How to run for a local office.

Thinking of Running for Office?

Here's What You Need to Know:
In order to run for an office, you have to get your name on the ballot. State law specifies how a candidate or potential candidate can obtain such "ballot access." One way to do this is to be nominated by one of the major parties (Democratic or Republican) who have established ballot lines for all offices and
elections. Alternatively, there are some “minor parties”, such as The Working Families Party, that have ballot lines for some offices. All nominations are governed by state law and each political party has its own rules about its nomination process.

BECOMING A MAJOR PARTY ENDORSED CANDIDATE
Below are the steps to becoming a candidate and seeking the Democratic or Republican endorsement:
1. A prospective candidate must be a registered voter in the Town of Norfolk and enrolled in major party (Democratic or Republican).
2. Contact the Town Clerk’s office to see if the position you are interested in will be on the 2025 ballot.
3. Prospective candidates should contact the Democratic or Republican Town Committee regarding interest. Please email townclerk@norfolkct.org .
4. Prospective candidates should attend Town Committee meetings to obtain information about running for office. They should be familiar with the responsibilities of the office they seek as well as know the current issues and other practical matters relating to that office.
5. The Democratic and Republican Town Committees will meet in mid-July to nominate and endorse candidates for the November Municipal election.

FORCING A PRIMARY
A candidate who fails to get his major party’s nomination is allowed to force a primary election, either by getting a sufficiently large percentage of the delegate vote at the nominating convention, or by petition. The number of verified signatures required is 5% of the registered members of the party in the district,
The petition process for a primary is similar to the petition process for the general election described below, except that the petition forms come from the Registrar of Voters office.

Not registered with a major party? Here’s how you may also run on the 2025 Municipal Ballot Nominating Petition Write-In Candidate

WHAT IS A NOMINATING PETITION?
A formal written application requesting a certain number of Connecticut registered voters to place name(s) on the state’s election ballot by signing such application. This is usually referred to by many as Third Party or Independent Candidacies.

WHO MAY APPLY FOR A NOMINATING PETITION?
Any Connecticut registered voter (registered with a party or not).

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A NOMINATING PETITION?
Upon request, the Secretary of the State will forward an Application for Nominating Petition via U.S. Postal Service, or such Application may be down-loaded from our website(sots@ct.gov ). Once the application is returned to this office properly completed, a nominating petition will then be issued.

HOW SOON MAY I COLLECT SIGNATURES?
You may begin to collect signatures on the first business day of January in the year the office you are seeking will be on the ballot.

HOW MANY SIGNATURES MUST I COLLECT?
Each petition shall be signed by a number of qualified electors equal to the lesser of (1) One percent of the votes cast for the same office(s) at the last preceding election, or (2) seven thousand five hundred. In regards to newly-created offices, the number of qualified electors is prescribed in §9-380.

CAN I APPEAR ON THE BALLOT UNDER A PARTY NAME?
Yes. On a form ED-601, Application for Reservation of Party Designation and Formation of Party Designation Committee. On this form you must indicate a party name that cannot be more than three words or twenty-five letters and must have the signatures of twenty-five Connecticut registered voters. This statement must include the names of two individuals who will be responsible for filing with this office
a Statement of Endorsement.

WHAT IS A STATEMENT OF ENDORSEMENT?
A Statement of Endorsement is a written document signed by the two individuals on the Application for Reservation of Party Designation, indicating that they are endorsing such candidate(s) to appear on the ballot under the party name specified.

CAN I APPEAR ON THE BALLOT AS A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?
No. The name of such party cannot incorporate the name of any major party. It cannot absorb a minor party which is entitled to nominate candidates for any office which will appear on the same ballot. It shall not be the same as any party name for which a reservation with the Secretary is currently in effect or it cannot be the words "none", or incorporate the words "unaffiliated", or "unenrolled".

IF I AM A CANDIDATE; MAY I CIRCULATE AND SIGN MY OWN PETITION?
Yes. Each circulator of nominating petition page shall be a United States citizen, at least eighteen years of age, a resident of a town in this state and shall not be on parole for conviction of a felony.

I JUST RECEIVED MY PARTY’S ENDORSEMENT; CAN I ALSO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT AS A NOMINATING PETITION CANDIDATE?
The nomination of a candidate by a major party shall disqualify such candidate from appearing on the ballot by nominating petition unless (1) the petition is circulated by an existing minor party and (2) the minor party is otherwise qualified to nominate candidates on the same ballot.

WHEN IS THE LAST DAY TO RETURN MY COMPLETED PETITIONS?

Not later than 4:00 p.m. on the 90th day preceding the day of the regular election.

WHERE SHALL I RETURN MY COMPLETED PETITIONS?
♦You may return your petitions to either the Secretary of the State (deadline July 30that 4 pm) or to the Town Clerk(Deadline August 6thoffice open1-4 pm to receive petition)in which the signer resides.
Obtained from CT Secretary of the State website.

WRITE-IN CANDIDATES
Any person desiring to be a write-in candidate for any state, district or municipal office to be filled at any regular election shall register his candidacy with the Secretary of the State on a form prescribed by the Secretary. The registration shall include the candidate's name and address, the designation and term of the office sought, a statement of consent to the candidacy, and any other information which the Secretary deems necessary.
Contact the Secretary of the Statesots.ct.gov for information.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS
Candidates for public office have to follow campaign finance rules and reporting requirements as set
forth in state law and in regulations by the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). Rules and
forms can be found on the SEEC website. Generally, these rules apply within a few days after a person
becomes a candidate.

Credit: Town Clerk of Lebanon, CT Published May 2025