Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-106 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-106
Appointment and terms; vacancies; chairman and secretary; certain prohibitions; training
Status: in_force

A. There shall be in each county and city an electoral board composed of three members who shall be qualified voters of such county or city. The members shall be appointed by the chief judge of the judicial circuit for the county or city or that judge's designee. Such designee shall be any other judge who sits in the judicial circuit. Any vacancy occurring on a board shall be filled by the same authority for the unexpired term.

In the event of the temporary absence, or disability that precludes the performance of duties, of one or more members that prevents attaining a quorum, the chief judge or his designee, for good cause, may appoint, on a meeting-to-meeting basis, a temporary member to the electoral board. The temporary appointee must be eligible for appointment and to the extent practicable maintain representation of political parties under this section.

The clerk of the circuit court shall send to the State Board a copy of each order making an appointment to an electoral board.

In the appointment of the electoral board, representation shall be given to each of the two political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Two electoral board members shall be of the political party that cast the highest number of votes for Governor at that election. When the Governor was not elected as the candidate of a political party, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members of the General Assembly at the time of the appointment and two board members shall be of the political party having the highest number of members in the General Assembly.

The political party entitled to the appointment shall make and file recommendations with the judges for the appointment not later than December 15 of the year of an expiration of a term or, in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy, within 30 days of the date of death or notice of resignation of the member being replaced. Its recommendations shall contain the names of at least three qualified voters of the county or city for each appointment. The chief judge, or his designee, shall promptly make such appointment from the recommendations (i) after receipt of the political party's recommendation or (ii) after December 15 for a full term or after the 30-day period expires for a vacancy appointment, whichever of the events described in clause (i) or (ii) first occurs.

The chief judge of the judicial circuit for the county or city, or his designee, shall not appoint to the electoral board (a) any person who is the spouse of an electoral board member or the general registrar for the county or city; (b) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild of an electoral board member or the general registrar of the county or city; or (c) any person who is ineligible to serve under the provisions of this section.

Electoral board members shall serve three-year terms and be appointed to staggered terms, one term to expire at midnight on the last day of December each year, unless the results of an election have not been certified by the board or a recount of an election has not concluded, in which case the term shall expire at midnight on the day the results are certified or the recount is concluded. No three-year term shall be shortened to comply with the political party representation requirements of this section.

B. The board shall elect one of its members as chairman and another as secretary. The chairman and the secretary shall represent different political parties, unless the representative of the second-ranked political party declines in writing to accept the unfilled office. At any time that the secretary is incapacitated in such a way that makes it impossible for the secretary to carry out the duties of the position, the board may designate one of its other members as acting secretary. Any such designation shall be made in an open meeting and recorded in the minutes of the board.

The secretary of the electoral board shall immediately notify the State Board of any change in the membership or officers of the electoral board and shall keep the Board informed of the name, residence and mailing addresses, and home and business telephone numbers of each electoral board member.

C. No member of an electoral board shall be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters of his jurisdiction. If a member resigns to offer for or hold such office, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this section.

No member of an electoral board shall be the spouse, grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild, or the spouse of a grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild, of a candidate for or holder of an elective office filled in whole or in part by any voters within the jurisdiction of the electoral board.

No member of an electoral board shall serve as the chairman of a state, local or district level political party committee or as a paid worker in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by election in whole or in part by the qualified voters of the jurisdiction of the electoral board.

If an electoral board member ceases to be a qualified voter of the county or city for which he was appointed, his office shall be deemed vacant and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this section.

D. Each member of the electoral board shall attend an annual training program provided by the State Board during the first year of his appointment and the first year of any subsequent reappointment.

E. Upon appointment pursuant to this section, an electoral board member shall be eligible for protected voter status under subsection B of § 24.2-418 .

Code 1950, §§ 24-29, 24-32, 24-33, 24-42; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-29; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 204; 1973, c. 30; 1975, c. 515; 1978, c. 778; 1980, c. 639; 1984, c. 480; 1986, c. 558, § 24.1-33.1; 1993, cc. 480, 641; 1995, cc. 835 , 848 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2005, c. 380 ; 2011, c. 764 ; 2013, c. 409 ; 2016, c. 13 ; 2017, c. 807 ; 2020, cc. 287 , 295 , 370 ; 2024, c. 309 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-622 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-622
Unofficial sample ballots
Status: in_force

Sample ballots not authorized by electoral boards and provided by electoral boards or general registrars to precincts pursuant to § 24.2-641 are permitted to be printed and circulated, which includes publication in newspapers or on the Internet.

Such sample ballots shall not be printed on white paper and shall include on their face the words "sample ballot" in a font size no smaller than 24 point.

All sample ballots, excepting those official sample ballots authorized by electoral boards and provided by electoral boards or general registrars to precincts pursuant to § 24.2-641 , are advertisements for purposes of Chapter 9.5 (§ 24.2-955 et seq.). Voters may take sample ballots into the voting booth or enclosure, but shall not give, tender, or exhibit such sample ballot to any person, other than an assistant designated under § 24.2-649 , while inside the polling place or within the prohibited area designated by § 24.2-604 .

Code 1950, § 24-240; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-122; 1974, c. 428; 1979, c. 265; 1993, c. 641; 2002, c. 487 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2005, c. 370 ; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 ; 2020, c. 283 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-222 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-222
Election and terms of mayor and council for cities and towns
Status: in_force

A. The qualified voters of each city and town shall elect a mayor, if so provided by charter, and a council for the terms provided by charter. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a city or town that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the city or town council, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the locality at large.

