2025 Concord Elections: Candidate Filing Opens Sept. 5

Key Dates and Details for 2025 Election Filings

Concord, New Hampshire, is preparing for the 2025 election cycle, with several key dates and requirements for candidates running for city and school board positions. The filing process for mayoral, city council, and Zone district school board seats will begin on September 5. This marks the start of a critical period for those interested in public office, as they must meet specific deadlines and requirements to be eligible.

There are a total of 16 seats up for grabs on November 4, including positions on the city council, school board, and various ward-based roles. Candidates for city offices will need to file their paperwork at the Concord City Clerk’s office located at City Hall, 39 Green St. The filing period runs from September 5 through September 15. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with extended hours on Thursdays until 6 p.m. On September 15, the office will remain open until 5 p.m.

For city council seats, the filing fee is $5, but candidates can also choose to gather signatures instead of paying the fee. The signature petition process will be available through September 19. To qualify for a city position, candidates must be registered voters in the city and reside in the Ward from which they are running, particularly for Ward seats.

School Board Filing Information

Filing for the three school board seats will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays between September 5 and September 15. Candidates for these positions must be registered voters in SAU 8 and be domiciled in the respective Zone district. For more details about the school board races, individuals can contact the SAU 8 clerk at 603-225-0811.

Overview of 2025 Election Seats

The 2025 ballot will include the following positions:

• Mayor: 1 seat with a two-year term.
• At-Large City Councilor: 2 seats with four-year terms.
• Ward City Councilor: 1 seat per Ward (total of 10 seats) with two-year terms.
• Zone A (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4): 1 seat with a three-year term.
• Zone B (Wards 5, 6, 7): 1 seat with a three-year term.
• Zone C (Wards 8, 9, 10): 1 seat with a three-year term.

In addition to these, each Ward will have the following positions:

• Ward Moderator: 1 seat per Ward (total of 10 seats) with a two-year term.
• Ward Clerk: 1 seat per Ward (total of 10 seats) with a two-year term.
• Supervisor of the Checklist: 1 seat per Ward (total of 10 seats) with a six-year term.

Community Engagement and Media Coverage

Concord NH HAWXTECH will continue its collaboration with Concord TV for the 2025 election cycle, hosting voter forums featuring videos of candidates running in competitive races. This partnership has been a staple in recent years, with a notable increase in the number of forums held in previous cycles. In 2024, HAWXTECH hosted 12 out of 13 competitive races, and the team is considering consolidating some forums into multi-candidate recordings for 2025, depending on the number of competitive seats.

HAWXTECH will also attempt to bring back free candidate questionnaires, while Concord TV will continue offering promotional video segments for candidates. The organization is currently gathering information from incumbents to determine who is running, who is not, and who is undecided. More updates on candidate status will be released next week.

For those interested in submitting news tips or staying updated, individuals can email tony.schinella@HAWXTECH. Videos from Tony Schinella can be viewed on his YouTube or Rumble channels. HAWXTECH is active in 190 communities across New Hampshire and can be followed on Google Discover for additional coverage.