Only four petitions have been turned in for the slew of Butler County Republican committee person positions, according to the Butler County Bureau of Elections, and the deadline to submit is fast approaching.

Chantell McCurdy, director of the bureau, said all 96 precincts in the county need to elect a Butler County Republican committee member this year, and submissions are incredibly low.

The deadline to submit petitions is 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13.

“I’m hoping people are just holding out until next week,” McCurdy said. “Usually we have at least one for most precincts.”

Committee members are elected for a two-year term and are responsible for generating voter registrations through drives and appearances at local events such as the Butler Italian Festival, she said.

According to the Butler County Republican Party bylaws, other responsibilities include encouraging those registered to the party to vote regularly and advising the executive committee of requirements for precincts.

Committee members must be registered Republican voters in their precinct.

McCurdy said it’s incredibly easy to access a petition packet through the bureau’s website or by stopping into the office. Once you acquire 10 signatures from other Republicans in your precinct, you can submit the petition to the bureau.

Petitions can be challenged a few days after the deadline, and McCurdy said it is important to pay close attention to the petition instructions.

The petition route is much easier than the write-in route, she added.

“We’re trying to avoid having a ton of write-ins,” McCurdy said. “A lot of people think it’s easier to get write-ins, but it’s not.”

She explained 10 write-ins of the exact same name are required to have a candidate successfully elected into the position. Oftentimes, if a candidate goes by a shortened name or nickname, the discrepancies amount to less than 10 votes.

Should this occur, the GOP is informed and has to appoint people to the open positions.

McCurdy said it is uncommon for submissions to be this low at this stage of the season.

“A lot of people want to be involved at the local level,” McCurdy encouraged. “This is their chance to do it.”

To obtain a petition packet, visit the Election Bureau’s page via the website butlercountypa.gov, and print the packet double-sided. You can also pick up a packet at the bureau’s office at 227 W. Cunningham St., and obtain a street list to help with petition signing.