LEWISTON — Election season in the Twin Cities will officially kick off July 11.

That’s when nominating petitions and papers for people seeking city office in the Nov. 8 election will become available.

In Auburn, papers will be available at the City Clerk’s office at Auburn Hall.

In Lewiston, nominating petitions will be available at the City Clerk’s office in Lewiston City Hall.

All seats for the city councils and school committees are open in both cities.

In Lewiston, that includes the mayor, councilors for all seven wards, School Committee members for all seven wards and the at-large School Committee member.

Candidates for Lewiston mayor must gather between 100 and 200 signatures from registered Lewiston voters. 

Candidates for Lewiston City Council and School Committee must gather at least 50 signatures. For all city councilors and School Committee members from a particular ward, signatures must come from registered voters from their wards. At-large School Committee candidates can gather signatures from any  registered Lewiston voter.

Lewiston candidates must file their nominating petitions and signatures by Sept. 9. The terms for the newly elected begin in January 2012.

Auburn candidates have until Aug. 25 to collect signatures for their nominating petitions. Candidates for Auburn mayor must collect at least 100 signatures from registered voters living anywhere in Auburn. Candidates for City Council or School Committee must collect 25 signatures — from anywhere in the city for at-large candidates or from individual wards for ward candidates.

According to the City Charter, terms for Auburn’s elected officials begin 45 days after the election, which would be Dec. 23, 2011.

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