Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required to file specific documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. These qualifications and requirements may vary slightly depending on whether the office sought is a local office, a general assembly seat, a statewide office, or a federal office. Generally, all candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Be qualified to vote for and hold the office sought and

• Be a resident of the Commonwealth Of Virginia for one year immediately preceding the election.

The board has developed and published candidate informational bulletins specific to each office type. In addition to the qualifications, forms and filing requirements, candidate information bulletins provide candidates with information he/she will need to run for office.

I want to become a candidate Step-by-Step:

1. Read the candidate bulletins for the office sought

2. Complete the Certificate of Candidate Qualification form for the office sought.  This form may be filed any time after January 1 of the election year and before the filing deadline of the election.  It must be filed before a candidate can purchase a Registered Voter's list. 

3. Complete necessary:

• Campaign Finance documents
• Laws and Policies for Campaign Committees

4. Complete the Statement of Economic Interest form: .pdf or .doc

Complete the Statement of Economic Interest form for General Assembly: .pdf

5. Complete the Declaration of Candidacy form and Petition of Qualified Voter form to begin circulation.  These forms must be filed together on or before the filing deadline for the election.

For all offices except President/Vice President

• Declaration of Candidacy

• Petition of Qualified Voters Revised 1/30/2013 (8 1/2 x 11 Letter Size or 8 1/2 x 14 Legal Size)

For the offices of President/Vice President

• Primary

  • Consent/Declaration of Candidacy

  • Petition of Qualified Voters for Presidential Primary Revised ( 8 1/2 x 14 Legal Size) or ( 8 1/2 x 11 Letter Size)

• General

  • Joint Declaration Of Intent To Be Write-In Candidates for President and Vice-President

  • Petition of Qualified Voters For Electors For President and Vice-President Revised ( 8 1/2 x 11 Letter Size or 8 1/2 x 14 Legal Size )

  • Petition of Qualified Voters For Electors For President and Vice-President [SBE-543(PC)] This petition may ONLY be circulated by constitutionally qualified candidates seeking the office of President of the United States (8 1/2 x 14 Legal Size or 8 1/2 x 11 Letter Size)

6. Submit all qualifying forms by deadline specified in the Candidate Bulletin.