How to File for Office

BECOMING A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE

*NOW AVAILABLE: A Candidate's Guide to Municipal Office

At every municipal general election, the following officers shall be elected: The mayor, two aldermen at-large, two school committeemen at-large, the commissioner of welfare and one alderman, one school committee member, one moderator, one ward clerk and three selectmen by the voters in each ward. The next regular municipal election for these positions will be in September of 2013. For more information regarding the upcoming municipal elections, please call the Office of the City Clerk at (603) 624-6455. Look for a 2013 Municipal Political Calendar on this page when available.

In order to run for an elected position in Manchester City Government, an individual must have the following qualifications:

MAYOR

Must be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization
Must be a resident of Manchester for one (1) year preceding and shall continue to be a resident during the term of office
Must be a registered and qualified voter in Manchester
File a Declaration of Candidacy
Submit a filing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) to the Office of the City Clerk. Two hundred (200) Nominating Petitions completed and signed by registered voters in the city of Manchester may be submitted in lieu of the filing fee. Nominating Petitions will not be accepted by the City Clerk without first submitting a notarized Assent to Candidacy form.

COMMISSIONER OF WELFARE

Must be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization
Must be a resident of Manchester for one (1) year preceding and shall continue to be a resident during the term of office
Must be a registered and qualified voter in Manchester
File a Declaration of Candidacy
Submit a filing fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) to the Office of the City Clerk. One hundred and fifty (150) Nominating Petitions completed and signed by registered voters in the city of Manchester may be submitted in lieu of the filing fee. Nominating Petitions will not be accepted by the City Clerk without first submitting a notarized Assent to Candidacy form.

ALDERMAN or ALDERMAN AT-LARGE

Must be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization
Must have and maintain a domicile in Manchester during the term of office
Must be a registered and qualified voter in Manchester
File a Declaration of Candidacy
Submit a filing fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Office of the City Clerk. One hundred (100) Nominating Petitions completed and signed by registered voters residing in the ward of the candidate may be submitted in lieu of the filing fee. Nominating Petitions will not be accepted by the City Clerk without first submitting a notarized Assent to Candidacy form.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE or SCHOOL COMMITTEE AT-LARGE

Must be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization
Must have and maintain a domicile in Manchester during the term of office
Must be a registered and qualified voter in Manchester
File a Declaration of Candidacy
Submit a filing fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to the Office of the City Clerk. Fifty (50) Nominating Petitions completed and signed by registered voters residing in the ward of the candidate may be submitted in lieu of the filing fee. Nominating Petitions will not be accepted by the City Clerk without first submitting a notarized Assent to Candidacy form.

MODERATOR, WARD CLERK, SELECTMAN

Must be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization
Must have and maintain a domicile in Manchester during the term of office
Must be a registered and qualified voter in Manchester
File a Declaration of Candidacy
There are no filing fees

CHARTER COMMISSION MEMBER

Must be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization
Must have and maintain a domicile in Manchester during the term of office
Must be a registered and qualified voter in Manchester
File a Declaration of Candidacy
There are no filing fees

THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL FILING PERIOD FOR CHARTER COMMISSION BEGINS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 THROUGH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (603) 624-6455 or via Email.

last changed 9/21/2012