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TextCandidate Information
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:
(1) A candidate must be qualified to vote for and to hold the office
being sought.
(2) A candidate must have been a resident of the Commonwealth of
Virginia for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
Citizens who are interested in running for state or local offices in Virginia, should start by downloading the appropriate Candidate Information Bulletin from the State Board of Elections web site to get information about qualifications for a particular office, filing requirements and deadlines, where to file the required forms and documents and other information about running for a particular office. All candidates for office must also comply with state laws regarding campaign finance and advertising.
Candidate Information, Forms and Reports may also be obtained by contacting:
Virginia State Board of Elections (http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/)
200 North 9th St., Room 101
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 786-6551
Toll-free in Virginia: (800) 552-9745
Fax: (804) 371-0194
Fairfax County residents needing forms and/or assistance may contact:
The Office of Elections
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323
Fairfax, VA 22035-0081
General Registrar phone: (703) 222-0776
General Registrar fax: (703) 324-2205
General Registrar e-mail: voting@fairfaxcounty.gov
Electoral Board phone: (703) 324-4735
Electoral Board fax: (703) 324-4706
Electoral Board e-mail: elect@fairfaxcounty.gov
Political Signs
Fairfax County candidates who wish to post political signs must comply with local ordinance, Chapter 9.5 of Title 24.2, Code of Virginia, and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) regulations.
To obtain information or to submit an application for a Fairfax County sign permit contact:
Department of Planning and Zoning (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/)
Zoning Inspections Branch
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 829
Fairfax, VA 22035
Phone: (703) 324-4300
For information and restrictions in the Town of Herndon, call (703) 787-7380.
For information and permits in the Town of Vienna, call (703) 255-6341.
Party Candidates
Fairfax County residents who are seeking to be a nominee of either the Democratic or Republican Party should contact the local committee for party regulations and activities.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (http://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org)
2815 Hartland Rd
Falls Church, VA 22043
Phone: (703) 573-6811
Fax: (703) 560-7004
The Fairfax County Republican Committee
(http://fairfaxgop.org/)
Fairfax County Republican Committee
4246 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 766-4467
Fax: (703) 766-2404
Independent Candidates
The filing deadline for independent candidates for offices elected in November is 7:00 p.m. on the date of the primary (TBD).
Candidates for School Board and the Soil and Water Conservation District run as independents and, therefore, are not nominated by primary elections.
Petitions
Petitions require a minimum number of certified voters.
| Office | Number of signatures |
| State Senate | 250 |
| House of Delegates | 125 |
| Board of Supervisors | 125 |
| School Board | 125 |
| Soil and Water Commission | 25 |
| Clerk of Court | 125 |
| Sheriff | 125 |
| Commonwealth's Attorney | 125 |
For further information and forms, go to (http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/).
2011 Primary Election Filing Fees for Fairfax County Candidates
The filing fee is 2% of the minimum annual salary for the office sought in effect for the year in which the candidate files. (Code of Virginia, §24.2-523)
2011 Primary Election Filing Fees
for Fairfax County Candidates
| Office Sought | Base Salary | Filing Fee |
| Virginia Senate |
$18,000
|
$360.00
|
| House of Delegates |
$17,640
|
$352.80
|
| Commonwealth's Attorney |
$135,882
|
$2,717.64
|
| Sheriff |
$126,531
|
$2,530.62
|
| Board of Supervisors |
$75,000
|
$1,500.00
|
Beginning date: Not earlier than Noon, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Payment/Filing Deadline: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Notes:
The Constitutional Officers (Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriff) are
shared with the City of Fairfax. If a candidate lives in the City, he/she
pays the fee to the Treasurer of Fairfax City. If a candidate lives in
the County, he/she pays the fee to the Fairfax County Director of
Finance. (§ 24.2-524)
Candidates for School Board and Soil and Water Conservation Directors run as independents and, therefore, are not nominated by primary elections.
The Clerk of Court serves an 8 year term and is not on the ballot in 2011.
Candidates who are nominated by a political party by a method other than a primary election may be required to pay a filing fee. This fee is determined by the rules of the political party. Candidates should contact the political party chairman for further information.
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