How to Run for Town Council in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Town councils tend to fly under the radar compared to elected offices like Congress or even city councils, but they shape daily life in powerful ways. They determine how roads are maintained, how local development happens, and how your community’s money is spent.

Running for town council can give you the opportunity to directly impact and improve your community. This guide will walk you through exactly how to run for town council, from understanding what a town council does to filing your paperwork, planning your campaign, and connecting with voters in a way that feels authentic and community-first.

What Is a Town Council?

A town council is a form of local government typically found in small to mid-sized municipalities. It usually serves as the legislative body of the town and, in some places, also handles executive responsibilities. 

Town councils can go by different names depending on where you live, such as city council, town board, village council, or board of selectmen. Regardless of what it’s called in your community, the idea is the same: a group of elected leaders making decisions for the community. 

In the United States, “town council” is officially used in state law or municipal charters in places like: 

• Indiana, where town council members serve as both the executive and legislative branches for incorporated towns.

• New Hampshire, where town councils operate under local charters as the governing body of the town.

• Massachusetts, where some communities have adopted a city-style government but retain the town label and a council structure.

Town council members are the people voters choose to sit on that decision-making body. Depending on your community, they may be called council members or councilors, town board members, aldermen or alderpersons, or selectmen. 

Some town councils operate like a board of directors with a professional manager running daily operations. Others take on a more hands-on executive role, especially in small towns where the council is both the policy and executive authority. 

What Does the Town Council Do?

If you’re wondering what the town council does, think of it as the team responsible for how your town functions day to day.

While the exact duties vary by state and charter, town councils usually: 

• Pass local laws, ordinances, or bylaws

• Approve and oversee the town budget

• Set local tax rates and spending priorities

• Make decisions about land use, zoning, and development

• Oversee public works like roads, snow removal, and maintenance

• Support public safety, emergency services, and sometimes fire or police contracts

• Manage or fund parks, libraries, and recreation

• Coordinate with county and state officials on shared services

• Listen to residents and respond to local concerns

In some towns, the council also appoints key officials, like town managers, and approves contracts, grants, and major infrastructure projects. 

How to Run for Town Council in 4 Steps

Running for town council isn’t just for insiders. Historically, it’s for people just like you. 

About 96% of all elected offices in the United States in 2024 were local roles like mayors, town council members, township officials, and school board representatives. These are the seats where community members step up, serve their neighbors, and make real change. 

Here’s how to follow their path and launch your own town council campaign:

Step #1: Learn the Rules and Research the Role 

Before you announce your campaign or file a form, it’s essential to understand how your local government operates. 

Every town structures its council a little differently, so getting familiar with the details will help you run strategically and be prepared to serve on day one. This first step is all about grounding yourself in the basics: how your council is chosen, what council members actually do, and what the role looks like in your community.

How Is the Town Council Chosen?

Town councils are almost always elected directly by the people who live in the community, but how those elections work varies widely.

Here’s what to look for as you research your own town:

• Election Structure: Are council seats elected at-large (by all town voters) or by district or ward (by voters in that district)?

• Term Length: Most town council terms are two to four years, but some are longer or staggered so not every seat is up for election at once.

• Partisan vs. Nonpartisan: Many town council elections are officially nonpartisan, meaning no party labels appear on the ballot.

• Vacancies: If a council member resigns mid-term, does your town fill the seat by appointment or special election?

• Election Timing: Some towns vote in November, while others hold municipal elections in the spring.

For example, in Indiana, town council members typically serve four-year terms and are elected in November municipal elections. Filing deadlines come earlier, with the next filing period for towns like Long Beach, Indiana, set to end in July 2026.

Understanding these details early will help you map out your timeline, identify which voters you need to reach, and visualize what winning looks like.

Check Your Eligibility

Eligibility requirements vary by location, but you’ll generally need to:

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Be at least 18 years old

• Be a registered voter

• Live in the town or specific district or ward you want to represent, sometimes for a set period, like 30 days to a year

• Have no disqualifying felony convictions under your state or local laws

Some towns bar certain employees, like full-time town staff, from serving on the council at the same time due to conflicts of interest. You can check with your local election office, town clerk, or municipal website to find the exact requirements in your area.

