Running for Office

What offices can you run for?

Individuals interested in running for office should check with the entity to which they want to be elected, whether it is their local fire or school district, a municipal office, county office, etc., to find out what seats will be up for election each year. 

Potential candidates should verify petition filing deadlines, requirements for completing a petition (including the number of signatures needed to qualify), and the filing office to which they must submit their petition. 

Individuals seeking a political party nomination should communicate with their local, county, or state organization.

Local government officers and offices cannot assist candidates with information on how to run their campaigns, obtain resources, or similar matters. 

Any individual running for local (including school and fire districts), county, or state office in New Jersey must comply with state financial disclosure requirements, which are enforced by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.


Getting on the Ballot


Running as a Democrat or a Republican

Individuals interested in running for office as a Democratic or Republican candidate must participate in the Primary Election. Petitions must be filed by 4:00 PM on or before the 71st day prior to the election. Municipal candidates must file their petitions with their respective municipal clerk. County candidates must file their petitions with the Burlington County Clerk. State and federal candidates must file their petitions with the New Jersey Department of State's Division of Elections.

  • County Office Primary Petition (PDF)
    • 2026 Primary Election County Office Signature Requirements - Democrats: 300; Republicans: 269
    • For Burlington County Commissioner, Sheriff, Clerk, and Surrogate candidates.
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to the Burlington County Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 PM on or before the 71st day before the primary election (N.J.S.A. 19:23-14)
    • County candidates must have at least 300 signatures from legally qualified voters in the County of Burlington, or 1% of the total votes cast by the voters of the same political party at the last preceding primary election held for that party's candidates for the General Assembly, whichever is less, but in no case shall the petition be signed by fewer than 150 of such voters.
  • Municipal Primary Petition (PDF)
    • For Township, Borough, and City Mayor, Council, and Committee candidates.
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to your municipal clerk's office no later than 4:00 PM on or before the 71st day before the primary election (N.J.S.A. 19:23-14)
    • Petition Signature Requirements
      • Complete List - 2026 Municipal Primary Petition Signature Requirements (PDF)
      • Municipalities and wards with a population of 50,001 or more require 100 signatures; 
      • Municipalities and wards with a population of 25,001-50,000 require 75 signatures; 
      • Municipalities and wards with a population of 10,001-25,000 require 50 signatures; 
      • Municipalities and wards with a population of 5,001-10,000 require 25 signatures or 5% of the total votes cast by the voters of the same political party at the last preceding primary election held for that party's candidates in the General Assembly, whichever is less; 
      • Municipalities and wards with a population of 2,501-5,000 require 10 signatures or 5% of the total votes cast by the voters of the same political party at the last preceding primary election held for that party's candidates in the General Assembly, whichever is less; 
      • Municipalities and wards with a population of 2,500 or less require five (5) signatures or 5% of the total votes cast by the voters of the same political party at the last preceding primary election held for that party's candidates in the General Assembly, whichever is less.
  • County Committee Petitions (PDF) 
    • For Democratic and Republican party county committee candidates.
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to your municipal clerk's office no later than 4:00 PM on or before the 71st day before the primary election (N.J.S.A. 19:23-14)
    • County Committee candidates must have at least ten (10) signatures or at least 5% of the total votes cast by the political party's voters at the last preceding primary election for the party candidates for the General Assembly. All such petitions must have at least one signature. All signatures must be from legally qualified voters in New Jersey who live in the same voting district and belong to the same political party as the candidate.
      • If your municipality has recently undergone redistricting, calculating the 5% signature requirement might be difficult due to new voting district boundaries. Candidates in redistricted areas are advised to gather more than 10 signatures to ensure they qualify for the ballot.

Running as an Independent or Third Party Candidate (Not Including School or Fire District Candidates)

Individuals interested in running for a municipal or county office as an independent or third-party candidate do not participate in the Primary Election. Petitions must be filed before 4:00 PM on Primary Election Day. Municipal and county candidates must file their petitions with the Burlington County Clerk's Office. State and federal candidates must file their petitions with the New Jersey Department of State's Division of Elections.

