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RUNNING FOR OFFICE
Petition Information
Nomination petitions
Where to get your petition?
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nomination petition for state-level offices are available online at http://dos.state.pa.us; these petitions are filed with the Department of State in Harrisburg
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All other nomination petitions are obtained and filed at your county Department of Elections
Candidate
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fill in the Preamble portion of the petition
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be sure to print your name as you want it to appear on the ballot
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a candidate may sign her own petition (for the party with which she is affiliated)
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a candidate should obtain more signatures than the required number
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the candidate’s affidavit on each petition must be signed and notarized after each petition is circulated
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if you do not intend to form a political committee or receive contributions or make expenditures in excess of $250 during any financial reporting period, sign and have notarized the waiver of expense account reporting affidavit
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ignore the “SS:” on the affidavits; it does not mean social security #
Petition Circulator
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a person who is securing signatures on a petition for a candidate
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must be of the same political party stated on the petition you are circulating
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must witness all signatures obtained on the petition
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a candidate can circulate her own petitions
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all signatures on a petition must be obtained before the petition is notarized
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the circulator’s affidavit on each petition page must be signed and notarized after the all the signatures on the petition are obtained; you cannot circulate a petition that has already been notarized
Challenged and Rejected Petitions
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Your petition may be challenged in court for various reasons:
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the affidavit of circulator was notarized and then the circulator went and got more signatures after the notarization
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the Statement of Financial Interest form is not filed with the governing body sought by the candidate by the deadline
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signer(s) not a resident in the district where the petitioner is running for office
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signer(s) not enrolled voter in the petitioner’s party
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Most common reasons petitions are rejected by the County Board of Elections
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insufficient number of total signatures
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petition was circulated prior to the first day
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petition was filed after the deadline
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petition is not properly notarized
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the Statement of Financial Interest form does not accompany the petition
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Statement of Financial Interest Form
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all candidates seeking public office must file this form (not needed for candidates for party committee positions)
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the form requires candidates to provide information regarding their sources of income
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the form must be filed with the governing body where the person is going to be a candidate; for example, a candidate for a city council position would file the form with the city clerk; a candidate for school board would file the position with the secretary of the school district)
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a copy of the completed form must be appended to the nomination petition at the time of filing the petition with the Election Office
Filing Fees
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if a filing fee is required, it must be paid at the time of filing your petition and Statement of Financial Interest
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filing fees can be paid in cash, by money order or a certified check payable to the filing county’s Treasurer’s Office
Candidate’s Campaign Committee
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a candidate is not required to have a campaign committee
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if a candidate establishes a campaign committee, such committee must have a chairperson and a treasurer who may not be the same individual
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a vacancy in either the chairperson or treasurer office prohibits the committee from receiving contributions or making expenditures
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before the committee may receive contributions on behalf of the candidate, the Authorization for a Political Committee to Receive Funds on Behalf of a Candidate form must be filed with the office in which the nomination petition was filed
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when the committee has received an aggregate amount of $250 in contributions, a Registration Statement must be filed with the office where the nomination petition was filed
Things to do now!
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get to the county elections office and obtain necessary paperwork (petition and financial forms) as well as the Campaign Finance Reporting Law: Manual for Candidates and Political Committees
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identify a chairperson and a treasurer for your campaign committee
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develop a one to two sentence reply to: why are you running for this office
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have a “palm” card made; carry these with you at all times and hand one to everyone you meet and talk to about your candidacy
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pick up a stack of voter registration forms; carry them with you; when you talk with someone interested in your candidacy & not registered you can give them a form
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begin to attend the regular meetings of the governing body you are campaigning to join
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get a social media site for your campaign (do not use your personal Facebook/ website)
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get a campaign email address (do not use your current, personal email address)
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begin to identify your network of supporters and contributors: family, friends, folks you have worked with in civic organizations and on events, professional associates, ….; people who know you, your knowledge, skills, integrity, commitment to serve others
County Election Offices
Materials Available from your County Elections Office
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nomination petitions
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Authorization for a Political Committee to Receive Funds on Behalf of a Candidate
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financial forms
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Campaign Finance Reporting Law: Manual for Candidates and Political Committees
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street lists of registered voters
Lackawanna County Department of Elections
Director - Elizabeth Hopkins
Phone: 570-963-6737 | Fax: 570-963-6691
E-mail: HopkinsE@lackawannacounty.org
http://www.lackawannacounty.org/index.php/departmentsagencies/elections/voter-registration
Luzerne County Bureau of Elections
Director - Eryn Harvey
Phone: 570-825-1715
Email: elections@luzernecounty.org
http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/departments_agencies/bureau_of_elections
Monroe County Elections / Voter Registration
Director - Sara May-Silfee
Phone: 570-517-3165
Pike County Elections Office​
Director - Nadeen Manzoni
Phone: 570-296-3426
Email: nmanzoni@pikepa.org
https://www.pikepa.org/government/elections_office/index.php
Susquehanna County Election Resources
Director - Macy Rudock
Phone: 570-278-4600, X 4090
http://www.susqco.com/Dept/Voter/Pages/Election-Resources.aspx
Wayne County Bureau of Elections
Director - Cindy Furman
Phone: 570-253-5978
Email: CFurman@waynecountypa.gov
Wyoming County PA Elections and Voter Registration
Director - Florence Kellett
Phone: 570-996-2226
Email: fkellett@wycopa.org