B. Except as provided in § 24.2-222.1 , and notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special: (i) any election of mayor or councilmen of a city or town whose charter provides for such elections at two-year or four-year intervals shall take place at the May general election of an even-numbered year and (ii) any election of mayor or councilmen of a city or town whose charter provides for such elections at one-year or three-year intervals shall take place at the general election in May of the years designated by charter. The persons so elected shall enter upon the duties of their offices on July 1 succeeding their election and remain in office until their successors have qualified.

Code 1950, §§ 24-160, 24-168; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-90; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 119; 1972, c. 747; 1993, c. 641; 2000, c. 1045 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 225 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-300 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-300
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 1000 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-410.5 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 2.1 / Section 24.2-410.5
(Effective July 1, 2027) Placement of inactive status; other initiating events for confirmation notification process
Status: in_force

A. If a registered voter who has been sent a return card pursuant to § 24.2-410.4 does not return such card within 30 days of it being sent to the voter, the registered voter's name shall be placed on inactive status. A registered voter's failure to receive the notice shall not affect the validity of the inactivation.

B. The general registrars shall follow the confirmation notification process set forth in § 24.2-410.4 if:

1. A registered voter provides an address on a candidate or referendum petition that differs from the address for the voter on the voter registration system; or

2. Any of the following documents were sent to a registered voter and are returned by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable:

a. An acknowledgment of registration;

b. An acknowledgment of transfer to a new address;

c. An absentee ballot or application for an absentee ballot sent or provided in accordance with Chapter 7 (§ 24.2-700 et seq.);

d. Notification to a voter after a precinct reassignment;

e. Notification of a change of address sent to a voter in accordance with subsection B of § 24.2-410.4; or

f. Any official voter registration or election mail.

2026, c. 1120 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-524 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-524
To whom fees paid; refund of fees
Status: in_force

A. Candidates for United States Senators, for representatives in Congress, and for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General shall pay the primary fee to the State Board of Elections. The primary fees shall be credited by the Board to a fund to be known as the "state primary fee fund."

The Board shall refund the fee by warrant upon the state primary fee fund in the event the prospective candidate does not become a candidate, becomes a candidate and is not opposed, or must refile for any reason. All other primary fees paid to the Board shall be paid or placed to the credit of the fund out of which the Board pays the Commonwealth's expenses for the primary.

B. All other candidates shall pay the fee to the treasurer, or director of finance if there is no treasurer, of the city or county in which they reside. The treasurer or director of finance shall pay back the fee in the event the prospective candidate does not become a candidate, or becomes a candidate and must refile for any reason. In the event the candidate is unopposed, the State Board or the local electoral board, as appropriate, shall notify, no less than 60 days before the primary, the treasurer or director of finance to whom the fee was paid that the candidate is unopposed and shall provide the name and mailing address for returning the fee to the candidate. The treasurer or director of finance promptly shall return the fee to the candidate. All other primary fees paid a county or city treasurer or director of finance shall be paid or placed to the credit of the fund of the county or city out of which the expenses of the primary were paid by the county or city.

C. A receipt for the payment of the fee must be attached to the declaration of candidacy; otherwise the declaration shall not be received or filed.

Code 1950, § 24-401; 1962, c. 462; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 247, § 24.1-199; 1982, c. 650; 1988, c. 192; 1993, c. 641; 2005, c. 748 ; 2010, cc. 449 , 645 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-802.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 8 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-802.2
General recount procedures
Status: in_force

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Overvote" means a ballot on which a voter casts a vote for a greater number of candidates or positions than the number for which he was lawfully entitled to vote and no vote shall be counted with respect to that office or issue.

"Undervote" means a ballot on which a voter casts a vote for a lesser number of candidates or positions than the number for which he was lawfully entitled to vote.

B. The recount of the votes shall be based on votes cast in the election and shall not take into account (i) any absentee ballots or provisional ballots sought to be cast but ruled invalid and not cast in the election, (ii) ballots cast only for administrative or test purposes and voided by the officers of election, or (iii) ballots spoiled by a voter and replaced with a new ballot.

C. The eligibility of any voter to have voted shall not be an issue in a recount. Commencing upon the filing of the recount, nothing shall prevent the discovery or disclosure of any evidence that could be used pursuant to § 24.2-803 in contesting the results of an election.

D. There shall be only one recount of the vote in each precinct. The recount of the vote shall be conducted as follows:

1. For paper ballots, the recount officials shall hand count the paper ballots using the standards promulgated by the State Board pursuant to § 24.2-802 .

2. For ballot scanner machines, the recount officials shall rerun all the machine-readable ballots through a scanner programmed to count only the votes for the parties or issue in question in the recount and to set aside all ballots containing write-in votes, overvotes, and undervotes. The ballots that are set aside, any ballots not accepted by the scanner, and any ballots for which a scanner could not be programmed to meet the programming requirements of this subdivision, shall be hand counted using the standards promulgated by the State Board pursuant to § 24.2-802 . If the total number of machine-readable ballots reported as counted by the scanner plus the total number of ballots set aside by the scanner do not equal the total number of ballots rerun through the scanner, then all ballots cast on ballot scanner machines for that precinct shall be set aside to be counted by hand using the standards promulgated by the State Board pursuant to § 24.2-802 . Prior to running the machine-readable ballots through the ballot scanner machine, the recount officials shall ensure that logic and accuracy tests have been successfully performed on each scanner after the scanner has been programmed. The result calculated for ballots accepted by the ballot scanner machine during the recount shall be considered correct for those machine-readable ballots unless the court finds sufficient cause to rule otherwise.

