Candidate Filing 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:
- 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.
What’s the first step?
Citizens who are interested in running for state or local offices in Virginia should visit the State Board of Elections Web site and look at the:
- Candidate Information Bulletins
Provides information to candidates and prospective candidates about qualifications for a particular office, filing requirements and deadlines; where to file the required forms and documents, and other information candidates will need to run for a particular office. The candidate information bulletin you should consult will depend on the office you are seeking.
- Required forms and documents
Download forms required to run for various local, state and federal offices
- Campaign finance and advertising
Information for all candidates for office to comply with state laws regarding campaign finance
Candidate Information, Forms and Reports may also be obtained by contacting:
Prince William County residents needing forms and/or assistance may contact:
The Office of Voter Registration and Elections
9250 Lee Avenue, Suite 1
Manassas, VA 20110-5554
Phone: 703-792-6470
Fax: 703-792-6461
Political Signs
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Party Candidates
Prince William 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 Prince William County Democratic Headquarters (http://www.pwcdems.com)
Glendale Plaza Shopping Center
4326 Dale Blvd., Suite 6; Woodbridge, VA 22193-2403
Phone: 703-730-1409
Chairman: Harry Wiggins- e-mail: hwiggins01@yahoo.com
The Prince William County Republican Headquarters (http://pwcgop.org/)
4431 Prince William Parkway; Woodbridge, VA 22192
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1955; Manassas, VA 20108-0806
Phone: 703-680-7388
e-mail: chairman@pwcgop.org
Independent Candidates
Individuals who wish to run as independent candidates may participate in all elections except primaries. The filing deadline for independent candidates for offices elected in November is 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday in June.
Candidates for School Board and the Soil and Water Conservation District run as independents and, therefore, are not nominated by primary elections.
Filing Fees
If a political party has adopted a primary election for a particular contest/district, candidates must pay a filing fee that is 2% of the minimum annual salary for the office sought in effect for the year in which the candidate files. The filing fee is paid to the Director of Finance for Prince William County.
Candidates who are nominated by a political party, by a method other than a primary election, such as a convention, caucus or canvass (sometimes called a "firehouse primary"), may also be required to pay a filing fee. This fee is determined by the rules of the political party and paid to the appropriate party or district committee. Candidates should contact the political party chairman for further information.