VIRGINIA RESOURCES
[Warning: This has NOT been updated for 2021!]

Running for Virginia House of Delegates in 2019

Overview of steps to run for House of Delegates. Candidates embraced by the Libertarian Booster PAC can receive support all along the way. 

Basic steps:
1. Collect 125 valid petition signatures.
2. Get nominated by the Libertarian Party of Virginia.
3. File initial paperwork with the Virginia Department of Elections.
4. File periodic campaign finance reports.
5. Get a website and other campaign materials.
6. Respond to inquiries from the media, organizations, individuals.
7. Get Out the Vote activities.

Getting started:
​Find out what district you are in: Who's My Legislator
Check the incumbent's voting record and get motivated to run by reviewing the Libertarian Booster PAC's Legislative Scorecard for Virginia Assembly
Check to see if any other Libertarians have already publicly declared for that same position (which is unlikely): ​https://my.lp.org/2019-candidates/

Qualifications:
Qualifications to run for House of Delegates:

1. Citizen of the U.S.
2. Will be at least 21 years old by date of election - 11/5/2019
3. Resident of Virginia for at least a year before the election - 11/5/2018.
4. Resident in the district for which you seek office.
5. If adjudicated mentally incompetent or felon, additional restrictions apply.
6. See "Certificate of Candidate Qualification-General Assembly for more details.

Petitioning (your top priority until done):

1. You'll need to collect 125 valid petition signatures to get on the ballot for House of Delegates. Typically 175 to 250 total signatures will be needed to ensure you have 125 valid signatures. Contact Wes Benedict for additional instructions, advice, and help collecting the signatures.
2. Download a blank petition form here.
3. Create a Master Print Petition Form by filling in certain information that will appear on every petition page you submit. Click for sample. Wes can help you edit the blank petition form to help you create the Master Print Petition Form.
4. The form should be printed double-sided (front and back of one sheet of paper).
5. Collect signatures from people registered to vote in your district. You can view a map of your district by going to Who's My Legislator, entering your address, then clicking on the "Click to view boundaries" link in the lower left. 
6. Because the house districts are relatively small, often you have to go door-to-door to get the necessary signatures, because people in public places like grocery stores are parks often may live outside of your district. 
7. It is okay for people from out of state to help collect signatures. 
8. Most of the rules for petition are written directly on the form.
9. Each person who collects signatures will need to get their forms notarized before giving to the candidate. 
10. You can turn in signatures more than once. If the Department of Elections has time, they will often review what you've turned in and tell you how many good ones you have. Therefore, I recommend collecting 125​ signatures and turning them in ASAP to find out how many more you'll need. Repeat the turn-ins as needed until you've reached at least 125 valid. 
11. After photocopying them, turn in your signatures to the General Registrar of your locality (you may need to call to find out exactly who and where that is).
12. Absolute deadline for signature turn-in is 7 p.m. Tuesday June 11, 2019.

Getting nominated by the Libertarian Party of Virginia:
Once the party is aware of your interest in running for office, the Libertarian Party of Virginia will schedule a convention (it's a very simple meeting typically with just a few to several attendees) who will note on whether or not to nominate you as a Libertarian Party candidate. If not nominated as a Libertarian, you still have the option to run as an independent. 

File Initial Paperwork:
Steps below are summarized from the VA Board of Elections Candidate Bulletin for 2019 House of Delegates and Senate.
Important note regarding page 2 "Definitions and Key Icons": because the Libertarian Party doesn't have full party status in Virginia, Libertarian candidates fall under the category definition of "Independent-an individual who is seeking to run in a General Election without running as a Republican or Democrat (may include a recognized party or no party)."

0. Important Notice: See item 5 below. You will probably will need to file that Statement of Organization for a Candidate before items 1-4 are complete.

1. File "Certificate of Candidate Qualification-General Assembly with the Virginia Department of Elections" before 7 p.m. Tuesday June 11, 2019. Can be USPS registered or certified mailed or hand delivered. 

