Millburn and Livingston residents who want a seat on their local school board must gather more than twice as many signatures as candidates needed just two years ago. The deadline to file: 4 p.m. on Monday, July 27.

Nominating petitions for the Tuesday, November 3 school board election are due at the Union County Clerk's Office by that time, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced on Monday, July 13. Under a New Jersey law that took effect February 3, 2025, every petition must carry at least 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. The old threshold was 10.

Candidates can sign their own petitions and circulate them personally, and their signatures count toward the 25, according to state petition instructions. Rajoppi's office recommends filing early to allow time for error correction before the deadline.

Petitions must be submitted in person at the Union County Clerk's Office, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and can be reached at 908-527-4996 or [email protected].

A video guide walking candidates through the petition process is available at UnionCountyVotes.com.

In Livingston, Board of Education member Fang Gong announced on Monday, July 7 that she will seek re-election. Gong was first elected in 2023 and is completing her first three-year term.

No other candidates for either the Livingston or Millburn boards have publicly announced. Millburn Township School District also holds November board elections, though the specific seats up in 2026 have not been publicly confirmed.

The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.