Determine the Council Member Role and Responsibilities 

While exact details may vary by location, town council members typically: 

• Attend regular council meetings and work sessions

• Vote on ordinances, zoning decisions, and resolutions

• Participate in budget workshops and public hearings

• Serve on committees, like finance, planning, or public safety

• Meet with constituents and respond to concerns

• Collaborate with staff like town clerks, managers, or public works directors

• Represent the town at community events and regional meetings

These decisions shape daily life in your town, from development and road upkeep to transparency, public safety, and local services.

Some town council members are paid, but others may have volunteer roles. Ultimately, it depends heavily on where you live. 

In many smaller communities, council members receive a modest stipend, often around $4,000 to $5,000 per year. In larger municipalities, where town councils are often called city councils, members can earn tens of thousands or even six-figure salaries, especially in major metropolitan areas.

In many towns, council roles are considered part-time, and members maintain other jobs. The pay is often set by local ordinance and may be adjusted occasionally for cost-of-living increases. Some towns reimburse expenses like conference travel or training, but don’t pay a salary.

LEARN MORE: Use our free election look-up tool to check for upcoming elections, filing deadlines, and open offices in your area. 

Step #2: Plan Your Town Council Campaign

Once you understand the rules and timeline, it’s time to plan out a campaign that fits your life, your town, and your goals.

You don’t need a giant operation, but you do need clarity on your message, your team, and your budget.

Define Your Message

Your campaign message should answer three simple questions:

• Why are you running for town council?

• What do you want to improve, protect, or change in your town?

• How will your experience or perspective help you serve?

Start by listening more than you talk. Attend town council meetings and public hearings. Chat with neighbors at local events, parks, and small businesses. Ask people what frustrates them or excites them about your town.

Then, build a clear, local-focused platform around themes like:

• Infrastructure and road maintenance

• Responsible development and zoning

• Transparency and public input

• Parks, recreation, and community services

• Public safety and emergency readiness

Keep your message simple, grounded, and easy to repeat.

Build a Small but Mighty Team

Even in a small town, running completely alone can be exhausting. 

Start by tapping friends or volunteers who believe in you and your community for roles like:

• A campaign treasurer to help with finance forms and recordkeeping

• A volunteer coordinator or organized friend to help schedule canvassing, phone calls, and events

• A digital helper who can manage basic social media posts and a simple website or landing page

They don’t have to be political pros. Just reliable and ready to learn.

LEARN MORE: Free and low-cost tools from GoodParty.org can help fill the gaps, giving you access to campaign texting, content creation, and voter targeting support without requiring a big staff or budget. 

Budget for What Matters

Town council campaigns are often lower-cost than county or state races, but you’ll still need a plan.

Common expenses include:

• Filing fees, which are often under a few hundred dollars

• Yard signs 

• Mailers and campaign literature

• A basic website or landing page

• Flyers and palm cards

• Simple digital ads or boosted social media posts

• Room rentals or refreshments for meet-and-greets

Start by figuring out how much you can reasonably contribute on your own and who might be willing to chip in small-dollar donations to help. You don’t need to spend the most; you just need to spend strategically on things that help voters hear from you, meet you, and remember you.

Step #3: File the Paperwork to Get on the Ballot

Filing and paperwork can feel intimidating, but it’s manageable if you start early and stay organized.

Exact requirements vary, but to run for town council, you’ll likely need to complete some version of: 

• Declaration of Candidacy: A form where you officially state that you’re running for a specific town council seat. Some places require notarization.

• Financial Disclosure Forms: Some states require candidates to disclose sources of income, property interests, or potential conflicts of interest.

• Filing Fee: Not every town charges a fee, but when they do, it’s usually modest compared to higher offices.

• Nominating Petitions: Many towns require a certain number of signatures from registered voters in your town or district. This might range from a couple of dozen to a few hundred.

