New Jersey school board candidates face July 27 filing deadline

New Jersey residents who wish to run for a seat on a local board of education must file a nominating petition by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026. Under the New Jersey School Ethics Act, each petition must contain at least 25 valid signatures, a requirement that was raised from 10 signatures on February 3, 2025. The filing deadline applies to the annual school board election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.

The New Jersey School Boards Association has posted a 2026 candidate kit online, offering sample petitions, FAQs, and a video guide to the filing process. County clerks across the state's 21 counties are handling the submissions and will review petitions for errors before the deadline.

In Montclair, the deadline has passed with no candidates yet submitting petitions for the three open seats on the Board of Education, whose terms expire at the end of the year. The district has faced a multimillion‑dollar budget deficit, staffing cuts and debates over school consolidation, prompting voters to scrutinize prospective candidates on financial oversight and school operations.