Shari Brewer, director of the Butler County Elections Bureau, said those considering running for office should carefully read the instructions included under “candidates” on the bureau's website.

She said while candidates in the Butler City and School District must get 100 signatures from registered voters in their party who live in their district, all other candidates must get 10.

According to state law, candidates cannot begin gathering signatures on the county petition form until Feb. 19.

Republican and Democrat candidates must submit their signatures by March 12 for the May 21 primary election.

All other candidates must submit their signatures by March 13 to appear on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 5, Brewer said.

Petitions can be viewed now on the bureau of elections' website and downloaded beginning on Thursday. Candidates can also get petition packets from Brewer's office in the County Government Building, beginning on Thursday.

“We don't make them available too soon because people start getting signatures too soon,” Brewer said. “They're not allowed to start until the 19th.”

While the bureau of elections counts the signatures on each candidate's petition to ensure they have enough, only those challenging the petition check to see if all those who signed are of the same political party and live in the candidate's district.

She said challengers typically only appear in the more heated races.

“For the most part, we don't see a lot of it,” Brewer said. “Once in a while.”

She said to avoid a successful challenge, candidates can also pick up a “street list” at the bureau before collecting signatures. That list contains the names, addresses and party affiliations of residents.

More information is available at www.co.butler.pa.us.