How Do Candidates Get On The Ballot?

The 2026 midterms are approaching fast, and multiple candidates are running in the Democratic primaries for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District (VA1) and the U.S. Senate. That makes this a good time to review how candidates get on the ballot as well as actions voters can take to help candidates run for office.

The Virginia Department of Elections requires candidates for political office “to file specific ballot access documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot.” One of those documents is the Virginia Petition of Qualified Voters.

A certain number of signatures are needed and vary by office. According to the Virginia code, a U.S. House of Representatives candidate needs 1,000 signatures and a candidate for the U.S. Senate needs 400 signatures from registered voters from each of Virginia’s eleven congressional districts.

The candidate spearheads the petition signing to gather signatures from qualified voters, a process that involves networking, outreach, and promotion. Candidates can approach voters individually or reach out to various groups/individuals to organize petition-signing events. Those with the means can hire a firm to collect signatures.

Candidates should aim to collect more signatures than necessary in the case of invalid signatures. Sometimes voters aren’t sure which district they live in. In addition to gathering signatures, the process is a prime opportunity for candidates to build relationships and recruit potential volunteers/staff for their campaigns.

In some places, county political party committees host petition-signing events and that makes it easier for voters to participate in the democratic process. For example, Henrico County Democrats held various petition-signing events for candidates who ran in the 2025 election cycle (e.g., for governor and lieutenant governor). Neighbors For Change has hosted several events at the Twin Hickory Library for all candidates who would be on the ballot locally.

How can voters help get candidates on the ballot?

Voters can help gather signatures on an individual basis by contacting candidates to coordinate petition signings. This strategy is especially helpful for grassroots candidates operating on a shoestring budget.

Voters can sign for as many candidates as they like. When signing a petition, voters can include the last four digits of their social security number, or not. Each petition must be notarized. Back in the spring, Henrico Dems arranged for a notary to be present at one of the petition-signing events. Voters gathering signatures on an individual basis would need to ensure they have access to a notary, too.

Next, the candidates submit the completed petition forms to the Virginia Department of Elections. After confirmation, the state sends the petitions to the state parties for verification.

Overall, the petition signing process is a great opportunity for voters to proactively engage in the democratic process. Your next chance is to help candidates get on the ballot for the 2026 midterm elections. The petition window is open from January 1 to April 3.

Who needs signatures to get on the ballot in 2026?

As of this writing, the VA1 Democratic primary candidates are Salaam Bhatti, Tim Cywinski, Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, Jason Knapp, Ericka Kopp, Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, Shannon Taylor, and Mel Tull.

The three candidates who will need signatures for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary are Jason Reynolds, Lorita Daniels, and Gregory Eichelberger along with incumbent Senator Mark Warner.

You’re invited to the 2026 Neighbors For Change ballot petition signing event from 6 – 8 PM on 1/6/26 at Twin Hickory Library. Anyone who can vote can sign, and there is no commitment to vote for, otherwise support or donate to the candidates. We’ll have a notary present to make sure all the signatures are ready to turn in for the candidates. You’ll be actively participating in our government process by helping candidates get on the primary ballot.light, but we won’t forget how they helped democracy burn brighter.