First-time board of education candidates may find the campaign process overwhelming. Many new school board members state their lack of experience in running a campaign made the task daunting. Below are answers to common questions on setting up your candidate campaign.
How to create a candidate campaign
Board candidates often feel like they don't have an ideal network of community members that will support your campaign. Build off of the friends and community members who share your views on a successful future for your school district. Ask like-minded community members to bring a friend to a coffee talk or meet-and-greet so you can discuss your views. If you've participated in PTA/PTO, booster groups or other school-related organizations, invite like-minded members to learn about your campaign.
How to find your county board of election
Visit the Ohio Secretary of State's Office website to find links to county boards of election.
How to complete a nominating petition to run for your local school board
Nominating petitions can be picked up from your county board of elections or downloaded from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. There are several different nominating petitions that vary based on the elected position for which you will be running for. For example, the nominating petition for a city, local or exempted village school board member is form 3-T, whereas the nominating petition for an educational service center board member is 3-W. Make sure you use the correct nominating petition for the position you seek.
The Ohio secretary of state's provides the Ohio Candidate Requirement Guide for individuals running for office in Ohio. Information on petitions is available on pages 4-6 of this resource.
Nominating petitions must be submitted to your county board of elections by 4 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2025, the 90th day prior to the general election. A $30 filing fee must accompany your nominating petition.
Understanding campaign finance
Although a school board candidate campaign can be run on little funds, raising money for a campaign can seem overwhelming. Suggestions for raising funds include creating a campaign website and emailing notifications to your contacts to ask that they contribute to your campaign. Download OSBA's free resource, "Get on Board: a guide for school board candidates," for information on campaign finances and committees.