How to run in Virginia, 2028
What it takes to get on Virginia's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House or President, from the state's election office and laws. Virginia has no U.S. Senate seat up in 2028.
U.S. House
- At least 25 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
- Living in the state when elected (the Constitution doesn't require living in the district)
| Where to file | Primary candidates file the Declaration of Candidacy, petitions and filing-fee receipt with the political party chair of their congressional district (Va. Code 24.2-522(B)); the filing fee is paid to, and the Certificate of Candidate Qualification (ELECT-501(FED)) filed with, the Virginia Department of Elections, 1100 Bank Street, 1st Floor, Richmond, VA 23219. Independent candidates file with the Department of Elections. |
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| When | Primary: declarations, petitions and fee receipts filed not earlier than noon of the 92nd day and not later than 5:00 p.m. of the 75th day before the primary (Va. Code 24.2-522, version effective January 1, 2027), which is noon Monday, March 20 through 5:00 p.m. Thursday, April 6, 2028, for the primary held the third Tuesday in June (24.2-515), June 20, 2028. If an incumbent does not file by the 75th day, others have until 5:00 p.m. on the 70th day. Petition signatures may be collected on and after January 1, 2028. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
| How | File a Certificate of Candidate Qualification - Federal Offices (ELECT-501(FED)) with ELECT; pay the primary filing fee to ELECT by check, certified check, money order or credit card; then file the Declaration of Candidacy (SBE-505/520) with the first batch of petition pages and the fee receipt with the district party chair. Petition pages may be filed in batches during the window. Each petition page must carry the witness affidavit of the circulator (24.2-521). Parties may instead choose a method other than a primary (convention, etc.), with separate party rules. |
| Fee | 2% of one year's minimum salary for the office (Va. Code 24.2-523): $3,480 in 2026. Primary candidates only; independent and non-primary party candidates do not pay it. |
| Petition instead | Primary: 1,000 signatures of qualified voters (Va. Code 24.2-521). There is no petition alternative to the fee. Independent candidates: a Declaration of Candidacy and a petition with 1,000 qualified-voter signatures gathered on or after January 1, 2028 (24.2-506), filed with the Department of Elections by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June (24.2-507), which is June 20, 2028. |
President
Getting on Virginia's presidential primary ballot
| How | Each state party decides how it selects national convention delegates, either by presidential primary or another party-chosen method, and its state chairman notifies the State Board of Elections at least 90 days before the primary date (Va. Code § 24.2-545(A)). A person seeking a party's presidential nomination, or a Virginia group acting for that person with consent, files petitions with the State Board. The petitions are sealed in containers with an attached statement giving the candidate's name and signature count, together with a list of delegates and alternates if the party selects delegates through the primary. The State Board passes the sealed material to the party's state chairman, who alone may open it and who certifies which candidates met the signature requirement (§ 24.2-545(B)). Ballot order is drawn by lot. If only one candidate qualifies for a party, that candidate is declared the winner and that party holds no primary. In 2024 the Department of Elections required a Declaration of Candidacy, Petitions of Qualified Voters, and a Petition Statement (form ELECT-545(B)). |
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| Where | Virginia Department of Elections / State Board of Elections, 1100 Bank Street, 1st Floor, Richmond, VA 23219. |
| When | Petitions are due by the primary filing deadline (§ 24.2-545(B)). The State Board publishes the presidential-primary filing schedule by August 1 of the year before the primary (§ 24.2-544(B)), so the 2028 deadline will be set by August 1, 2027 (in 2024 it was 5:00 p.m. on December 14, 2023, with filing open from July 3, 2023). Primary: first Tuesday in March (§ 24.2-544(A)), March 7, 2028. (expected: follows state law) |
| Fee | None. The 2024 Department of Elections bulletin states that "No filing fee is required for the presidential primary." |
| Petition | At least 5,000 qualified voters, including at least 200 from each congressional district, who attest that they intend to take part in that party's primary (§ 24.2-545(B)). The Department recommends collecting at least 7,500, with at least 300 per district. |
Running as an independent in November
| How | A group of qualified voters files a petition with the State Board nominating a slate of presidential electors: one residing in each congressional district plus two at large. Each petition page must name the electors, the party name the group wants on the ballot (if it qualifies for one), and the presidential and vice-presidential candidates the electors are bound to vote for (Va. Code § 24.2-242). Each signature must be witnessed by an eligible adult, or by the presidential candidate on the candidate's own petition, with an affidavit on each page. With the petition, file a notarized oath from each nominated elector (§ 24.2-240). The 2024 bulletin also listed a Declaration of Candidacy (SBE-505/520(P)) and the elector oath form (ELECT-543). To use a party name, the group must have had a state central committee with members from every congressional district, a party plan and bylaws, and a chair and secretary in office for at least six months; otherwise the ticket is labeled "Independent." A candidate found to be short of signatures may appeal to the State Board within 7 calendar days of the notice. |
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| Where | Virginia Department of Elections / State Board of Elections, 1100 Bank Street, 1st Floor, Richmond, VA 23219. |
| When | Signatures may be collected on and after January 1, 2028. The petition is due by noon on the 74th day before the presidential election (§ 24.2-242(C)), Friday, August 25, 2028. (expected: follows state law) |
| Fee | None set in § 24.2-242. |
| Petition | At least 5,000 qualified voters, including at least 200 from each congressional district (§ 24.2-242(B)). The 2024 bulletin recommends at least 7,500, with at least 300 per district. |
| Also | Yes, both must be named at filing. The vice-presidential candidate and the full slate of 13 electors (11 district plus 2 at large) are printed on the petition itself, and notarized elector oaths are filed with it. The presidential candidate may substitute a different vice-presidential candidate before the State Board certifies the ballot form. Electors who die, withdraw or are disqualified may be replaced by notice filed by the same 74th-day noon deadline. The 2024 bulletin cites the former § 24.2-543; the provision was recodified as § 24.2-242 by 2024 Acts c. 801. |
Campaign money
- Once you raise or spend more than $5,000, file a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) within 15 days.
- Your campaign committee then files a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) within 10 days and reports to the FEC.
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