3. Prior to the conclusion of the recount in each precinct, the recount officials shall segregate all ballots for which there is a question regarding the ballot's validity.

E. At the conclusion of the recount of each precinct, the recount officials shall write down the number of valid ballots cast, this number being obtained from the ballots cast in the precinct, or from the ballots cast as shown on the statement of results if the ballots cannot be found, for each of the two candidates or for and against the question. They shall submit the ballots or the statement of results used, as to the validity of which questions exist, to the court. The written statement of any one recount official challenging a ballot shall be sufficient to require its submission to the court. If, on all ballot scanners, the number of persons voting in the election, or the number of votes cast for the office or on the question, totals more than the number of names on the pollbooks of persons voting on the voting machines, the figures recorded by the machines shall be accepted as correct.

F. At the conclusion of the recount of all precincts, after allowing the parties to inspect the questioned ballots, and after hearing arguments, the court shall rule on the validity of all questioned ballots and votes. The court may not consider the validity of any ballots not set aside prior to the conclusion of the recount in each precinct. After settling all matters pertaining to the recount of the vote as raised by the parties, the court shall certify to the State Board and the electoral board (i) the vote for each party to the recount and declare the person who received the higher number of votes to be nominated or elected, as appropriate, or (ii) the votes for and against the question and declare the outcome of the referendum. The Department shall post on the Internet any and all changes made during the recount to the results as previously certified by it pursuant to § 24.2-679 .

G. The recount proceeding shall be final and not subject to appeal.

H. Except in the case of a recount of an election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General, or for elector of President or Vice President of the United States, if the court finds that each party to the recount has received an equal number of votes, it shall issue a writ promptly ordering a special election be held to determine which candidate is elected to the office.

2020, cc. 284 , 500 , 886 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-115 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-115
Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election
Status: in_force

A. Each electoral board at its regular meeting in the first week of February of the year in which the terms of officers of election are scheduled to expire shall appoint officers of election. Their terms of office shall begin on March 1 following their appointment and continue, at the discretion of the electoral board, for a term not to exceed three years or until their successors are appointed. The general registrar shall prepare and submit to the electoral board a plan to ensure that adequate numbers of trained officers of election are available to serve in each election.

Not less than three competent citizens shall be appointed for each precinct. However, a precinct having more than 4,000 registered voters shall have not less than five officers of election serving for a presidential election, and the electoral board shall appoint additional officers as needed to satisfy this requirement. Insofar as practicable, each officer shall be a qualified voter of the precinct he is appointed to serve, but in any case a qualified voter of the Commonwealth. In appointing the officers of election, representation shall be given to each of the two political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. The representation of the two parties shall be equal at each precinct having an even number of officers and shall vary by no more than one at each precinct having an odd number of officers. If practicable, officers shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board at least 10 days before February 1 each year. The electoral board may appoint additional citizens who do not represent any political party to serve as officers. If practicable, no more than one-third of the total number of officers appointed for each precinct may be citizens who do not represent any political party.

B. Officers of election shall serve for all elections held in their respective precincts during their terms of office unless a substitute is required to be appointed pursuant to § 24.2-117 or the electoral board decides that fewer officers are needed for a particular election, in which case party representation shall be maintained as provided above. For a primary election involving only one political party, persons representing the political party holding the primary shall serve as the officers of election if possible.

C. The electoral board shall ensure that one officer is designated as the chief officer of election and one officer is designated as the assistant for each precinct. The officer designated as the assistant for a precinct, whenever practicable, shall not represent the same political party as the chief officer for the precinct. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where representatives for one or both of the two political parties having the largest number of votes for Governor in the last preceding gubernatorial election are unavailable, citizens who do not represent either of those two political parties may be designated as the chief officer and the assistant chief officer. In such case, the general registrar shall provide notice to representatives of both parties at least 10 days prior to the election that he intends to use nonaffiliated officers so that each party shall have the opportunity to provide additional nominations. The electoral board may also appoint at least one officer of election who reports to the precinct at least one hour prior to the closing of the precinct and whose primary responsibility is to assist with closing the precinct and reporting the results of the votes at the precinct.

The electoral board shall ensure that each chief officer and assistant is instructed in his duties not less than three nor more than 30 days before each election. Each officer of election may be instructed in his duties at an appropriate time or times before each November general election, and training of the officers of election shall be conducted as provided by § 24.2-115.2 .

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-117 , if an officer of election is unable to serve at any election during his term of office, the electoral board may at any time appoint a substitute who shall hold office and serve for the unexpired term.

Additional officers shall be appointed in accordance with this section at any time that the electoral board determines that they are needed or as required by law.

If practicable, substitute officers or additional officers appointed after the electoral board's regular meeting in the first week of February shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The electoral board or the general registrar shall inform the political parties of the decision of the electoral board to make such appointments and the party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board or the general registrar within five business days.