Address (use registered or certified mail):
Virginia Department of Elections
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219 

2. File "Statement of Economic Interests-General Assembly (SOEI)" with VA Department of Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday June 11, 2019. Can be USPS registered or certified mailed or hand delivered.

3. No primary filing fee.

4a. File "Declaration of Candidacy-General Assembly" with General Registrar of your locality by 7 p.m. Tuesday June 11, 2019 (must be received by then-postmark doesn't count). 

4b. Not needed for our candidates.

4c. File "Petitions of Qualified Voters" with General registrar of your locality by 7 p.m. Tuesday June 11, 2019. 

5. File two copies of Statement of Organization for a Candidate, within 10 days of meeting specific conditions (you accept a contribution, you spend any funds, you pay a filing fee [n/a for Libertarians], you file a Certificate of Candidate Qualification, you appoint a campaign treasurer, campaign committee, or campaign depository):
a) one copy with the Department of Elections according to instructions in COMET (the VA campaign finance reporting system).
b) one copy with your General Registrar after filing with the Department of Elections.

Campaign Finance Reports:
6. File Campaign Finance Reports with the Department of Elections through COMET according to schedule here which likely means for the remainder of 2019: April 15, June 3, July 15, September 16, October 15, October 28, and December 5. Account should be closed by December 5 or else you have to file additional reports.

Get a website and other campaign materials:

1. The Libertarian Booster PAC may help with items such as a website once petition collecting is well underway and Statement of Organization for a Candidate is filed (see above). 
2. Yard signs, bumper stickers, and brochures may be provided once the candidate has received the nomination of the Libertarian Party of Virginia and has received confirmation from the Department of Elections that enough valid petition signatures were submitted and verified.

Respond to inquiries from the media, organizations, individuals:

1. The Libertarian Booster PAC can help you craft responses to specific inquiries. 
2. For a starting point, we suggest reviewing the Libertarian Booster PAC's 2019 Virginia Issues. 

Get Out the Vote:
The Libertarian Booster PAC may be able to assist with sign, brochure, and other outreach efforts depending on PAC finances and the ability of the campaign to distribute materials.

Final Comments:
Running for office as a Libertarian takes some work, but the Libertarian Booster PAC will be there every step of the way to assist when possible. Win or lose, your campaign will help point the way towards freedom for voters and the rest of the Virginia House of Delegate.

Thank you so much for running. Don't hesitate to contact me when I can be of service.

--Wes Benedict
Founder & President
Libertarian Booster PAC
wesbenedict@gmail.com
512-659-8896

More Virginia Resources

Official site: Virginia General Assembly
Find out what district you are in: Who's My Legislator
Wikipedia: Virginia General Assembly
Ballotpedia: Virginia General Assembly
Virginia's Legislative Information System: LIS​
Historical Election Results
Virginia Budget

Libertarian Booster PAC's Legislative Scorecard for Virginia Assembly
Other organizations' legislative scorecards: BallotPedia

Virginia Department of Elections:
    Candidate Bulletin for House of Delegate and Senate
    ​Historical Election Results
    Summary of Laws and Policies Candidate Campaign Committees
    Summary of Laws and Policies Out of State Political Action Committees
    Summary of Laws and Policies for Political Action Committees

Regulations for Advertising:

• Yard Signs, Stickers, Flyers, Business Cards:  A disclosure statement is required on most publications like yard signs, stickers, business cards, flyers. See "Section 14.1-When Disclosure Statements Are Required" from  the Candidate and Political Action Committee summaries. Although the Political Action Committee summary says disclosures aren't required for yard signs, that may be outdated because the Candidate summary recently was changed to require disclosures on yard signs.

2019 Election Calendar
2/2/2019 Candidate filing opens
6/11/2019 Candidate filing deadline (7 pm)
11/5/2019 General Election