Candidate  Guide  and   Calendar

All petitions must be obtained from the Putnam County Election Commission Office.

Petitions will be issued beginning 90 days before the qualifying deadline.

The petition for a candidate must be completed in the Commission Office by the candidate. Petitions may be received by mail, however, we suggest that either you or your agent file in person. If mailed, the petitions must be in the Election Commission Office by the deadline time of 12:00 noon. A timely postmark is not acceptable.

No photocopies of petitions will be accepted. Additional copies of a petition must be obtained from the Election Commission Office if the candidate circulates more than one petition.

Twenty-five (25) eligible nominating signatures are required. Eligible refers to persons who are registered to vote and would be qualified to vote for the candidate. We recommend that you obtain at least the forty-five (45) signatures due to the fact that some people may not be registered or may have become ineligible to vote.

Voters signing your petition should sign their name as it is listed on their voter registration. Voters signing the petition must list their correct residence address including the city. A post office box number will not be accepted as an address.

Individuals who wish to withdraw their nominating petition have one week to do so. A written request with the candidates' original signature must be filed prior to 12:00 noon, 7 days after the qualifying deadline, at the Putnam County Election Commission.

Only the names of candidates that have met all the necessary qualifications shall be placed on the ballot. All petitions must be filed before the 12:00 noon deadline date.

Our phone number is: 526-2566

Download Candidate Financial Forms

*All State independent candidates who wish to run for Office in the November General Election will need to qualify April 1, 2010

Click Here for Qualifications for Elective Offices

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Sign  Regulations

At the conclusion of a primary, general or special Election, candidates are responsible for the removal of any signs, posters, or placards advocating their candidacy that have been placed on highway right-of-ways or other publicly-owned property. The removal of such materials shall be accomplished within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed three (3) weeks. (TCA 2-1-116)

A candidate in a primary Election who will be a candidate in the following general Election will not be required to remove any signs until the conclusion of the general or special Election.


Cookeville  Zoning  Code  Which  Applies   to  Political  Signs:

207.3C  No sign shall be located on, or attached to, any public property except public signs authorized by the City of Cookeville or the State of Tennessee.

207.4D  Political signs can be displayed on private property with the consent of the owner. Such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign face area. Any such sign that relates to an Election or other specific event shall be removed within fourteen (14) days after the completion of said election or event. The owner of the property on which the sign is located shall be responsible for its removal.

In a nutshell, signs are not permitted on city property and this includes utility poles as well as the City's rights-of-way (this also applies to any planters in the downtown area around the square and the west side). A good rule of thumb is to only place signs on private property, with the permission of the property owner, at least 15 feet from the edge of the street. Banners across city streets are not permitted. Please make sure your signs do not interfere with automobile or pedestrian visibility. City personnel are required to remove any signs that are in violation of the regulations; and believe me, we do get complaints about signs that are improperly placed.