Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Virginia
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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.
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In order to get on the ballot in Virginia, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Virginia. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Virginia." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
Year-specific filing information
2024
U.S. Senate
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Virginia in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia | U.S. Senate | Ballot-qualified party | 10,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 4/4/2024 | Source |
Virginia | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 10,000 | Fixed number | K.A. | K.A. | 6/18/2024 | Source |
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Virginia in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia | U.S. House | Ballot-qualified party | 1,000 | $3,480.00 | 4/4/2024 | Source |
Virginia | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 1,000 | K.A. | 6/18/2024 | Source |
For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.
2023
State legislature
State senate
The table below details filing requirements for Virginia State Senate candidates in the 2023 election cycle.
Filing requirements for state senate candidates, 2023 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia State Senate | Qualified party | 250 | $360.00 | 4/6/2023 | Source |
Virginia State Senate | Unaffiliated | 250 | K.A. | 6/20/2023 | Source |
House of delegates
The table below details filing requirements for Virginia House of Delegates candidates in the 2023 election cycle.
Filing requirements for state house of delegates candidates, 2023 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia House of Delegates | Qualified party | 125 | $352.80 | 4/6/2023 | Source |
Virginia House of Delegates | Unaffiliated | 125 | K.A. | 6/20/2023 | Source |
2022
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Virginia in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022 | ||||||
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State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia | U.S. House | Ballot-qualified party | 1,000 | $3,480.00 | 4/7/2022 | Source |
Virginia | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 1,000 | K.A. | 6/21/2022 | Source |
2021
Governor
The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Virginia in the 2021 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2021 | ||||||||
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State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia | Governor | Democratic | 2,000 signatures, including at least 50 valid signatures from each congressional district | Fixed number | $3,500.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/25/2021 | Source |
Virginia | Governor | Republican[1] | K.A. | K.A. | $14,000.00 | Fixed by party | 3/26/2021 | Source |
Virginia | Governor | Unaffiliated | 2,000 signatures, including at least 50 valid signatures from each congressional district | Fixed number | K.A. | K.A. | 6/8/2021 | Source |
State legislature
The table below details filing requirements for Virginia House of Delegates candidates in the 2021 election cycle.
Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2021 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia House of Delegates | Democratic | 125 | $352.80 | 3/25/2021 | Source |
Virginia House of Delegates | Republican | 125 | $352.80 | 3/25/2021 | Source |
Virginia House of Delegates | Unaffiliated | 125 | K.A. | 6/8/2021 | Source |
2020
U.S. Senate
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Virginia in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020 | ||||||||
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State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia | U.S. Senate | Democratic | 10,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | U.S. Senate | Republican | 3,500 | Reduced by court order | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 3,500 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Virginia in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
Virginia | 1st Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 2nd Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 3rd Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 4th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 5th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 6th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 7th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 8th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 9th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 10th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 11th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 10th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 11th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 1st Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 2nd Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 3rd Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 4th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 5th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 6th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 7th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 8th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
Virginia | 9th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | K.A. | K.A. | 8/1/2020 | Source |
2018
See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.
2016
The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in Virginia in 2016.
Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
March 31, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for primary candidates | |
April 15, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
June 6, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
June 14, 2016 | Election date | Primary election | |
June 14, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for general election candidates | |
July 15, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
September 15, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
October 17, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
October 31, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
December 8, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
January 17, 2017 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
Sources: Virginia Department of Elections, "November 8, 2016 Elections Candidacy Requirements," accessed January 11, 2016 Virginia Department of Elections, "2016 Candidate Reporting Deadlines," accessed January 11, 2016 |
2015
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2014
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Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 24.2, Chapter 5 of the Election Code of Virginia
For partisan candidates
A political party candidate participating in a primary election must complete the candidate qualification certificate form for the office being sought. The form is a written statement (made under oath) indicating that the candidate is qualified to vote for and to hold the office for which he or she is a candidate. The form must be filed before a candidate can purchase a registered voter's list for petition purposes. A candidate for election to statewide office, the United States House of Representatives, or the Virginia General Assembly must file the statement with the Virginia State Board of Elections. A candidate for any other office must file the statement with the general registrar of the county or city where he or she resides.[5][6]
A candidate must also file a written statement of economic interests if running for the state legislature, statewide office, a school board in a town or city with a population in excess of 3,500, or for constitutional office.[7]
The candidate qualification certificate and statement of economic interests must be filed by the filing deadline for the primary.[8]
The candidate must also file a declaration of candidacy and petition on or before the filing deadline for the election. The petition must contain the required number of signatures for the office being sought (signature requirements are summarized in the table below). Candidates seeking to participate in a primary election must also pay a primary filing fee. The filing fee is 2 percent of the minimum annual salary for the office being sought.[9]
Signature requirements | |
---|---|
Office sought | Signature requirements |
Governor, United States Senate, and other statewide offices | 10,000, including 400 qualified voters from each congressional district |
United States House of Representatives | 1,000 |
Virginia State Senate | 250 |
Virginia House of Delegates | 125 |
For independent candidates
An independent candidate for the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate must file a declaration of candidacy, a petition, and a candidate qualification certificate form with the Virginia State Board of Elections. A candidate for statewide office or the Virginia General Assembly must file a declaration of candidacy form, a petition, a statement of economic interests form, and a candidate qualification certificate form. The candidate must file the required forms by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June. A candidate for local office must file a declaration of candidacy, a petition, a statement of economic interests form, and a candidate qualification certificate form with the local authority in the county or city in which the office is being sought. The candidate must submit the required forms by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June.[8][10][11]
An independent candidate must gather the same number of petition signatures as partisan candidates. There are no filing fees for independent candidates.