E. The secretary of the electoral board or general registrar shall prepare a list of the officers of election that shall be available for inspection and posted in the general registrar's office prior to March 1 each year. Whenever substitute or additional officers are appointed, the secretary of the electoral board or the general registrar shall promptly add the names of the appointees to the public list. Upon request and at a reasonable charge not to exceed the actual cost incurred, the secretary of the electoral board or the general registrar shall provide a copy of the list of the officers of election, including their party designation and precinct to which they are assigned, to any requesting political party or candidate.

F. Upon appointment pursuant to this section, an officer of election shall be eligible for protected voter status under subsection B of § 24.2-418 .

Code 1950, §§ 24-30, 24-193, 24-195, 24-199; 1950, p. 164; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-32, 24.1-105, 24.1-106; 1972, c. 620; 1975, c. 515; 1976, c. 616; 1978, cc. 330, 778; 1980, c. 639; 1982, c. 650; 1984, c. 480; 1986, c. 558; 1989, c. 227; 1993, c. 641; 1997, c. 459 ; 1998, c. 187 ; 2002, cc. 66 , 216 ; 2003, cc. 232 , 1015 ; 2005, c. 820 ; 2009, cc. 639 , 865 , 870 , 874 ; 2010, cc. 190 , 347 , 769 ; 2013, c. 461 ; 2014, cc. 410 , 777 ; 2015, c. 667 ; 2016, cc. 18 , 492 , 752 , 766 ; 2024, c. 309 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-700 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 7 / Section 24.2-700
Persons entitled to vote by absentee ballot
Status: in_force

Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in accordance with the provisions of this chapter in any election in which he is qualified to vote.

Code 1950, § 24-319; 1952, c. 488; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-227; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 119; 1972, c. 620; 1974, c. 428; 1975, c. 515; 1976, c. 616; 1981, c. 425; 1983, c. 461; 1988, c. 6; 1989, c. 320; 1993, cc. 414, 641; 1995, c. 157 ; 1998, c. 254 ; 2000, c. 378 ; 2001, c. 631 ; 2002, cc. 785 , 819 ; 2008, cc. 425 , 880 ; 2009, cc. 405 , 873 ; 2010, c. 244 ; 2012, c. 353 ; 2017, c. 631 ; 2019, cc. 668 , 669 ; 2020, cc. 561 , 1149 , 1151 , 1201 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-218 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-218
Election and term of county supervisors
Status: in_force

A. The qualified voters of each county election district shall elect one or more supervisors at the general election in November 1995, and every four years thereafter for terms of four years, except as provided in § 24.2-219 or as provided by law for those counties having the optional form of government under the provisions of Article 2 (§ 15.2-702 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 15.2.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a county that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the board of supervisors, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the county at large.

Code 1950, § 24-157; 1968, c. 639; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-88; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 265; 1973, c. 30; 1976, c. 616; 1981, c. 12; 1982, c. 650; 1993, c. 641; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 225 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-238 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 7 / Section 24.2-238
Costs
Status: in_force

A. If a judicial proceeding under this article is dismissed in favor of the officer, the court in its discretion may require the state agency or political subdivision that the officer serves to pay court costs or reasonable attorney fees, or both, for the officer.

B. No person who signs a petition for the removal of an official pursuant to § 24.2-233 or who circulates such a petition (i) shall be liable for any costs associated with removal proceedings conducted pursuant to the petition, including attorney fees incurred by any other party or court costs, or (ii) shall have sanctions imposed against him pursuant to § 8.01-271.1 .

1975, cc. 515, 595, § 24.1-79.10; 1993, c. 641; 2009, cc. 868 , 876 ; 2023, cc. 663 , 664 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-467 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4.1 / Section 24.2-467
Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements
Status: in_force

A. If a voter's mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this chapter does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted under this chapter. In a federal write-in absentee ballot authorized by this chapter, if the intention of the voter is discernible under this state's uniform definition of what constitutes a vote, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must be accepted as a valid vote.

B. Notarization is not required for the execution of a document under this chapter. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in § 24.2-463 or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document under this chapter. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.

2012, c. 353 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-948.7 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-948.7
Violations of the ban on personal use of campaign funds; complaint; notice; hearing; civil penalties
Status: in_force

A. A person who believes a violation of § 24.2-948.6 has occurred and (i) contributes to a candidate or his campaign committee that has allegedly committed the violation or (ii) is qualified to vote in the election for the office for which such candidate is running is qualified to file a complaint with the Department. Such complaint shall be filed electronically or in writing on a form provided by the Department, signed and sworn to by the person filing such complaint, notarized, and made under penalty of perjury and subject to the provisions of § 24.2-1016 . The complaint shall clearly identify the complainant and the person against whom the complaint is addressed (the respondent) and contain (a) a credible allegation of a violation of § 24.2-948.6 with regard to a specific use of campaign contributions by the candidate or his campaign committee, (b) attached documentation supporting the allegation, (c) the names and contact information of any person the complainant knows to have knowledge of facts relating to the allegation, and (d) any other information required by the Department.

The complaint form shall include a sworn statement, signed by the complainant, agreeing to strict confidentiality regarding the complaint and all related matters for the 10 days preceding the complaint's submission. If the State Board determines that the complainant knowingly violated his agreement to strict confidentially, the State Board may assess a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Any civil penalty collected under this provision shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Prohibited Personal Use Enforcement Fund established pursuant to § 24.2-948.9 . The procedure to enforce a civil penalty provided in this section shall be as stated in § 24.2-946.3 .

