Virginia candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for Virginia state candidates file with Virginia Department of Elections.
4 more deadlines follow in this cycle.
Electbase emails you before every deadline — 14, 7, and 2 days out — and stays current as the official schedule changes.
Get deadline remindersIncluded in every Electbase plan · See pricingThis page also covers Virginia candidate-filing (ballot access) deadlines for 2027–2028 — the process of becoming a qualified candidate, distinct from the campaign-finance reporting below. Here's how to run for office in Virginia: what to file, when, and with whom.
8 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a Virginia state candidate files with Virginia Department of Elections for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Aug 4, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Periodic | VA 1st Quarter Report Report due April 15, covering January 1 – March 31, 2026. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026 | |
| Periodic | VA 2nd Quarter (Semi-annual) Report Report due July 15, covering April 1 – June 30, 2026. |
Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | VA Pre-Primary Report Pre-primary report due July 27 (for the August 4 primary), covering July 1 – 23, 2026. |
Jul 1, 2026 – Jul 23, 2026 | |
| Post-election | VA Post-Primary Report Report due September 15, covering July 24 – August 31, 2026. |
Jul 24, 2026 – Aug 31, 2026 | |
| Periodic | VA September Monthly Report Report due October 15, covering September 1 – 30, 2026. |
Sep 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | VA Pre-General Report Pre-general report due October 26 (for the November 3 general), covering October 1 – 22, 2026. |
Oct 1, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026 | |
| Post-election | VA Post-General Report Report due December 3, covering October 23 – November 26, 2026. |
Oct 23, 2026 – Nov 26, 2026 | |
| Annual/Year-end | VA Year-End Report Year-end report due January 15, 2027, covering November 27 – December 31, 2026. |
Nov 27, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Descriptive labels, not official state report titles (the source is a date grid without named reports). This 2026 schedule applies to a candidate whose office IS on the November 3, 2026 ballot — in 2026 that means LOCAL offices and special elections; Virginia's statewide offices (Governor/LG/AG) and regular General Assembly seats are ODD-year (2025/2027) and are NOT on the 2026 ballot. Federal (U.S. House/Senate) candidates file with the FEC, not the state. Committees whose office is NOT on the 2026 ballot file only the July 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027 semi-annual reports. Source form CFDA 947.4 retrieved 2026-07-12 under an anomalous filename — re-verify before relying on it.
Virginia candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in Virginia — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from Virginia Department of Elections. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
State Legislative
House of Delegates — District (any)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: Virginia Department of Elections / General Registrar (by county)
Fee: Two percent of one year's minimum salary for the House of Delegates (approximately $2,750 based on 2025 salary of $137,500), or petition in lieu of fee · Signatures: For petition in lieu of filing fee: number of signatures required varies by district, based on qualified voters in district per § 24.2-521
Virginia Code § 24.2-507: Deadlines for filing declarations and petitions of candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for House of Delegates in Statewide for the 2027 Virginia General Election (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
House of Delegates — District (any)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jun 15, 2027 · Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: General Registrar (by county)
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the election district; specific number per § 24.2-521 varies by office level and district size
Virginia Code § 24.2-505: Declaration of candidacy required of independent candidates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for House of Delegates in Statewide for the 2027 Virginia General Election (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
Virginia Senate — District (any)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: Virginia Department of Elections / General Registrar (by county)
Fee: Two percent of one year's minimum salary for State Senate (approximately $3,500 based on 2025 salary of $175,000), or petition in lieu of fee · Signatures: For petition in lieu of filing fee: number of signatures required per § 24.2-521 varies by district, based on qualified voters
Virginia Code § 24.2-507: Deadlines for filing declarations and petitions of candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for Virginia Senate in Statewide for the 2027 Virginia General Election (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
Virginia Senate — District (any)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jun 15, 2027 · Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: State Board of Elections
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the election district; specific number per § 24.2-521
Virginia Code § 24.2-505: Declaration of candidacy required of independent candidates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for Virginia Senate in Statewide for the 2027 Virginia General Election (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
County
County Supervisor / Board of Supervisors
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Jun 15, 2027 · Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: County Clerk or General Registrar (by county)
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the supervisor district; 50-125 signatures depending on district population per § 24.2-506
