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:

• A candidate must be qualified to vote for and to hold the office being sought.
• 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 Virginia Department of Elections website 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.

Virginia Department of Elections
Phone: (804) 864-8901
Toll-free in Virginia: (800) 552-9745
Fax: (804) 371-0194
Washington Building
1100 Bank Street, First Floor
Richmond, VA 23219

Fairfax County residents needing forms and/or assistance may contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

Fairfax County Office of Elections
Email: voting@fairfaxcounty.gov
Phone: 703-222-0776
Fairfax County Government Center
11200 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323
Fairfax, VA 22035

Candidates for office must also comply with all applicable state laws, including those regarding campaign finance and advertising. For more information on becoming a candidate including forms, bulletins, calendars and more, please visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.

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)

The Constitutional Officers (Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriff) are shared with the City of Fairfax. If a candidate lives in the City, they pay the fee to the Treasurer of Fairfax City. If a candidate lives in the County, they pay the fee to the Fairfax County Director of Finance. Local office candidates are also required to pay a filing fee to the treasurer or director of finance in the city or county in which they reside.
Fees paid to Fairfax County Director of Finance can be paid at the Fairfax County DTA Tax Counter.
 

DTA Tax Counter
Fairfax County Government Center
11200 Government Center Parkway, Suite 223
Fairfax VA, 22035

Fairfax County candidates who wish to post political signs must comply with local ordinance and the Code of Virginia, Chapter 9.5 of Title 24.2. State law prohibits posting political campaign signs on roads and medians. During the times the polls are open and ballots are being counted, political signs may be placed outside official polling places for a maximum of 24 hours; however, they are not, by state law, permitted within 40 feet of any entrance of any polling place.

• For information and restrictions in the County of Fairfax, call (703) 324-1314.
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• For information and restrictions in the Town of Herndon, call (703) 787-7380.
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• For information and restrictions in the Town of Vienna, call (703) 255-6341.
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• For information and restrictions in the Town of Clifton, call (703) 830-2727.

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.

Fairfax County Democratic Committee (http://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org)
8500 Executive Park Ave., Suite 402
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: (703) 573-6811
Email: info@fairfaxdemocrats.org

Fairfax County Republican Committee (http://fairfaxgop.org)
4246 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: (703) 766-4467
Email: info@fairfaxgop.org

Information can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Candidates for School Board and the Soil and Water Conservation District run as independents, and, therefore, are not nominated by primary elections.

Petitions require a minimum number of certified voters.

For further information and forms, go to the Virginia Department of Elections Website

Virginia voter lists are maintained and updated by the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT). Pursuant to Code of Virginia, ELECT then provides, at a reasonable cost to qualified persons or entities, several different lists of those who voted and registered voters. Additional information can be found at Virginia Department of Elections – Client Services.

Candidate lists are also are maintained and updated by the ELECT, who makes them available on the Virginia Department of Elections website.