The Department shall provide a copy of the complaint to the respondent within 24 hours of receipt. The Department shall complete its review of such complaints and, within 10 days, transmit to the State Board any credible and complete complaint from a qualified complainant and send written notice to the complainant and respondent of the Department's ultimate determination of the complaint's disposition. The State Board shall not act upon any complaint that does not meet the requirements of this subsection but shall be authorized to initiate an inquiry upon its own motion.

B. Upon receipt of a complaint or upon its own motion, the State Board shall conduct a preliminary investigation into the specific use of campaign contributions by the candidate. Such preliminary investigation shall be conducted in closed meetings held pursuant to § 2.2-3711 . The State Board shall determine, during its preliminary investigation, whether the facts stated in the complaint or that serve as the basis of the State Board's motion taken as true are sufficient to show a violation of § 24.2-948.6 . If such facts fail to give rise to such a violation, then the State Board shall dismiss the complaint. If the facts give rise to such a violation, then the State Board shall request that the complainant appear and testify under oath as to the complaint and the allegations therein. If the inquiry was initiated by the State Board's own motion, the State Board may request that witnesses appear and testify under oath as to the allegations raised by the State Board.

The State Board shall notify the respondent that a preliminary investigation has commenced within 24 hours of initiating such investigation. Before the State Board conducts any vote on the complaint, other than a vote to dismiss, the respondent shall have 30 days to provide to the State Board documentation or other evidence that no action should be taken against the respondent on the basis of the complaint or the allegations brought by the State Board. If the respondent provides such documentation or such other evidence, the State Board shall review the response and determine whether to proceed with the inquiry.

After hearing testimony and reviewing any other evidence provided by the complainant, witnesses, or the respondent, the State Board shall dismiss the complaint if the State Board fails to find by a preponderance of the evidence that such violation has occurred. If the State Board finds otherwise, it shall proceed with the inquiry by calling for a public hearing.

If at any point prior to the State Board's call for a public hearing on the matter the respondent pays back to the campaign committee from his personal funds the amount that was allegedly converted to his personal use, the State Board shall dismiss the complaint or motion and end the inquiry into the matter.

Prior to the State Board's holding a public hearing on the matter, the complaint, the State Board's written notice, and any related records shall not be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) and shall not be made public, except by the respondent. However, once the State Board has commenced a public meeting to further inquire into alleged conversion of campaign funds to personal use, its materials, meetings, and hearings on the matter shall be open to the public.

C. If after such preliminary investigation the State Board determines to proceed with an inquiry into the specific use of campaign contributions by the respondent, the State Board (i) shall immediately notify in writing the complainant and the respondent as to the fact of the inquiry and the allegations against the respondent and (ii) shall schedule one or more hearings on the matter. The respondent shall have the right to postpone the hearing if it is scheduled within the 30 days immediately preceding an election in which the respondent is a candidate for office. If the complaining party declines to participate in the hearing, the complaint shall be dismissed and no further action shall be taken.

The respondent shall have the right to access all records obtained during the investigation, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, face and examine the accuser, and be represented by counsel at any hearings. The State Board may grant the respondent any other rights or privileges not specifically enumerated in this subsection.

If at any time the State Board determines that the complaint is without merit, the State Board shall dismiss the complaint, so advise the complainant and the respondent, and take no further action.

D. A decision to dispose of a complaint under this section shall require a vote of four members of the State Board. Failure of the State Board to dispose of a complaint within 120 days of the Department's transmission of the signed and sworn complaint shall result in the summary dismissal of the matter, after which no further action shall be taken.

Within 120 days of the Department's transmission of the signed and sworn complaint to the State Board or a motion to begin an inquiry, the State Board may dispose of the matter in one of the following ways:

1. If for any reason the State Board dismisses the matter during its preliminary investigation and prior to holding a public hearing on the matter, the State Board shall so advise the complainant and the respondent and take no further action. In such case, the records and findings on the matter shall not be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) and shall not be made public unless the respondent requests in writing that the records and findings be made public.

2. If at any time after the commencement of the initial public hearing on the matter the State Board dismisses the matter, the State Board shall so advise the complainant and the respondent and prepare a written judgment stating the grounds for the dismissal.

3. If after a public hearing the State Board determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent has violated the provisions of § 24.2-948.6 but that the violation was not made willfully and knowingly, the State Board may require the respondent to repay an amount not to exceed the amount unlawfully converted to the personal use of the respondent. Respondents who claim an inability to repay the amount the State Board has determined is owed may be asked to provide documentation as to their financial condition. The State Board may negotiate a payment plan that enables a respondent to repay. The procedure to enforce repayment under this section shall be as stated in § 24.2-946.3 . The State Board shall prepare a written judgment stating its determination of the matter, its recommended remedy, and reasons therefor. A copy of the judgment shall be sent to each party and posted on the State Board's website no later than three days after it has been issued.