For write-in candidates
Write-in votes are permitted in all elections but primaries. A voter may cast a write-in vote for any person other than the candidates for the given office listed on the ballot. Write-in candidates are not required to file any special forms in advance in order to have their votes tallied (except in the case of presidential and vice presidential candidates, who must file declarations of intent).[12]
Petition requirements
See statutes: Section 24.2-506 of the Election Code of Virginia
In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Virginia.
Circulation requirements
Each signature on a petition must have been witnessed by a person who is a legal resident of Virginia and who is not a minor or a felon whose voting rights have not been restored. Each page of a petition must include an affidavit to that effect.[13] If an election district includes more than one county or city, the Virginia State Board of Elections suggests that the circulator use a separate petition form for qualified voters in each county or city to facilitate the processing of the filing.[14]
Petitions may be circulated beginning January 1.[13] The statutes do not stipulate whether the petition circulator is allowed to sign the petition.
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Virginia can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Virginia Local Voter Registration Offices
Virginia Department of Elections
- Washington Building
- 1100 Bank Street, First Floor
- Richmond, Virginia 23219
- Phone: 804-864-8901
- Toll free: 800-552-9745
- Fax: 804-371-0194
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.elections.virginia.gov
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Term limits
State executives
The state executive term limits in Virginia are as follows:
- The governor cannot serve consecutive terms, but after a four-year respite can seek re-election.[15]
State legislators
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
There are no term limits placed on Virginia state legislators.[15]
Congressional partisanship
Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Virginia.
Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Virginia | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
Democratic | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Republican | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 2 | 11 | 13 |
State legislative partisanship
Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Virginia.
Virginia State Senate
Party | As of September 2024 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 21 | |
Republican Party | 19 | |
Other | 0 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 40 |
Virginia House of Delegates
Party | As of September 2024 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 51 | |
Republican Party | 49 | |
Other | 0 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 100 |
Noteworthy events
Signature requirements reduced (2021)
In January 2021, the Virginia Department of Elections settled a lawsuit over ballot access requirements for statewide candidates in 2021. As a result of the settlement, the signature requirement for statewide petitions was reduced from 10,000 to 2,000, with at least 50 signatures from each U.S. House District (as opposed to the statutory requirement of 400 signatures per district). The settlement also provided for petition signers to submit their signatures electronically.[16]
Nomination method struck down (2019)
On January 9, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit issued its decision in Sixth Congressional District Republican Committee v. Alcorn, striking down a state law that allowed incumbents to select their parties' nomination methods for their offices. The court's opinion was penned by Judge Harvie Wilkinson and joined by Judges Diana Motz and Allyson Duncan. The Fourth Circuit ruling affirmed an earlier district court decision.[17]
Related legislation
The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Virginia. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.
Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.
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See also
- Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Virginia
- Ballot access requirements for political parties in Virginia
- Virginia elections, 2024
- Campaign finance requirements in Virginia
- Counties in Virginia
- List of United States Representatives from Virginia
- List of United States Senators from Virginia
- Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
- State executives with term limits
- States with gubernatorial term limits
- State legislatures with term limits
External links
Official state and federal links
- Virginia Department of Elections
- Federal Election Commission
- Candidate information, from the Virginia Department of Elections
Other information
- Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
- Election Law Program – Report on state regulations that affect political parties
- National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives
Footnotes
- ↑ In 2021, the Republican Party of Virginia opted to nominate its gubernatorial candidate by convention rather than primary.
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed February 11, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Virginia Department of Elections, "Local Candidates Bulletin," accessed October 9, 2013
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Federal Candidates Bulletin," accessed February 8, 2014
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-501," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-947.1," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-502," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-503," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "Candidate Bulletins," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-505," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "How to Run for Virginia General Assembly (2023)," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "Title 24.2, Section 24.2-644," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-506," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "Petition of Qualified Voters Form," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Constitution of Virginia, "Article 5," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Settlement reduces signature requirement for state Democratic primary amid pandemic," January 25, 2021
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Fourth Circuit Strikes Down Virginia Law that Lets Incumbents Dictate Nomination Method," January 9, 2019
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