Signature requirements and deadlines for 2025 state legislative elections

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Candidates for elective office must often file petition signatures or pay filing fees in order to appear on the ballot. Candidates must submit these petitions, fees, and any other required paperwork by fixed deadlines. These requirements and deadlines, which are referred to collectively as ballot access requirements, vary by state and office.

This article outlines ballot access requirements for 2025 state legislative elections.

Ballot access requirements for state legislative candidates, 2025

Two states, New Jersey and Virginia, are holding state legislative elections in 2025. The following table lists signature requirements, filing fees, filing deadlines, and qualifications for state legislative candidates in 2025.

Ballot access requirements for state legislative primary candidates, 2025
State	Office	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source	Qualifications
New Jersey	House	250	N/A	March 24, 2025	Source	At least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of New Jersey for at least two years, a resident of the legislative district for at least one year, and a legal voter.
Virginia	House	125	$352.80	April 3, 2025	Source	At least 21 years old, a resident of Virginia for at least one year, a resident of the legislative district, and qualified to vote for and hold the office.

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