4. If the State Board determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent willfully and knowingly violated any provision of § 24.2-948.6 , the State Board shall direct the respondent to repay the amount unlawfully converted to his personal use. The State Board may also assess an additional civil penalty, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per itemized expenditure found to be in violation of any provision of § 24.2-948.6 and in no case greater than $10,000. Respondents who claim an inability to pay an appropriate civil penalty may be asked to provide documentation as to their financial condition. The State Board may negotiate a payment plan that enables a respondent to pay an appropriate civil penalty. Any civil penalty collected under this subdivision shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Prohibited Personal Use Enforcement Fund established pursuant to § 24.2-948.9 . The procedure to enforce a civil penalty provided in this section shall be as stated in § 24.2-946.3 . The State Board shall prepare a written judgment stating its determination of the matter, its recommended remedy, and reasons therefor. A copy of the judgment shall be sent to each party and posted on the State Board's website no later than three days after it has been issued.

5. Any records and findings related to a complaint that was not dismissed pursuant to subdivision 1 shall become archival records, as defined in § 42.1-77 , maintained permanently by the Library of Virginia. Electronic copies of such records shall be made publicly available on the State Board's website no later than 30 days after a final disposition of the matter has been decided.

E. A person found by the State Board to have violated the provisions of this section shall have a right to the direct review of the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction as provided in the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). The provisions of the Administrative Process Act shall not otherwise apply, however, to the finding of a violation by the State Board pursuant to this section.

F. The State Board may, by a vote of four members, make a finding that a complaint is frivolous. Such a finding shall be prima facie evidence of abuse of process by the complainant. The State Board shall prepare a written judgment stating its determination of the matter and reasons therefor. A copy of the judgment shall be sent to each party and posted on the State Board's website no later than three days after it has been issued.

2025, cc. 535 , 537 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-414.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-414.1
Closing time of registration sites on final day
Status: in_force

The principal office of the registrar shall close for voter registration purposes at 5:00 p.m. on the final day of registration.

2013, c. 680 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1005 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1005
Intimidation of voters; civil cause of action
Status: in_force

A. Any person who intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person in giving his vote or ballot or who intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce a voter to deter or prevent him from voting is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. In addition to the criminal penalty provided in subsection A, such actions shall also create a cause of action. A voter who is intimidated, threatened, or coerced by another person in violation of subsection A shall be entitled to institute an action for preventative relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, against such person. The action shall be instituted in the circuit court of the locality where the violation occurred. In any such action, the court may, in its discretion, allow a private plaintiff a reasonable attorney fee as part of the costs, if such plaintiff is the prevailing party.

C. This section applies to any election and to any method used by a political party for selection of its nominees and for selection of delegates to its conventions and meetings.

1970, c. 462, § 24.1-271; 1993, c. 641; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 528 , 533 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-662 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-662
Procedure when paper ballots exceed names on pollbooks
Status: in_force

If the ballots in the container exceed the number of names on the pollbooks of persons who voted on paper ballots, all ballots shall be replaced in the ballot container. Then, after the container is well shaken, an officer of election, being blindfolded, shall withdraw a sufficient number of ballots to reduce the number of ballots left in the container to the number of such names on the pollbooks. The drawn ballots shall be set aside and not counted.

Code 1950, § 24-263; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-139; 1983, c. 461; 1993, c. 641; 2003, c. 1015 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-667.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-667.1
Reporting of results; absentee and provisional votes
Status: in_force

A. The general registrar shall report to the Department for each precinct in his locality the number and results of absentee ballots cast by voters assigned to such precinct. Results from absentee voting and voting at the precinct on election day shall be reported separately. The general registrar shall also report to the Department the number and results of absentee ballots cast early in person pursuant to § 24.2-701.1 separately from the number and results of all other absentee ballots. The Department shall establish standards for ascertaining and reporting such information. Such standards shall direct that all results be posted promptly and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day after the election day.

B. The general registrar shall report to the Department for each precinct in his locality the total number of provisional ballots cast, the number of those provisional ballots determined to be valid by the electoral board, and the results of such valid provisional ballots by voters assigned to such precinct. Results from provisional voting and voting at the precinct on election day shall be reported separately. The Department shall establish standards for ascertaining and reporting such information. Such standards shall direct that all results be posted promptly and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day after the election day.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 471 ; 2022, cc. 125 , 126 ; 2025, c. 577 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-629 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-629
State Board approval process of electronic voting systems
Status: in_force

A. Any person, firm, or corporation, referred to in this article as the "vendor," manufacturing, owning, or offering for sale any electronic voting or counting machine and ballots designed to be used with such equipment may apply to the State Board, in the manner prescribed by the Board, to have examined a production model of such equipment and the ballots used with it. The Board may require the vendor to pay a reasonable application fee when he files his request for testing or certification of new or upgraded voting equipment. Receipts from such fees shall be credited to the Board for reimbursement of testing and certification expenses. In addition to any other materials that may be required, a current statement of the financial status of the vendor, including any assets and liabilities, shall be filed with the Board; if the vendor is not the manufacturer of the equipment for which application is made, such a statement shall also be filed for the manufacturer. These statements shall be exempt from the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Board shall require, at a site of its choosing, a demonstration of such equipment and ballots and may require that a production model of the equipment and a supply of ballots be provided to the Board for testing purposes. The Board shall also require the vendor to provide documentation of the practices recommended by the vendor to ensure the optimum security and functionality of the system.

B. The Board may approve any kind of electronic voting system that meets the following requirements:

1. It shall provide clear instructions for voters on how to mark or select their choice and cast that vote.

2. It shall provide facilities for voting for all offices at any election and on as many questions as may be submitted at any election.

