Running for Office
Should You Run?
Yes! Are you a registered Democrat in Cornwall considering a run for office? Candidates can come from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets; you might serve on a municipal board or committee, work with government in your career, work in education, or as an advocate or activist in the community. All it takes is an interest in the issues you care about and a desire to improve life for people in Cornwall and beyond.
The Democratic Committee is here to help local Democrats exploring public service. From candidate training and advice to endorsements, petitioning, campaign support and volunteers, our mission is to get Democratic candidates elected. Each year there are a wide range of offices up for election. Contact us.
The Process
Running for office can be complicated, but there is a basic process—and plenty of training materials and Democratic experience to help.
Once someone has decided to run for office, they must get on the ballot on a party line (or lines) by petition. Format and number of signatures vary by office. The petitioning period precedes the election date; the schedule is set by New York State law. Signatures are usually collected door-to-door.
If more than one Democrat wants to run for a specific seat, a primary election can be held if both (or more) candidates collect and submit the correct number of legal petition signatures.
In addition, candidates must report campaign fundraising and expenditures to the appropriate agency.
Depending on the scope of the race, candidates will recruit help for campaign tasks like petitioning, fundraising, events, and canvassing.
During the campaign, the primary goal is to contact voters multiple times to make them aware of the election, advise them of the issues, differentiate the candidate from the competition, and get voters’ commitment to vote for the Democratic candidate. This is done by door-to-door canvassing, advertising, phone banking, word of mouth, events, debates, and other activities.
Get Out the Vote: GOTV is the final phase of the campaign, when a candidate and his or her volunteers re-contact likely supporters to make sure they vote.
Board of Elections Information
The Orange County Board of Elections is charged with the responsibility of overseeing that all election related activities are executed in accordance with the New York State Election Law as interpreted by the Orange County Commissioners of Elections and the New York State Board of Elections.
More info: https://www.orangecountygov.com/783/Board-of-Elections
The New York State Board of Elections is vested with the responsibility for administration and enforcement of all laws relating to elections in New York State. The Board is also responsible for regulating disclosure and limitations of a Fair Campaign Code intended to govern campaign practices. The Board offers assistance to local election boards and investigates complaints of possible statutory violations. In addition to the regulatory and enforcement responsibilities the board is charged with the preservation of citizen confidence in the democratic process and enhancement in voter participation in elections.
More info: https://www.elections.ny.gov/INDEX.html