Running for Office Information and Resources
Running for Office Information and Resources
Individuals who are interested in running for office should know:
- The responsibilities and duties of the office they wish to seek
- The qualifications necessary to hold that office
- The legal rules and regulations regarding campaign finance reporting in Pennsylvania
The links and resources on this page provide more information to help potential candidates get started. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Election Services office.
The nomination petition period for the 2026 General Primary ended on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The last day to file objections to nomination petitions is Tuesday, March 17, 2026 and the last day for a candidate to withdraw a filed nomination petition is Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
The candidate list remains unofficial until the appeal window related to any court rulings on objections is complete.
Links
-
Unofficial Candidate List - 2026 General Primary
(opens in a new window)
The unofficial candidate list includes the names of all candidates, in ballot order, for the 2026 General Primary.
- How to do a Write-In using ExpressVote (opens in a new window)
- Write-in Candidate Information (opens in a new window)
- Candidate Request for Free Walking List (opens in a new window)
Resources
Watcher / Observer Information
Watcher Information - Polling Place Watcher
Request form needs to be dropped off or emailed to the Election Services office prior to the Election in order for certificates to be processed; please allow two (2) days for processing. Email request or drop the list off at Berks County Election Services, 633 Court Street, 1st Floor, Reading, PA 19601.
Observer Information - Canvass Observer
Please refer to the Rules and Regulations below. For more information, contact the Election Services office at 610-478-6490 or email us.
Regulations On Posting Campaign Signs
No Signs are PERMITTED on County owned Properties
Candidates are urged to contact the property owner if it’s private property and the municipality if it’s public property to check for any local sign ordinances in addition to the information posted on this website. For state-owned roads, candidates should contact PennDOT to see if any sign rules are in place.
Signs MUST be 10 feet from the entrance to the Polling Place on the day of the Election.
Links
- Municipality Regulations on Posting Campaign Signs (opens in a new window)
- City of Reading Regulations on Posting Campaign Signs (opens in a new window)
- PennDot Regulations Display of Campaign Signs (opens in a new window)
- Guidelines for Posting Political Signs at Polling Locations (opens in a new window)
- City of Reading Unauthorized Roadside and Utility Pole Signs (opens in a new window)