3. It shall be capable of processing ballots for all parties holding a primary election on the same day, but programmable in such a way that an individual ballot cast by a voter is limited to the party primary election in which the voter chooses to participate.

4. It shall require votes for presidential and vice presidential electors to be cast for the presidential and vice presidential electors of one party by one operation. The ballot shall contain the words "Electors for" preceded by the name of the party or other authorized designation and followed by the names of the candidates for the offices of President and Vice President.

5. It shall enable the voter to cast votes for as many persons for an office as lawfully permitted, but no more. It shall prevent the voter from casting a vote for the same person more than once for the same office. However, ballot scanner machines shall not be required to prevent a voter from voting for a greater number of candidates than he is lawfully entitled to.

6. It shall enable the voter to cast a vote on any question on which he is lawfully permitted to vote, but no other.

7. It shall provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any error before a ballot is cast.

8. It shall correctly register or record and accurately count all votes cast for candidates and on questions.

9. It shall be provided with a "protective counter," whereby any operation of the machine before or after the election will be detected.

10. It shall be provided with a counter that at all times during an election shall show how many persons have voted.

11. It shall ensure voting in absolute secrecy. Ballot scanner machines shall provide for the secrecy of the ballot and a method to conceal the voted ballot.

12. It shall be programmable to allow ballots to be separated when necessary.

13. It shall retain each printed ballot cast.

14. Ballot scanner machines shall report, if possible, the number of ballots on which a voter undervoted or overvoted.

C. After its examination of the equipment, ballots, and other materials submitted by the vendors, the Board shall prepare and file in its office a report of its finding as to (i) the apparent capability of such equipment to accurately count, register, and report votes; (ii) whether the system can be conveniently used without undue confusion to the voter; (iii) its accessibility to voters with disabilities; (iv) whether the system can be safely used without undue potential for fraud; (v) the ease of its operation and transportation by voting equipment custodians and officers of election; (vi) the financial stability of the vendor and manufacturer; (vii) whether the system meets the requirements of this title; (viii) whether the system meets federal requirements; (ix) whether issues of reliability and security identified with the system by other state governments have been adequately addressed by the vendor; and (x) whether, in the opinion of the Board, the potential for approval of such system is such as to justify further examination and testing.

D. If the Board determines that there is such potential and prior to its final determination as to approval or disapproval of such system, the Board shall obtain a report by an independent electronics or engineering consultant as to (i) whether the system accurately counts, registers, and reports votes; (ii) whether it is capable of storing and retaining existing votes in a permanent memory in the event of power failure during and after the election; (iii) the number of separate memory capabilities for the storage of recorded votes; (iv) its mechanical and electronic perfections and imperfections; (v) the audit trail provided by the system; (vi) the anticipated frequency of repair; (vii) the ease of repair; (viii) the anticipated life of the equipment; (ix) its potential for fraudulent use; (x) its accessibility to voters with disabilities; (xi) the ease of its programming, transportation, and operation by voting equipment custodians and officers of election; and (xii) any other matters deemed necessary by the Board. Failure by an applicant to cooperate with the consultant by furnishing information and production equipment and ballots requested shall be deemed a withdrawal of the application, but nothing in this section shall require the disclosure of trade secrets by the applicant. If such trade secrets are essential to the proper analysis of the system and are provided for that reason, the consultant shall subscribe to an oath subject to the penalty for perjury that he will neither disclose nor make use of such information except as necessary for the system analysis. The report of the consultant shall be filed in the office of the Board.

E. In preparing the reports cited in subsections C and D, the Board shall require, as a condition of certification, that the system is comprehensively examined by individuals including at least one expert in election management and one in computer system security. The Board shall develop, in conjunction with the above listed individuals, a specific set of items to be examined and tested as part of the certification process to further elaborate on the requirements identified in this section.

F. If the Board determines that there is potential for approval of the system and prior to its final determination, the Board shall also require that the system be tested in an actual election in one or more counties or cities. Its use at such election shall be as valid for all purposes as if it had been legally approved by the Board and adopted by the counties or cities.

G. If, following testing, the Board approves any voting system and its ballots for use, the Board shall so notify the electoral boards of each county and city. Systems so approved may be adopted for use at elections as herein provided. No form of voting system and ballots not so approved shall be adopted by any county or city. Any voting system and ballots approved for use by the Board shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this title and any applicable federal laws, and their use in any election shall be valid.

H. A vendor whose voting system is approved for use shall provide updates concerning its recommended practices for optimum security and functionality of the system, as may be requested by the Board. Any product for which requested updates are not provided shall be deemed non-compliant and may be decertified at the discretion of the Board.

I. The Board shall have the authority to investigate, at its discretion, any voting system certified in Virginia to ensure that it continues to meet the standards outlined in subsections C and D. The Board may, at its discretion, decertify any voting system based on significant problems detected with the voting system in Virginia or on reports provided by federal authorities or other state election officials.

