Lennox municipal election candidate petition guide

Residents interested in running for Mayor or Alderman in the City of Lennox must follow a specific process to complete and submit nominating petitions. Careful attention to the requirements is essential, as errors can invalidate petition forms.

Important Notice

All nominating petitions must be printed front and back. Petitions that are not printed on both sides will be invalidated.

Step 1: Complete the Declaration of Candidacy

The Declaration of Candidacy is located at the top of the first page of each nominating petition.

Before collecting any signatures, candidates must:

• Complete the Declaration of Candidacy.

• Sign the declaration no earlier than July 3.

• Have the declaration notarized by an official notary public.

Notary services are available at Lennox City Hall during regular business hours at no cost.

Candidates should carefully review all information before signing. Any mistakes on the Declaration of Candidacy will invalidate the entire petition.

Both the Mayor and Alderman positions are elected to two-year terms.

Step 2: Collect Required Signatures

Candidates may begin circulating petitions on July 3, but only after the Declaration of Candidacy has been completed and notarized. Any signatures collected before the declaration is completed will not be counted.

Signature Requirements

The number of valid signatures required depends on the office sought:

• Mayor: 50 signatures

• Ward 1 Alderman: 22 signatures

• Ward 2 Alderman: 26 signatures

• Ward 3 Alderman: 32 signatures

For mayoral candidates, signatures may be obtained from any registered Lennox resident regardless of ward.

For alderman candidates, signatures must come from registered Lennox residents who live within the specific ward represented by the office being sought.

Because some signatures may be disqualified due to incorrect ward information, voter registration issues, or incomplete entries, candidates are strongly encouraged to collect more signatures than the minimum requirement.

A helpful resource for verifying voter registration and ward information is the South Dakota Voter Information Portal at https://vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx.

Petition Sheet Requirements

Each nominating petition sheet contains space for 20 signatures. As a result, all candidates will need multiple petition sheets.

Before collecting signatures on any additional sheets, the Declaration of Candidacy must also be completed on those petition forms. Candidates should ensure the declaration is completed on all petition sheets before gathering signatures.

All signers must carefully follow the instructions provided on the petition and provide all required information.

Step 3: Petition Verification and Submission

After collecting the required signatures, the person who circulated the petition must complete the verification section located at the bottom of the back page.

This section must be:

• Signed by the petition circulator.

• Signed in the presence of a notary.

• Notarized before submission.

Any signatures collected after the circulator’s verification has been signed and notarized will be invalid.

Candidates must sign the verification section in front of the notary; otherwise, the notary cannot legally notarize the document.

Completed petitions must be submitted to the Finance Officer at:

Lennox City Hall

107 S. Main Street

Lennox, SD 57039

Important Deadlines

• Petition circulation begins: July 3

•Petition submission deadline: August 25 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time

Petitions submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Questions?

Candidates seeking additional information or assistance may contact the Lennox Finance Officer at: 605-647-2286 or by email financeofficer@cityoflennoxsd.com

Following all requirements carefully and submitting petitions on time will help ensure a valid candidacy for the upcoming Lennox municipal election.