CHENAGNO COUNTY – Beginning June 2, 2015, registered voters in Chenango County and across New York State will be approached to sign political petitions for public office and State Committee representation. Those living in towns that caucus as opposed to circulating petitions will have the opportunity to sign petitions for county-wide offices.

Each election year has different offices expiring be it at the local, county or state level. This year’s main elections in Chenango County will be Town and City Supervisors in Norwich, Norwich Mayor, and District Attorney for Chenango County.

In order for a candidate’s name to appear on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 general election ballot, by state law they must first collect a certain number of qualified voter signatures on their petitions. If more than one candidate is running for office, a primary election is held first to determine whose name will appear on the designating party line of the general election ballot.

This year’s primary election will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2015. A number of offices are being sought by more than one candidate while other offices are unopposed. Regardless, all of these candidates who circulate petitions will be asking for voter signatures.

By signing a petition for a candidate, you are supporting their bid to have their name appear on the primary election ballot if there is more than one candidate running for that particular office. If running unopposed, a candidate must still circulate a petition in order for their name to appear on the general election ballot.

It is not unusual for a candidate to have not only their own petition, but those of others running for local or county-wide offices. It is not unusual for friends, family, or that candidate’s election committee to circulate a petition on behalf of that candidate. It is not unusual for a candidate to have blank voter registration forms with them so those not registered to vote can complete the voter registration form.

Candidates request lists of voters based on their political party registration that they then map out their route to ensure they are knocking on the right door for the petition they are asking to have signed. This list is supplied by the Chenango County Board of Elections and is public information.

Your signature on a petition is vital to those running for office. By keeping in mind a few simple petition-signing rules, each voter can confidently say “yes” or “no” when asked to sign a petition for a candidate.

Say “yes” to signing a petition if you:

• Live in the town or section of the city the candidate represents

• Are a member of the party the designating petition is circulated for, be it Democratic, Republican, Conservative, or Independence

• If the petition is for an independent candidate and you have not already signed a designating petition for that same office regardless of your party affiliation

Say “no” to signing a petition if you: