A nomination petition is the method in which a registered democrat or republican get their name on a primary ballot. Petitions are typically available in our office approximately 3 weeks prior to the start of the circulation period. 
(Third party candidates have a different process in which to have their name appear on the ballot. Please contact our office for further information, 717.240.6385.)

 The Cumberland County Bureau of Elections will be accepting nomination petitions from candidates for the 2023 Municipal Primary for county, municipal & school offices. Please click here for a complete listing of these offices to appear on the primary ballot.

Online Petition Information

Nomination petitions for Cumberland County offices can be printed from our website. (State offices must obtain paperwork from the PA Department of State.) Please see below for complete details.

 BEFORE USING THE NOMINATION PETITIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE, PLEASE NOTE: NOMINATION PETITIONS MUST BE PRINTED AS DUPLEX (TWO-SIDED, FRONT AND BACK, HEAD TO HEAD) ON PLAIN WHITE 8 1/2 x 11" (LETTER SIZE) PAPER. THIS REQUIREMENT CANNOT BE SATISFIED BY PRINTING EACH SIDE OF THE NOMINATION PETITION ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF 8 1/2 x 11" PAPER AND AFFIXING THE TWO SHEETS TOGETHER WITH A STAPLE OR PAPER CLIP.

 If you are not able to satisfy these printing requirements, you MUST obtain paper copies of petitions from our office.

 FAILURE TO REPRODUCE THE NOMINATION PETITION FORMS CORRECTLY WILL RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF THESE FORMS!

  PLEASE CAREFULLY READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED WITH THE NOMINATION PETITIONS PRIOR TO CIRCULATION. If you have any questions or are unsure whether you have correctly printed any of the forms, please contact the Cumberland County Bureau of Elections at 717-240-6385.

For a complete set of petition instructions, click HERE

To print a fillable Nomination Petition, click HERE

To print a Candidate's Affidavit, click HERE

To print a Waiver of Expense Affidavit, click HERE

To print a Statement of Financial Interests form, click HERE

For a list of 2023 Important Election Dates, click HERE

To withdraw your name from the 2023 Municipal Primary ballot, click HERE

Incumbent Magisterial District Judges

Incumbent Magisterial District Judges who are seeking re-election may complete a Certificate of Nomination in lieu of circulating a Nomination Petition and gathering signatures. This Certificate of Nomination was established by Section 912.1(32) of the PA Election Code, 25 P.S. § 2872.1(32), which was enacted into law by Act 127 of 2018 on October 24, 2018.

In addition to the completed Certificate of Nomination with notarized Candidates Affidavit, incumbents must also submit: Filing Fee ($50 per party), Statement of Financial Interest, and Waiver of Expense Affidavit (if applicable). See above for links to all of these documents.

All individuals NOT currently holding the office of Magisterial District Judge MUST seek office by completing Nomination Petitions or Nomination Papers and all other accompanying paperwork as outlined above.

Place and Time of Filing

Petitions for school, local and county offices and Certificates of Nomination for incumbent Magisterial District Judges must be filed with the Cumberland County Bureau of Elections, 1601 Ritner Highway, Suite 201, Carlisle by the end of regular business hours, 4:30 pm, on the last day to circulate. 

Our office is currently open but appointments for petitions is recommended. Please click HERE or call our office at 717-240-6385 to schedule an appointment.