Petitions & Information for Candidates

NOTICE TO ALL CANDIDATES: All candidates are required by law to comply with the provisions of the “New Jersey Campaign Contributions & Expenditures Reporting Act.”  New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJELEC) has instituted mandatory electronic filing. Go to ELEC’s web–based report filing system. If you have any questions regarding mandatory electronic filing, please review NJELEC’s Compliance Manual for Candidates or call (609) 292–8700 or 1-888-313-ELEC (3532) to speak with a member of the Compliance staff. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FILING AT THE BERGEN COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE:

• The Office of the Bergen County Clerk office does not provide notary services. Only submit fully complete and notarized petitions.
• All Petitions must be submitted in-person and will not be accepted electronically via email.
• No appointment is needed to drop off petitions, simply come to One Bergen County Plaza, Room 130, Hackensack, with your completed petition.
• We are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
• Unofficial Candidate Lists are updated as petitions are received and will be posted on our website. You may contact us if you believe there is an error on the Unofficial Candidate List.
• Please contact your Municipal Clerk or the Bergen County Clerk’s Elections Division at 201-336-7020 or electionsclerk@bergencountynj.gov for any questions.

Local Level Candidates: 2026 Mayor, Council, Township Committee - Contact Municipal Clerk for Open Seats (Primary Only – 2 County Committee Members per district per party):

• Joint County Committee Petition for Primary 
• Single County Committee Petition for Primary
  ◦ Petitions must be filed with the Municipal Clerk by March 23rd by 4pm 
  ◦ Signatures Required for County Committee Petitions
  ◦ Request for Position/Slogan on Primary Ballot
     ▪ Due April 1st to the Bergen County Clerk
   
• Local Level Petition for Primary
  ◦ Petitions must be filed with the Municipal Clerk by March 23rd by 4pm
  ◦ Signatures Required for Primary Petitions 
  ◦ Request for Position/Slogan on Primary Ballot
     ▪ Due April 1st to the Bergen County Clerk 
     
• Local Level Independent Petition for General Election
  ◦ Petitions must be filed with the Bergen County Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on Primary Election Day. 
  ◦ Independent Signatures Required for General Petitions
  ◦ Independent Request for Position/Slogan on General Ballot
     ▪ Due August 3rd to the Bergen County Clerk
   
• Non-Partisan Candidates in May or November General Elections
  ◦ May - No Open Seats; November - Mahwah, Ridgewood, Teaneck, Teterboro
  ◦ Contact the Municipal Clerk for Petitions, Signatures Required and Filing Deadlines

Board of Education Candidates for November School Election (Contact BOE for Open Seats)

• Board of Education Petition for November School/General
• Petitions must be filed by July 27th by 4pm to the Bergen County Clerk
• 25 Signatures Required
• BOE Request for Bracket Position/Slogan on General Ballot
  ▪ Due August 3rd to the Bergen County Clerk
• NJSBA – Ten Things School Board Candidates Should Know
   

County Level Candidates: 2026 - County Executive, County Clerk, Surrogate, 2 County Commissioners 

• County Level Petition for Primary
  ◦ Due by March 23rd by 4pm to County Clerk
  ◦ Dem = 300 Signatures
  ◦ Rep = 300 Signatures
  ◦ Request for Position/Slogan on Primary Ballot
     ▪ Due April 1st to the Bergen County Clerk
   
• County Level Independent Petition for General
  ◦ Petitions must be filed with the County Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on Primary Election day.
  ◦ 250 Signatures Required
  ◦ Independent Request for Position/Slogan on General Ballot
     ▪ Due August 3rd to the Bergen County Clerk 

State and Federal Candidates:  2026 - United States Senator, House of Representatives

• Petitions are filed with the New Jersey Secretary of State’s Division of Elections
• Visit the NJ Division of Elections website for more information.
• Email: Feedback@sos.nj.gov  Tel: (609) 292-3760