Where to start
First, decide what office fits.
Vermont needs people at every level: town boards, school boards, justice of the peace, state representative, state senator, and statewide offices.
Local office
Start with your town clerk. Local deadlines and forms can vary by office and municipality.
State office
Use the Secretary of State candidate resources for statewide and General Assembly forms, deadlines, and filing instructions.
Ask early
Before collecting signatures, confirm the exact office, district, signature requirement, and filing office.
Stay organized
Keep copies of every form you file and track every deadline in writing.
Official resources
Use the official forms.
VT4VT can help point people in the right direction, but the Vermont Secretary of State is the official source for candidate requirements, forms, and deadlines.
Official candidate information
Vermont Secretary of State - Candidate Resources
2026 form PDF
Independent Petition, Consent of Candidate, and Financial Disclosure form
For the 2026 general election form linked above, the filing window listed on the form is no earlier than April 27, 2026 and no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 6, 2026. Always verify deadlines directly with the Secretary of State or your town clerk before acting.
Simple checklist
Before you announce.
- Pick the office you are interested in and confirm the district or municipality.
- Read the official Vermont candidate resources page.
- Download the correct petition, consent, and disclosure forms.
- Confirm how many signatures you need and who is allowed to sign.
- Confirm where the finished paperwork must be filed.
- Build a short message: who you are, why you are running, and what you want to protect.