For most Accomack County town candidates because their populations are small they are only required to file these two forms:
Declaration of Candidacy (SBE 505/520)
Certificate of Candidate Qualification (SBE – 501(4)
All candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Be qualified to vote for and hold the office sought, and
Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for one year immediately preceding the election.
Here are the instructions copied directly from the VA Department of Elections website:
Instructions for Potential Candidates:
Read the candidate bulletin for the office sought.
Complete the Certificate of Candidate Qualification form for the office sought. This form may be filed any time after January 1 of the election year and before the filing deadline of the election. It must be filed before a candidate can purchase a registered voter’s list.
Complete the necessary Campaign Finance documents and review the laws and policies for Campaign Committees. – Not required for most Accomack County towns:
§ 24.2-945. Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive.
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all elections held in Virginia, including referenda, and to nominating conventions, mass meetings, and other methods to nominate a political party candidate for public office, except nominations and elections for (i) members of the United States Congress, (ii) President and Vice President of the United States, (iii) town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000, or (iv) political party committees.
The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to a candidate for a town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000 if (a) such candidate accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $25,000 within the candidate's election cycle, as set forth in § 24.2-947, or (b) the governing body of any such town provides, by ordinance, that such provisions so apply.
B. This chapter shall constitute the exclusive and entire campaign finance disclosure law of the Commonwealth, and elections to which the chapter applies shall not be subject to further regulation by local law.Complete the appropriate Statement of Economic Interest form, if required. Effective April 26, 2017, non-incumbent candidates for Statewide and General Assembly offices are required to file a SOEI with the Department of Elections. Also effective April 26, 2017, candidates for constitutional and local offices are required to file a SOEI with their local General Registrar. – Not required for most Accomack County towns
Complete the Declaration of Candidacy form.
Declaration of Candidacy form above is for all offices except US President / Vice President- those offices use a different form
Submit all qualifying forms by deadline specified in the Candidate Bulletin. We no longer have a notary in the voter registration office, so candidates will have to bring their paperwork to us already notarized, which is yet another reason for them to file before the deadline of June 16th.
Link: Virginia Dept. of Elections: Becoming a Candidate
Last day to file for Nov.’ 2026 Local/General Offices: For town candidates is Tuesday June 16, 2026 @ 7 pm.
Last Day to File for Nov.’ 2026 Special Elections for Vacated offices (if applicable: town attorney must have filed a writ of petition for special election for ballot access):
