November’s school board elections are quickly approaching, and petitions must be submitted to their county clerk before the deadline for candidates who want to appear on the general election ballot.
The deadline for filing nominating petitions for those seeking school board positions is Monday, July 29, 2024, and the documents must be submitted before 4:00 p.m.
Nominating petitions and a school board packet are available through your local County Clerk’s Office.
Those who seek office are encouraged to use the New Jersey School Boards Association’s Candidate Kit as a resource. It provides downloadable PDFs as well as links to important websites for anyone considering running for their local school board.
Candidates are also encouraged to listen to a recorded online radio broadcast, “What Board Members Need to Know When They’re Elected.”
Candidates can find a multitude of additional resources at NJSBA’s Candidate Kit.
Typically, the nominating petition must be signed by at least 10 registered voters who live in jurisdiction where the seat is being sought.
Candidates for school board must be at least 18 years old and be able to read and write. They must hold U.S. citizenship. They must have lived in the school district for at least one year, and be registered to vote in the town that they seek to represent on the school board.
They may not have an interest in any contract with the school board, or hold a claim against it.
They may not serve on the municipal governing body and may be disqualified from holding office because of conviction of certain crimes.
Legislation enacted in 2018 permits board of education candidates to circulate nominating petitions jointly and to be bracketed together on the ballot.
A 2018 statute requires that a nominating petition for any state, county, school, or municipal elective public office include a functioning email address for the candidate.
Petitions must be submitted to the County Clerk’s Office.