader to view and print them.

These forms can be printed and filled out by hand. Print all petitions on legal size paper. Electronic signatures are not acceptable.

Form of Petitions

SAMPLE NOMINATING PETITION

The statute requires that all petitions be substantially in the form set forth in the law. Deviations or slight rearrangements of the form of petition are not fatal defects, provided that the petition contains all of the required information.

Each sheet of the petition must correctly set forth:

  • the date of the election;
  • the name of the candidate and the office or position sought;
  • the candidate's residence, and if different, their mailing or post office address;
  • information about the signer - date of signing, voter's residence address, town or city; and
  • information relating to the person who witnessed the signatures.

The voter need only sign the appropriate line on the petition sheet. All other information may be filled in by someone else. Corrections may be made to any information on the signature line. However, corrections or alterations in the date or the signature MUST be initialed by the person making the correction.

Voters may not sign a petition for more candidates than there are openings for an office.

The pages of a petition must be sequentially numbered and securely fastened.

Cover Sheets

If there are 10 or more pages in a petition, there must be a cover sheet. Multi-volume petitions requires a cover sheet for each volume. (   SAMPLE COVER SHEET)

Cover sheets must contain the following information:

  • name, residence address, and mailing address if different, of the candidate.
  • the public office sought.
  • a statement that the petition contains a number of signatures equal to or in excess of the number required by statute.
  • the volume number OR identification number of that volume.
  • the total number of volumes in each petition OR the identification number for each volume of the petition.

The following information is optional:

  • the name, residence address, (and mailing address if different) telephone number, and facsimile number of the person designated to receive notice of deficiencies in binding or cover sheet requirements.

The Board of Elections will provide notice of any correctable errors in cover sheet(s) and binding.

Certificate of Acceptance

Candidates must file a certificate of acceptance for nominations.
(   SAMPLE CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE)

Certificate of Declination

A certificate of declination must be filed should the candidate decide not to accept the designation or nomination.
(   SAMPLE CERTIFICATE OF DECLINATION)


NOTE: The above information is intended to provide general guidance for candidates and persons who are preparing to circulate petitions, and is not to be used as a substitute for consulting the Election Law or Education Law for specific petition requirements.