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100 Buford Avenue; Suite A, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325, United States

717-338-9085

717-338-9085

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    • Home
    • ACRC Leadership
    • EVENTS
    • 2025 Election
    • News / Press
    • DONATE
    • Contact Us
      • Contact Us
      • Volunteer
      • Internships
    • State/County Gov't
      • Elected Officials
      • School Districts
      • Municipalities
    • Resources
      • Running For Public Office
      • ACRC Member Resources
      • GOP History
      • Founding Documents
      • What Would Lincoln Do?
      • I Am A Republican Because
      • Links
  • Home
  • ACRC Leadership
  • EVENTS
  • 2025 Election
  • News / Press
  • DONATE
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Volunteer
    • Internships
  • State/County Gov't
    • Elected Officials
    • School Districts
    • Municipalities
  • Resources
    • Running For Public Office
    • ACRC Member Resources
    • GOP History
    • Founding Documents
    • What Would Lincoln Do?
    • I Am A Republican Because
    • Links

Adams County Republican Committee

Adams County Republican CommitteeAdams County Republican CommitteeAdams County Republican Committee

JOIN THE PARTY OF FREEDOM & LIBERTY!

JOIN THE PARTY OF FREEDOM & LIBERTY!JOIN THE PARTY OF FREEDOM & LIBERTY!

Running For Public Office

Example Guide

1. Pick your office. 

Pennsylvania residents who have not been convicted of bribery, perjury or embezzlement of public funds (as outlined in the state constitution) may run for dozens of public offices in the districts in which they live. These offices include county commissioners and row offices, borough and city council members and mayor, township supervisor, tax collector, auditor, assessor, judge of election, inspector of election, constable, magisterial district judge and school board members.


2. Gauge your chances

Even at the local level, incumbents have an inherent advantage because they have a record of accomplishment, name recognition and a base of supporters. Do your research so you can pick a winnable election to avoid wasting time and money.


3. Develop your strategy

Develop your strategy, theme and message. Voters want a reason to vote for someone, so develop an effective message and general theme of the election. Develop a strategy by calculating a win total. Start with the average number of votes for a similar race in recent years. Divide that number by two and add one vote. This is the estimated minimum number of votes you need to win the election.


4. Collect signatures and file nomination papers

The Pennsylvania Secretary of State and county elections offices can provide the appropriate paper work that potential candidates need to file, including a statement of financial interests. In order to get on the ballot as a Democrat or Republican, a potential candidate must collect signatures from voters of that party. The signature requirement ranges from as few as five signatures for inspector of elections to as many as 1,000 for county commissioner or city mayor. Note that borough mayors, who have much less power than city mayors, only need 10 signatures.


5. Candidates for some offices

Candidates for some offices, including school board members and magisterial district judge, may cross-file, meaning they can collect signatures from citizens of both parties and appear on both the Democratic and Republican primary election ballots.


6. Form an election committee

At a minimum, a candidate must appoint a committee chair and treasurer and they cannot be the same person.


7. Track and report expenditures

Track and report expenditures. Candidates in Pennsylvania must file expenditure reports with the Secretary of State if their total expenses exceed $250.


8. Campaign

Meet with constituents. Purchase advertisements in newspapers and on radio and television if you have the money. Talk to the local press. Keep in mind that earned media is usually better than paid media because you get your message out without having to spend money.


9. Monitor the elections.


State law prohibits candidates from entering the polling location, but does allow candidates to appoint two people to monitor the results. Pennsylvania polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., so the monitors need to commit to 13 hours on a Tuesday. It would also be a good idea to personally go to the county courthouse to monitor the unofficial results.


**ALL CAMPAIGN MATERIAL (Including Yard Signs) MUST HAVE "PAID FOR BY______" LISTED.

Sunshine Act & RTK Resources & Training

Visit the Office of Open Records for more resources:  www.openrecords.pa.gov

2025 Campaign Finance Reporting Dates (pdf)Download
PENNSYLVANIA'S SUNSHINE ACT (pdf)Download
Basics Sunshine Act Webinar (pptx)Download
Basics RTKL Webinar (pptx)Download
OOR 2022 Annual Training - RTKL Basics, Tips, and Best Practices (pdf)Download
OOR 2023 Annual Training - RTKL Case Update, Specificity, and E-File Appeal Portal (pdf)Download

Handbooks & Guides

ELECTIVE OFFICE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT (pdf)

Download

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE Rev 5.31.17 (pdf)

Download

MANUAL FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (pdf)

Download

BOROUGH COUNCIL HANDBOOK (pdf)

Download

BOROUGH MAYORS’ MANUAL (pdf)

Download

TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR’S HANDBOOK (pdf)

Download

AUDITORS GUIDE (pdf)

Download

How to become a School Director

Have you thought about running for your local school board? It can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. Watch this brief video on what is required before you throw your hat into the ring. 

Running for School Board

 What Candidates need to know about Legal Requirements for running for School Board.

Legal/Technical Considerations (pdf)

Download

How to Run For School Board and Win

Get the skills to wage and win your campaign for school boar
Leadership Institute - School Board Training Program

I ran, I won, now what?

School Board Training & Resources Below:
The Heritage Foundation On Demand School Board Training

Copyright © 2025 Adams County Republican Committee - All Rights Reserved. 

Paid for by the Adams County Republican Committee. Not authorized or paid for by any candidate or candidate committee.

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