RUNNING AS A “PARTISAN” CANDIDATE?
If you are interested in running for one of the county or municipal public offices listed above under the designation of either Republican or Democrat at the General Election, you must first run as a candidate in one of the two partisan primary elections held in June. Successful Primary candidates will go on to represent their respective party at the November General Election. Petitions for the June Primary elections must be filed before 4 p.m. on or before the 71st day prior to election day -- except that petitions for the June 3, 2025 Primary are due March 24th. Municipal offices are filed with the municipal clerk; County offices (as well as State Committee Member) are filed with the county clerk. The number of signatures required on a primary petition differs from one party to the next and from town to town. Click here for petitions and signature requirements.

RUNNING AS AN “INDEPENDENT” CANDIDATE?
If you do not wish to run as a Democrat or Republican candidate in November, you have the option of filing a “direct petition” with the county clerk to run for county or municipal office on the November General Election ballot. All direct petitions must be filed with the County Clerk no later than 4 p.m. of the day of the Primary election. The number of signatures required on a direct petition differs from town to town. Direct petitions are available from the County Clerk’s Office. Call our office for signature requirements and/or with questions at 973-579-0900, ext. 1501.

RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD?
School board candidates are non-partisan and are elected either at the April Annual School Election or at the school board elections held by the county in November; they do not participate in the June primary elections. Petitions for school board that participate in the April Annual School Election are filed with the respective School Board Secretary no later than 4 p.m. the 50th day preceding the election. Petitions for school boards whose elections are held at the November General Election are filed with the County Clerk no later than 4 p.m. the last Monday in July.  Call our office with questions at 973-579-0900. Visit our Elections Forms page for petitions and petition information.

The NJ School Boards Association Candidates Kit is available from the NJ School Board Assn website. Residents interested in board member candidacy can download the free kit, which includes information on:

• Important Dates
• How to Become a School Board Member
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Requirements of the New Jersey School Ethics Act
• Criminal Background Checks
• School Election and Budget Procedures Calendar
• Campaign Reporting Requirements
• Candidate Briefings

RUNNING IN A FAULKNER COMMUNITY?
Sussex County has four “Faulkner Communities/Towns”:  Byram, Newton, Sparta and Vernon. Persons interested in running for public municipal office in any of the above-mentioned Faulkner communities must contact their respective municipal clerk for petitions and signature requirements.

RUNNING FOR PARTY COUNTY COMMITTEE? Republican & Democratic County Committee members are elected in the June Primary during odd-numbered years. To learn more about party county committee click Party County Committee. For petition information and/or a petition to run for County Committee visit our Election Forms page.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PRIMARY CANDIDATES! On Mon., Feb. 3, 2025 Governor Murphy signed A5117/S3994 into law. This new legislation changes the number of signatures required on petitions. The law is effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, meaning ALL 2025 Primary petitions have to comply with the new signature requirements.
Full language of A5117.

2025 JUNE PRIMARIES:
Signature Requirements for County-level & Member of State Committee Petitions

Municipal-level and County Committee candidates should contact their respective municipal clerk for new signature requirements.

The 2025 "Signature Bill" also changes filing requirements for Faulkner/Non-Partisan election candidates. Faulkner candidates should contact their municipal clerk for petitions and petition requirements.

2025 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Call 973-579-0900, ext. 1501 for direct petition requirements.
The deadline to file a direct petition with the County Clerk is 4 p.m.  Primary Election Day.

School Board Candidates:  The minimum number of signatures required on a school board petition (regardless of the district) in 2025 is 25. The candidate may sign his or her petition.

All petitions are found on our Election Forms page.

NOTES: 
Effective January 2025, all petitions submitted to the County Clerk should be properly notarized prior to submission.

In Sussex County, the use of a “nickname” on the official ballot will be permitted only if the candidate’s full and proper name (as registered with the County Board of Elections) appears together with the nickname. The nickname will appear in quotes, e.g., Thomas “Tommy” Smith.

School board candidates are permitted to use a (three-word) slogan and/or file joint petitions if they wish. Visit the NJ School Board Association website for a school board candidate packet. The New Jersey School Boards Association’s Election Candidates Kit is available for downloading:  NJSBA Candidates Kit.  Residents interested in board member candidacy can download the free kit, which includes information on:  Important Dates, How to Become a School Board Member, Frequently Asked Questions, Requirements of the New Jersey School Ethics Act, Criminal Background Checks, Campaign Reporting Requirements, Candidate Briefings.

Following is a list of public offices to be voted in Sussex County’s 2025 Primary Election.


STATE:
Governor/Lt. Governor
Senate
General Assembly

COUNTY:
Sheriff (3-yr term)
County Commissioner (3-yr term, 2 seats open)
Member of State Committee (4-yr term)

MUNICIPAL:  
ANDOVER BORO: Borough Council, two seats open

ANDOVER TWP: Township Committee, one full-term seat & one 1-yr unexpired term seat open

BRANCHVILLE: Borough Council, yet to come

BYRAM: No Primary; 1 Mayor seat and one Council seat open at General Election

FRANKFORD: Township Committee, two seats open

FRANKLIN: Common Council, two seats open

FREDON: Township Committee, one seat open

GREEN: Township Committee, two seats open

HAMBURG: Borough Council, two seats open

HAMPTON: Township Committee, one seat open

HARDYSTON: Township Council, two seats open

HOPATCONG: Borough Council, two seats open

LAFAYETTE: Township Committee, three seats open

MONTAGUE: Township Committee, one seat open

NEWTON: No Primary; no seats open in General Election
OGDENSBURG: Common Council, two seats open

SANDYSTON: Township Committee, To Come

SPARTA: No Primary; Township Council, no seats open

STANHOPE: Borough Council, two seats open

STILLWATER: Township Committee, two seats open

SUSSEX: Borough Council, To Come

VERNON: No Primary; three seats open in general election

WALPACK: Township Committee, To Come

WANTAGE: Township Committee, one seat open