County Clerk in Montgomery County, New York

U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, must reside in the county.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot. An individual can run as a write-in candidate. A political party candidate seeking placement on the primary ballot must be nominated via designating petitions. A party may nominate a non-enrolled member by filing a certificate of authorization. (1, 000) Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. Independent candidates seeking placement the general election ballot must be nominated via nominating petitions. The group of voters making the nomination may designate a name for themselves, provided the name is rendered in English and does not suggest similarity with an existing political party or a political organization that has already filed a nominating petition. (1, 500) Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. A write-in candidate for federal or state offices do not have to submit any filing paperwork. The contents of candidate petitions are established by state law. In general, candidate petitions must include the following information: Date of the election, name of the candidate and the office being sought, candidate's residential address and, if applicable, mailing or post office address, for each signer: signature, date of signing, and residential address. Voters are required to affix their signatures personally to the petition. Other information may be filled in by someone else. All pages must be sequentially numbered and securely fastened. If a petition contains more than 10 pages, a cover sheet must be included. Cover sheets must include the following information: Name and residential address (and mailing address, if applicable) of the candidate, office being sought, name of the party or independent body making the nomination, a statement indicating that the petition contains signatures equal to or greater than the number required by law. Petitions must include a witness statement indicating that each signature made to the petition sheet was made in the presence of the witness. Only an individual qualified to sign a petition may serve as a witness to it.

Submit paperwork to the County Board of Elections' office.