Candidates

Do’s and Don’ts for Campaigning Outside the Voters Registration Office During In-Person Absentee Voting.

 

Campaigning will be permitted outside the Voter Registration Office on county property during the early voting period, Sept. 18th to October 31st, of the November 3, 2020, General and Special Elections. Your right to free speech and political campaigning is being respected, so we hope you can cooperate with us and understand that you are campaigning in an area where people come to work and others come to use the services of the county.

• As always, the 40 foot rule for campaigning is in effect.

• Please remember that not everyone entering the building is coming to vote. Some are coming to pay taxes, get building permits and what have you. Aggressively approaching everyone is not in your candidate’s best interest.

• Please park on the grass opposite the building and save the spots out front for people coming in to do business with the county.

• The area to the east of the sidewalk, on your right as you approach the building, is private property maintained by the Eastville Inn and the lawyer cottages. As such it is off limits to campaigners as are the parking spots labeled “reserved”.

• The area to the west of the sidewalk, on your left as you approach the building, is where we would like you to set up tables, tents, signs, etc.

• Please do not block the sidewalk with signage.

• All signs, tents, etc. must be removed at the end of the day. The county will not permit permanent signs on its property.

• If your presence or actions disturb the peace of workers, visitors or nearby residents, we will have a talk.

Please refer to the Do’s and Don’ts for Campaigners and Authorized Representatives for a full review of the rules. Thanks for your cooperation, and please email me at vote@co.northampton.va.us if you have any questions or concerns.

Terry Flynn
General Registrar



Candidate Information

 

First Things First

The road to getting your name on the ballot can sometimes seem very complicated. Before starting your journey, please get become acquainted with the process. Stop by the Voter Registration office, where we can walk you through the basics and supply you with any forms you need. Candidates should also read through the very helpful Candidate Bulletin published by the Department of Elections. This bulletin explains all the requirements, forms, policies, laws and best practices for aspiring candidates. It is the candidate’s responsibility to know and follow all such guidelines. There may be legal consequences for not doing so. The staff at the Voter Registration Office is always happy to help candidates, but any mistakes you make are yours.

 

 

The Five Important Forms

In order for a candidate’s name to appear on the ballot, the following forms must be filed with the Voter Registration office. These forms are available in our office, or you can link to the form on the Department of Election’s website. 

Notes:

  • The Declaration of Candidacy, Certificate of Candidate Qualification and Petitions of Qualified Voters must all be notarized. We have notaries at the County offices that will do this free of charge during regular working hours.

  • Town Candidates.
    Town candidates are only required to file the Declaration of Candidacy and the Certificate of Candidate Qualification.
    For candidates for the May Town Elections for Cape Charles and Exmore, the deadline to file is 7:00pm, March 3, 2020.
    For candidates for the November Town Elections of Cheriton, Eastville, and Nassawadox, the deadline is 7:00 pm June 9, 2020.

Campaign Finance

Campaign finance is one of the most complicated issues for candidates. A good place to start is with the Department of Elections guidebook, Summary of Laws and Policies, Candidate Campaign Committees. It is important that every candidate understand the campaign finance process; as helpful as we like to be here at Voter Registration, we cannot give candidates any advice or help with their campaign finance reports according to Department of Elections guidelines.

 

Tips:

  • A candidate can be exempt from filing all scheduled reports except the final report if they do not take contributions and spend less than $1,000 of their own money during the campaign. Many local candidates use this option. Fill out the Exemption from Reporting form and turn it in to our office.

  • Candidates have ten days from their first expenditure or contribution to file their Statement of Organization.

  • Candidates who will take contributions are encouraged to use COMET for campaign finance reports. COMET is a software program that works like other personal finance programs like Quicken and is available free from the Department of Elections website. It sends you email reminders when reports are due and generally makes campaign finance filing easier.

 

 

 

Department Staff Information

Terrence P. Flynn
General Registrar

Liz Smith
Assistant Registrar

Voter Registration
16404 Courthouse Rd
PO Box 510
Eastville VA 23347

Phone: 757-678-0480
Fax: 757-678-0453

vote@co.northampton.va.us