1.    In order to run for elected office, the first official step that you must take is to come to the Board of Elections and take out petitions for that office.  The completed petitions typically must be filed 75 days before the election of that office.  (Follow this link for a complete list of upcoming filing deadlines.)  Therefore, a person wishing to be on the ballot should take the petitions out early enough to get them completed and filed by that deadline. The deadline to file for the November 3, 2009 General Election is Aug. 20, 2009.  Write-In candidates must file by Sept. 2, 2009.

2.   The Board of Elections will provide you with the appropriate petition for the office that you wish to seek.  The candidate must make certain that the Statement of Candidacy at the top of the petition is accurately filled out.  The way that your name is filled in on the petition is how it will appear on the ballot, so it is important that you check this closely. 

3.    You will need to get a certain number of signatures of registered voters in order to appear on the ballot for the office that you are seeking.  The number of signatures needed varies depending on the office being sought. 

4.    Upon filing a petition, you will be required to pay a filing fee to the Board of Elections.  This fee varies depending on which office you are seeking.  Remember, this fee is only required if you file.  Taking a petition out is free.  The following is a chart showing the various filing fees for different offices.

5.  At this point, the Board of Elections must certify candidates to the ballot.  The Board
     does this by looking over the petitions that have been received.  Candidates who filed
     their petitions appropriately and in a timely manner will be certified to the ballot.