Somerset County
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NOTES FOR ALL CANDIDATES AND CIRCULATORS:
- Signature requirements for municipal offices for 2026-2028 are now available.
- Municipal Offices
- County Committee (Democrats run in 2026, Republicans run in 2028)
- County Clerk staff cannot notarize petitions. Please have the appropriate notarizations done prior to filing your petitions.
- Electronic signatures are NOT permitted.
When and Where to File Petitions
|
Office |
Election |
Where to File |
Filing Deadline |
Minimum Required Signatures |
|
County Offices Partisan* County Clerk Surrogate Sheriff County Commissioner |
Primary |
County Clerk |
71 days before the Primary Election |
Democratic: 300 Republican: 221 |
|
County Offices Independent** County Clerk Surrogate Sheriff County Commissioner |
General |
County Clerk |
Day of the Primary Election |
250 |
|
Municipal Offices Partisan*
|
Primary |
Municipal Clerk |
71 days before the Primary Election |
Varies* |
|
County Committee Partisan*
|
Primary |
Municipal Clerk |
71 Days before the Primary Election |
Varies* |
|
Municipal Offices Independent**
|
General |
County Clerk |
Day of the Primary Election |
Varies* |
|
Board of Education**
|
General |
County Clerk |
Last Monday in July |
25 |
|
Fire District** (Hillsborough)
|
General |
County Clerk |
Last Monday in July |
10 |
|
State and Federal Offices |
Contact the NJ Division of Elections for information. |
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*Partisan candidates run for either the Democratic or Republican nomination at the Primary election.
**Independent candidates do not affiliate with any political party and run in the General election.
Special Note for Board of Education Candidates: If you wish to bracket and/or share a slogan with other candidates in your district, please complete this form and return it in person or e-mail it to countyclerk@somersetcountynj.gov by August 3.
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