Gloucester County residents have less than two weeks left to file petitions to run in their local board of education election this year.
Residents interested in running in the 2019 board of education election in November must file their petition with the Gloucester County Clerk’s office by 4 p.m. on Monday, July 29. Petitions must be submitted to the clerk’s office’s election services division, located at 550 Grove Road in Paulsboro.
To run for board of education, candidates must meet the following criteria:
· Candidates must be a citizen of the United States
· Candidates must be at least 18 years old
· Candidates must be able to read and write
· Candidates must be a resident of the municipality from which he/she is to be elected for at least one year prior to Election Day
· Candidates must not be disqualified as a voter
· Candidates must be a registered voter in the district
· Candidates cannot be convicted of a disqualifying crime
In addition, board of education members cannot be directly or indirectly involved in any contract with or claim against the board.
To complete a petition, a candidate must acquire the signatures of at least 10 registered voters from their municipality. Signatures must be in the signer’s own handwriting and the name must be printed on the line provided.
For the second consecutive year, candidates can be bracketed together on the ballot. These candidates may choose a three-word, nonpolitical designation conveying the principles they represent, according to the county clerk’s office. To be bracketed together, candidates should circulate and submit one joint petition. A section at the top of the nominating petition includes space for the names of up to three candidates.
A full list of requirements for running for school board is listed on the petition at http://www.co.gloucester.nj.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?blobID=11083. More information can also be found on the New Jersey School Boards Association website at www.njsba.org/about/membership/membership-school-board-members/school-board-candidacy.
Prospective candidates can download nomination petitions online at http://www.co.gloucester.nj.us. Completed petitions can be mailed to the Gloucester County Clerk’s election division at 550 Grove Road, Paulsboro NJ 08066 or dropped off during office hours. Petitions must be filled out completely and notarized before being filed with the county clerk. The clerk’s office does not notarize petitions.
