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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, and one alderman, one school committee member, one moderator, one ward clerk and three selectmen by the voters in each ward.  The next scheduled regular municipal election for these positions will be the primary in September of 2023.  For more information regarding the upcoming municipal elections, please call the Office of the City Clerk at (603) 624-6455.

In order to run for an elected position in Manchester City Government, an individual must have the following qualifications and submit the following completed applicable forms to the City Clerk during the filing period; these forms are now updated for the Non-Partisan Municipal Primary Election:

Declarations of Candidacy for the Non-Partisan Municipal Primary Election will be accepted during the municipal filing period open July 10 at 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2023.  There is no better way to make a difference in your local government than serving in any one of a variety of elected positions! 

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.

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

Note: Charter Commissioners are elected to review the City Charter not less than once every ten (10) years.  The next scheduled charter review will likely occur sometime in 2031.

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