  • Independent County Office Petition for the General Election (PDF)
    • For independent or third-party Burlington County Commissioner, Sheriff, Clerk, and Surrogate candidates.
    • Independent petitions must include signatures from at least 2% of the legally qualified voters who voted for the General Assembly in the last election in Burlington County, but no more than 100 signatures are required in total (per N.J.S.A. 19:13-5). 
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to the Burlington County Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 PM on Primary Election Day (N.J.S.A. 19:13-9)
  • Independent Municipal Office Petition for the General Election (PDF)
    • For independent or third-party Township, Borough, and City Mayor, Council, and Committee candidates.
    • Independent petitions must have signatures from at least 2% of the legally qualified voters who voted for the General Assembly in the last election in the district or political subdivision in and for which the officer or officers nominated are to be elected, but no more than 100 signatures are needed in total (as per N.J.S.A. 19:13-5). 
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to the Burlington County Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 PM on Primary Election Day (N.J.S.A. 19:13-9)

Running as a School District or Fire District Candidate

Individuals interested in running for their local or regional school or fire district only participate in the November General Election. Petitions must be filed with the Burlington County Clerk's Office by 4:00 PM on the last Monday in July. 

PLEASE obtain more signatures than necessary. Candidates who submit a petition at or near the deadline, whose petition signatures end up being insufficient, will not be able to supplement or fix any signatures after the petition deadline.


  • November Board of Fire Commissioners Petition (PDF)
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to the Burlington County Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 PM on the last Monday in July (N.J.S.A. 19:60-7; N.J.S.A. 40A:14-71b)
    • All signatures must be from legally qualified voters in the district or political subdivision for which the officer or officers nominated will be elected.
    • Board of Fire Commissioner candidates must have signatures from at least 2% of the legally qualified voters who voted in the preceding annual fire district election in the district or political subdivision and for which the officer or officers nominated are to be elected, or ten (10) signatures, whichever is less.
  • November School Board Petition (PDF)
    • Original petitions must be completed, notarized, and returned to the Burlington County Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 PM on the last Monday in July (N.J.S.A. 19:60-7; N.J.S.A. 40A:14-71b)
    • All signatures must be from legally qualified voters in the district or political subdivision for which the officer or officers nominated will be elected.
    • Board of Education candidates must have at least 25 signatures from legally qualified voters in the same district or political subdivision.
    • Information for Prospective School Board Candidates from the New Jersey School Boards Association

Please note that the Burlington County Clerk's Office will not notarize petitions.


Running as a Write-In Candidate

Individuals who opt to run as a write-in candidate for any position on the ballot are strongly encouraged to notify the County Clerk's Office at 609-265-5229 or countyclerk@co.burlington.nj.us. Notifying the County will help the post-election process. 

Ballot Positions

A random ballot draw determines ballot positions.

The ballot draw for the Primary Election is conducted at 3:00 PM on the 61st day preceding the Primary Election at the County Clerk's Office at 50 Rancocas Road, 3rd Floor, in Mount Holly.

For the General Election, the County Clerk draws for all positions on the ballot. The ballot draw for the General Election is conducted at 3:00 PM on the 85th day preceding the General Election at the County Clerk's Office at 50 Rancocas Road, 3rd Floor, in Mount Holly.

Ballot draws are open to the candidates and members of the public to observe, video, and livestream.

Bass River, Bordentown City, Medford Lakes, and Mount Holly Non-Partisan Municipal Candidates

Individuals interested in running for a nonpartisan municipal office in Bass River, Bordentown City, Medford Lakes, and Mount Holly should contact their respective municipal clerks to learn about petitioning, signature gathering, qualifications, and deadlines. Medford Lakes holds elections in May, on its own election cycle. The municipal clerks in those four towns have petition deadlines and hold their ballot draws on a timeline that differs from the County's election schedule.

Nonpartisan Municipal Election Signature Thresholds

PopulationMinimum
50,001+100
25,001 to 50,00075
10,001 to 25,00050
5,001 to 10,00025
2,501 to 5,00010
<=2,5005


Burlington Township and Moorestown Board of Fire Commissioners Candidates

The Burlington Township and Moorestown fire districts hold their elections in February. Individuals interested in running for a Board of Fire Commissioner seat in Burlington Township, Moorestown Fire District #1, or Moorestown Fire District #2 should check with their respective fire districts to learn about the process for petitions, signature gathering, qualifications, and deadlines.  They have petition deadlines and conduct ballot draws on a timeline separate from the County's election schedule.