Run For Office. Because It’s Time For Change In Congress.

A Democratic congressman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is revealing in an upcoming book (Confessions of Congressman X) that he and most of his colleagues on Capitol Hill never read legislation they vote on, and focus on rewarding special interest groups and raising money to stay in power.

To most of us in America, this is not surprising news.

What has changed is that millions of Americans want to do something about it – including support third party and independent candidates for public office.

According to a Gallup poll, a majority of Americans, 60%, say a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic parties “do such a poor job” of representing the American people.

It’s A Great Time To Run For Congress In Virginia

Virginia requires 1,000 signatures to get on the ballot as an independent to run for Congress. The deadline of June 14th at 7:00 pm is fast approaching, but very manageable.

If you agree with the basic principles and platform of the Reform Party of Virginia, and you are interested in running for political office, please review the qualifications below and contact us today.

Reform Party Candidates Draw Equally From Independents, Democrats and Republicans

Reform Party candidates typically attract independent voters, and equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. Our candidates do not throw elections or act as spoilers like other parties on the extreme right or left, because our focus on solutions enables us to appeal to a broader spectrum of the electorate.

Qualifications To Be A Candidate For U.S. Congress In Virginia

A candidate must meet each of the following requirements:

1. At least twenty-five years of age by the time of taking office
2. A citizen of the United States for at least seven years
3. An inhabitant of the State he seeks to represent.

Documents Required to be Filed

A candidate must file certain documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. Each form is described below. An explanation of who is required to file each item also is provided. Each document can be downloaded from our website: http://elections.virginia.gov.

• Certificate of Candidate Qualification
  This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. All
  candidates on the ballot are required to file this form.

• Declaration of Candidacy
  This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. It must be
  filed by primary election candidates and independent (non-party) candidates. It must be
  filed at the same time as the petitions. Candidates for political party nomination by a method other than a primary file this declaration and the petitions described below only if so required by the rules of the political party. Contact your district chair to determine if they are required.
• Petition of Qualified Voters
  This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. If required,
  petitions containing the correct number of signatures must be filed together with the
  declaration of candidacy. Petitions must be filed by independent (non-party) candidates.
  General election candidates cannot circulate petitions until after January 1, 2016.

Petitioning For Signatures

Petition Circulator

Petitions can be circulated by any person who is a resident of the United States of America, at least 18 years of age and has no felony convictions as to which voting rights have not been restored. The person circulating the petition must affirm before a notary or other person authorized to administer oaths, that he personally witnessed the affixing of the signatures. Falsely taking this affidavit is a felony under Virginia law. The circulator never can leave the petition unattended, e.g., left on the counter at a grocery store, restaurant, etc. 2.

Number of Signatures Required

Petitions must contain the signatures of at least 1,000 qualified voters from the relevant congressional district. If petitions are required, the Department recommends that a candidate get at least 150% of the number of signatures required to assure that enough signers are qualified voters.

Regulation on Material Omissions on Candidate Petitions

VAC20-50-20 of the Virginia Administrative Code identifies what does and does not constitute a material omission on a candidate’s petition for the purpose of disallowing the petition. Please review the regulation before circulating the Petition of Qualified Voters form