Virginia Code § 24.2-507: Deadlines for filing declarations and petitions of candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for County Supervisor / Board of Supervisors in All Virginia Counties (95 total) for the 2027 Virginia General Election (County) (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
Municipal
City / Town Council and Mayor
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Jun 15, 2027 · Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: Municipal Clerk or General Registrar (by municipality)
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the municipality: 25-125 signatures depending on municipality size and district per § 24.2-506
Virginia Code §§ 24.2-506, 24.2-507: Petition of qualified voters; deadlines · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for City / Town Council and Mayor in Virginia Municipalities (General-Law and Charter Cities) for the 2027 Virginia Municipal General Election (November) (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
City / Town Council and Mayor
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Mar 2, 2027 · Write-in deadline: May 4, 2027
Files with: Municipal Clerk or General Registrar (by municipality)
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the municipality per § 24.2-506
Virginia Code § 24.2-507: Deadlines for filing declarations and petitions of candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for City / Town Council and Mayor in Virginia Municipalities (May Elections) for the 2027 Virginia Municipal General Election (May) (May 4, 2027) closes Mar 2, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
School Board
School Board Member
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Jun 15, 2027 · Write-in deadline: Nov 2, 2027
Files with: School District Office / General Registrar (by locality)
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the school district; number per § 24.2-506 varies by district size
Virginia Code § 24.2-223: Election and term of school board members · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for School Board Member in Virginia School Districts (November Elections) for the 2027 Virginia School Board Election (November) (Nov 2, 2027) closes Jun 15, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
School Board Member
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Mar 2, 2027 · Write-in deadline: May 4, 2027
Files with: School District Office / General Registrar (by locality)
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the school district per § 24.2-506
Virginia Code § 24.2-223: Election and term of school board members · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for School Board Member in Virginia School Districts (May Elections) for the 2027 Virginia School Board Election (May) (May 4, 2027) closes Mar 2, 2027 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2027. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
2028
Federal
President of the United States
Not yet published. Presidential candidates must also file a list of pledged delegates per § 24.2-545. Specific filing deadline and procedures to be set by State Board of Elections by August 1, 2027.
Filing authority: State Board of Elections.
Next check: Sep 1, 2027.
Virginia Code § 24.2-545: Presidential primary · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Virginia Presidential Primary (Mar 7, 2028) has not yet been published; check with State Board of Elections. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
U.S. House of Representatives — District (1-11)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Write-in deadline: Nov 7, 2028
Files with: Virginia Department of Elections
Fee: Two percent of one year's minimum salary for U.S. House (approximately $3,300 based on 2025 federal salary of $165,000), or petition in lieu of fee · Signatures: For petition in lieu of filing fee: number of signatures required per § 24.2-521 based on district population
Virginia Code § 24.2-507: Deadlines for filing declarations and petitions of candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jun 20, 2028 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
U.S. House of Representatives — District (1-11)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jun 20, 2028 · Write-in deadline: Nov 7, 2028
Files with: State Board of Elections
Signatures: Petition of qualified voters from the congressional district; specific number per § 24.2-521
Virginia Code § 24.2-505: Declaration of candidacy required of independent candidates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jun 20, 2028 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
President of the United States
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party certification
Write-in deadline: Nov 7, 2028 · Party certification: Jun 20, 2028
Files with: Virginia Department of Elections
Virginia Code § 24.2-507: Deadlines for filing declarations and petitions of candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jun 20, 2028 at 7:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
President of the United States
Not yet published. Write-in presidential candidates must file a declaration of intent per § 24.2-648. Unlike other write-in candidates, presidential candidates cannot simply receive write-in votes without prior declaration.
Filing authority: State Board of Elections.
Next check: Aug 1, 2027.
Virginia Code § 24.2-648: Write-in votes on voting equipment · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) has not yet been published; check with State Board of Elections. Source: Virginia General Assembly.
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Electbase compiles these dates from official state sources as a workflow aid. It is not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with your filing authority before you rely on it.
Last updated August 27, 2026