Candidate Filing Information

The November 5, 2024 General Election Candidate Packets will be available at the City of Suffolk Voter Registration Office beginning January 2, 2024. Independent Local Office Candidates should file all completed paperwork through the City of Suffolk Voter Registration Office. Primary candidates should refer to the Candidate Bulletin for applicable deadlines and submission requirements. Candidate forms are also available to print on the Virginia Department of Elections website. 

Responsibilities of the General Registrar's Office:

• Provide candidate forms and assist candidates with questions regarding the paperwork.
• Check petition signatures to ensure that signers meet all legal requirements to be counted as a qualified signature.
• Certify all local independent candidates for office. 
• Remind candidates of upcoming campaign finance deadlines to ensure timely submission to avoid mandatory civil penalties.

Responsibilities of the Candidate

• Ensure that all required paperwork is completed accurately and submitted to the General Registrar's Office on time. 
• File all campaign finance reports on time.

Election Calendars and Schedules

Qualifications

Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required to file specific documents 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.

State Requirements

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 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. All candidates for office must also comply with state laws regarding campaign finance and advertising.

Campaign Finance Information

Click HERE for forms, links, and resources on completing the required documentation. Campaign finance reports are time-sensitive and are subject to mandatory civil penalties if deadlines are not met so it is very important to familiarize yourself with the procedures and rules of Campaign Finance. 

Candidate information, forms, and reports may also be obtained by contacting:

Virginia State Board of Elections

1100 Bank Street

1st Floor

Richmond, VA 23219

Phone: 804-864-8901

Toll-free in Virginia: 800-552-9745

Fax: 804-371-0194