Warning-Deadline Approaching!

File to run for BOE by July 31st

Getting and keeping a school board that supports parental rights is an ongoing process. School board members serve for 3-year terms and there are usually seats up for election on the Board every year.

Even if your Board flipped a few seats last year, this is a new election and it could flip right back.

If you haven’t done so already:

1) Look at your Board roster and see who is up for election this year

2) Find out that person’s voting history on your Board and if they plan to run again

3) If you are pleased with their record and they are running again- great! Your work is done. You’ll support their re-election this year!

4) If not, it’s CRUNCH time for potential candidates.

Some things to keep in mind if you’re considering a run:

• You must have lived in your town for over a year

• You must be a US Citizen and registered to vote before filing

• Read all the requirements here.

• Each county has a unique petition that is used for school board candidates to file so reach out to your county clerk to request the actual form

The deadline to file is July 31st.

Being on the ballot is important. As elections get closer, people pay more attention to the races and decide to run, but the deadline will have already passed to be on the ballot. It is much harder to win as a write-in candidate.

If you have more than one seat up for election, running in a slate with the same slogan can also improve your chances of winning.

If you are not sure that you want to run, you can put yourself on now and remove yourself before the sample ballot printing deadline in your county. Check with your clerk for that date but it is usually late August. It will give you another month to decide and you’ll also know at that point what position you’d be on the ballot.

For more information about becoming a school board member, visit the NJSBA website.

If you’re planning to run or have already filed, let us know in the comments!