2026 Election Cycle

Hosting an event? Use this PDF handout about the role of Town Supervisor and the election process.

Basic Qualifications

To run for Town Supervisor in New York, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be a resident (domiciled) in the town where you’re running, both at the time of election and throughout your term
  • Be registered to vote (or eligible to register) in that town

Note: You do NOT need to own property in the town to run for office.

Key Dates for the 2026 Election Cycle

For Party Nomination (Primary Election):

Caucus Option:

  • February 24, 2026: First day to hold a town caucus
  • July 23, 2026: Last day to file caucus nominating certificates

Designating Petition Option:

  • February 24 – April 2, 2026: Period for circulating designating petitions (41 days for 2026)
  • March 30 – April 6, 2026: Filing window for designating petitions (9am-5pm business hours)
  • April 10, 2026: Last day to accept or decline a designation
  • April 10, 2026: Last day to authorize designations
  • April 14, 2026: Last day to fill vacancy after a declination
  • June 23, 2026: Primary Election Day

Opportunity to Ballot (OTB) Petitions:

  • March 21 – April 9, 2026: Period for circulating OTB petitions
  • April 9, 2026: Last day to file OTB petitions
  • April 16, 2026: Last day to file OTB petition if there has been a declination by a designated candidate

For Independent Nomination (General Election):

  • April 14, 2026: First day to circulate independent nominating petitions
  • May 19 – May 26, 2026: Filing window for independent nominating petitions
  • May 29, 2026: Last day to accept or decline a nomination
  • June 1, 2026: Last day to fill a vacancy after a declination
  • June 26, 2026: Last day to decline after acceptance if nominee loses party primary
  • August 13, 2026: Last day to file certificates of nomination
  • August 17, 2026: Last day to decline nomination
  • November 3, 2026: General Election Day

Petition Signature Requirements

Designating Petitions (Party Primary):

  • Minimum signature requirements will be posted by the Delaware County Board of Elections on February 20, 2026, once official enrollment numbers are available
  • Requirements are based on the number of enrolled party members in your town
  • Only enrolled members of your party who are registered voters in your town may sign

Independent Nominating Petitions (General Election):

  • Minimum requirement: 5% of the votes cast for Governor in the 2022 General Election in your town
  • Any registered voter in your town who has not already signed a designating petition may sign

Contact the Delaware County Board of Elections for your specific town’s signature requirements.

Important Petition Rules

  • Signatures must be collected within the designated timeframe (signatures dated outside this window are invalid)
  • All signatures must be in ink
  • Each signature line must include the signer’s physical street address (not P.O. Box), date, and signature
  • Petitions must be witnessed by a registered party member (for designating petitions) or by someone meeting specific witness requirements (for independent petitions)
  • Pages must be numbered sequentially and securely fastened
  • If your petition has 10+ pages, you MUST include a cover sheet
  • Collect MORE signatures than required – some may be invalidated upon review

Where to File

Delaware County Board of Elections
http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/elec/

Filing Details:

  • File in person during the designated filing window
  • Office hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • On the last day to file, offices may remain open until midnight
  • If filing by mail: petitions must be postmarked within the filing window AND received no later than 2 business days after the last filing day

The Review and “Cure” Process

Within 3 business days of filing, the Board of Elections will review your petition. If there are deficiencies:

  • You will be notified of any violations
  • You have 3 business days from notification to “cure” (fix) the violations
  • Common issues include: missing witness signatures, invalid addresses, signatures outside the circulation period, or improper binding

Voter Registration Deadlines

  • June 13, 2026: Voter registration deadline for Primary Election
  • October 24, 2026: Voter registration deadline for General Election

Campaign Finance Requirements

As a Town Supervisor candidate, you must:

  • Register with the New York State Board of Elections
  • File campaign financial disclosure reports according to the state filing calendar
  • Disclose all campaign receipts and expenditures

Key Filing Dates (typical schedule):

  • 32 days before the primary/general election
  • 11 days before the primary/general election
  • 10 days after the primary election
  • 27 days after the general election
  • Semi-annual reports: January 15 and July 15

Note: All candidates must file directly with the New York State Board of Elections (effective January 1, 2020)

Election Days

  • June 13-21, 2026: Early voting for Primary Election
  • June 23, 2026: Primary Election Day
  • October 24 – November 1, 2026: Early voting for General Election
  • November 3, 2026: General Election Day

Resources

  • Delaware County Board of Elections: http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/elec/
    • Democratic Commissioner: Judith Garrison
    • Republican Commissioner: Maria Kelso
  • NYS Board of Elections: http://www.elections.ny.gov
    • Running for Office Guide: elections.ny.gov/running-office
    • 2026 Political Calendar: elections.ny.gov/political-calendars
    • Petition Information: elections.ny.gov/petition-information
    • Campaign Finance Information: elections.ny.gov/filing-calendars
  • Association of Towns of NY: http://www.nytowns.org (resources for town officials)

Important Tips

  1. Start early – Collecting signatures takes time and you need to allow for the cure period
  2. Collect 25-50% more signatures than required – Some will be invalidated
  3. Download official petition forms from the NYS Board of Elections website – do not create your own
  4. Keep detailed records of when and where signatures were collected
  5. Double-check witness requirements – this is a common source of petition rejection
  6. Contact the Board of Elections before filing to ensure all requirements are met
  7. Understand the 3-business-day cure period – time is critical if issues are found
  8. Register for campaign finance early to avoid last-minute complications

Special Note for 2026

Due to Chapter 741 of the Laws of 2023, many local offices (including Town Supervisor) have moved to even-numbered years. This is why your town election is in 2026 rather than an odd year.

Disclaimer: This guidance is based on New York State Election Law and Delaware County procedures as of February 2026. Always verify current requirements with the Delaware County Board of Elections, as dates and procedures are subject to change by the State Legislature. All dates shown are subject to change.

For the most current information, contact:
Delaware County Board of Elections
Phone: (Check their website for current contact information)
Website: http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/elec/

Run in Delco