Signature-gathering can be one of your first big opportunities to introduce yourself. Treat it as early canvassing, and listen to what people in your community care about. Remember to keep track of supportive voters so you can follow up as election day approaches.

Double-check all instructions on petition formatting, deadlines, and where to submit forms. Missing a step or turning in forms late can disqualify you from the ballot.

LEARN MORE: See what you need to know to ensure you file to run for office correctly. 

Step #4: Run a Grassroots Town Council Campaign

Once you’re officially on the ballot, your focus shifts to earning trust and building relationships.

Prioritize Face-to-Face Outreach

Door-to-door canvassing, small events, and direct conversations are powerful in town races.

One 2025 town council winner put it simply:

“It really made a difference to do the face-to-face,” said Linda O’Boyle, recently elected town council member in Elm, North Carolina. “This is a community. Putting a lot of money in it would not have been as beneficial as that one-on-one, face-to-face.”

In many towns, there are only a few thousand voters. If you and your volunteers can personally connect with even 10% to 20% of them, you could significantly shape the outcome.

Some practical ways to show up include:

• Knock on doors with a short script, your core message, and a simple handout.

• Attend town meetings and introduce yourself during public comment when appropriate.

• Visit community hubs like coffee shops, farmers’ markets, youth sports games, and faith or civic events.

• Host low-key campaign events, like coffee with the candidate meetups or listening sessions at the library, park, or a local business.

Most town council elections are low-turnout and low-visibility, which means that a well-organized, community-centered campaign can make a real impact.

LEARN MORE: Amplify your outreach with our guide to increasing campaign visibility. 

Use Digital Tools to Amplify Your Reach

Digital outreach doesn’t replace door-knocking, but it can expand your reach. 

Devote some campaign time and resources to:

• Building a simple campaign website or landing page with your bio, issues, and ways to get involved.

• Creating a Facebook page or other social accounts where you can share updates, events, and short videos.

• Sending email newsletters to keep supporters in the loop and invite them to events.

• Using texting tools to send reminders about voting, town hall meetings, and key campaign moments.

Campaign tools like GoodParty.org can make the digital side of things easier, too. With texting, voter data, and simple website-building tools, your campaign can maintain a strong digital presence without needing a big team.

Fundraise Without Selling Out

You don’t need big-money donors to run for town council. In fact, in many communities, small-dollar, local donations are more in line with what voters want to see.

To fundraise effectively:

• Make it easy to donate online via your website.

• Ask friends, family, and early supporters to be the first contributors.

• Host low-cost events like potlucks, porch meetups, or Q&A sessions at a local business.

• Use your email list and texting to share specific, realistic goals.

Remember to keep your fundraising efforts transparent and approachable. Voters will remember that your campaign was powered by neighbors, not special interests.

Get Out the Vote (GOTV)

You can run the best campaign in the world, but it won’t matter if your supporters don’t show up on election day. Town council elections are especially vulnerable to low turnout. Your job in the final weeks is simple: turn support into votes.

Some GOTV strategies that work:

• Text and call your supporters as election day gets close.

• Share countdowns on social media. 

• Remind people of polling locations, dates, and times.

• Offer rides to the polls.

• Ask supporters to bring a friend or family member with them to vote.

The easier you make it for people to participate, the more likely your supporters are to show up for you.

LEARN MORE: Don’t miss a step with our guide to running a political campaign. 

Lead Your Town Forward with GoodParty.org

When you run for town council, you’re not just putting your name on a ballot. You’re stepping up to help your neighbors, shape your town’s future, and show that ordinary people can lead with integrity.

Local government affects your life more than most national headlines ever will. When someone like you, a parent, a renter, a small business owner, or a long-time neighbor, runs for local office, it changes what’s possible. Budgets, zoning, and public services start to reflect real community needs instead of inertia or insider politics.

And you don’t have to do it alone. At GoodParty.org, we’re here to empower you to run a serious, people-powered town council campaign without big-money strings attached. Our free and low-cost tools can help you build a clear, compelling campaign message, access voter contact data and targeting, and generate campaign content and materials.

Photo by Jeremy Hardin