1985, c. 458, §§ 24.1-207.1; 1986, c. 558, § 24.1-206.3; 1993, c. 641; 1994, cc. 287 , 742 ; 2001, cc. 640 , 641 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2004, cc. 409 , 993 , 1010 ; 2007, c. 794 ; 2008, c. 703 ; 2014, cc. 540 , 576 ; 2020, c. 294 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-705 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 7 / Section 24.2-705
Emergency applications and absentee ballots for individual emergencies
Status: in_force

A. Any person registered and otherwise qualified to vote may request at any time prior to 2:00 p.m. on the day preceding the election that he be permitted to vote by emergency absentee ballot with the assistance of his designated representative. The Department shall prescribe a form and the instructions for submitting such a request to the general registrar that shows that the voter requesting an emergency absentee ballot (i) was unable to apply for an absentee ballot by the deadline due to his hospitalization or illness, or the hospitalization, illness, or death of a spouse, child, or parent, or other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot; (ii) will be unable to vote on election day due to his hospitalization or illness, the hospitalization, illness, or death of a spouse, child, or parent, or other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot that occurred after the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot; or (iii) has applied to receive an absentee ballot by the deadline but has not received his ballot within 10 days of the election and will be unable to vote on election day due to his hospitalization or illness, the hospitalization, illness, or death of a spouse, child, or parent, or other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot.

The representative designated by a voter for purposes of this subsection shall be age 18 or older and shall not be an elected official, a candidate for elected office, or the deputy, spouse, parent, or child of an elected official or candidate.

The requesting voter shall sign the form and state, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016 , that to the best of his knowledge and belief the facts contained in the form are true and correct. His signature shall be witnessed by the designated representative, who shall sign and return the completed form to the office of the general registrar no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day preceding the election. If the requesting voter is blind or physically unable to sign the form, his designated representative shall write on the signature line that the voter is blind or unable to sign his form.

On receipt of the completed form and a determination of the qualification of the requesting voter to vote, the general registrar shall provide, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this chapter, an absentee ballot to the designated representative for delivery to the requesting voter.

The requesting voter shall vote the absentee ballot as provided by law and mark it in the presence of the designated representative. The designated representative shall complete a statement, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016 , that (a) he is the designated representative of the requesting voter; (b) he personally delivered the ballot to the voter who applied for it; (c) in his presence, the voter marked the ballot, the ballot was placed in the envelope provided, the envelope was sealed, and the statement on its reverse side was signed by the requesting voter; and (d) the ballot was returned, under seal, to the general registrar at the registrar's office.

The ballot shall be counted only if the ballot is received by the general registrar prior to the close of polls, and the general registrar shall deliver the ballot to the officers of election at each appropriate precinct pursuant to § 24.2-710 .

B. A qualified voter may vote absentee in person in the office of the general registrar through 2:00 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the election by complying with the requirements of § 24.2-643 and affirming that one of the following emergency circumstances will prevent him from voting on election day:

1. After 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday before the election, an obligation arose that requires the voter be absent from his county or city on election day for (i) his business, profession, or occupation; (ii) the hospitalization of the voter or a member of his immediate family; or (iii) the death of a member of his immediate family. For purposes of this subdivision, "immediate family" means the child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, legal guardian, sibling, or spouse of the voter.

2. The voter is an officer of election who was assigned after 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday before the election to work in a precinct other than his own on election day.

C. The Commissioner of Elections may act administratively to facilitate absentee voting by qualified voters who are emergency workers or utility workers or who otherwise respond to and offer assistance to an area in which a state of emergency has been declared by an appropriate authority. These administrative actions may include central issuance and acceptance of absentee ballots for federal and state elections using the systems and procedures developed for voters who are members of a uniformed service.

1989, c. 192, § 24.1-229.1; 1990, c. 200; 1993, cc. 420, 641; 1996, c. 224 ; 1997, cc. 523 , 539 ; 1999, c. 590 ; 2001, c. 622 ; 2006, c. 297 ; 2008, c. 880 ; 2015, cc. 644 , 645 ; 2020, cc. 289 , 1157 , 1163 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 471 ; 2026, c. 761 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-404 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-404
(For contingent expiration date, see Acts 2026, cc. 992 and 1081, cl. 3) Duties of Department of Elections
Status: in_force

A. The Department of Elections shall provide for the continuing operation and maintenance of a central recordkeeping system, the Virginia voter registration system, for all voters registered in the Commonwealth.

In order to operate and maintain the system, the Department shall:

1. Maintain a complete, separate, and accurate record of all registered voters in the Commonwealth. Such system shall automatically register a person who has preregistered pursuant to § 24.2-403.1 upon that person becoming eligible for registration under § 24.2-403 or reaching 18 years of age, whichever comes first. Such system shall also assign a unique identifier to each voter registered in the system.

2. Require the general registrars to enter the names of all registered voters into the system and to change or correct registration records as necessary.

3. Provide to each general registrar voter confirmation documents for newly registered voters, including voters who were automatically registered pursuant to subdivision 1, and for notice to registered voters on the system of changes and corrections in their registration records and polling places.

4. Require the general registrars to delete from the record of registered voters the name of any voter who (i) is deceased, (ii) is no longer qualified to vote in the county or city where he is registered due to removal of his residence, (iii) has been convicted of a felony, (iv) has been adjudicated incapacitated, (v) is known not to be a United States citizen by reason of reports from the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 24.2-410.1 or from the Department of Elections based on information received from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE Program) pursuant to subsection E, or (vi) is otherwise no longer qualified to vote as may be provided by law.

5. Create a cancellation record, or direct the general registrars to create a record, to be retained on the system for at least four years, for each registered voter whose registration is cancelled, with the reason for cancellation. In accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) and 52 U.S.C. § 20507(i), such cancellation records shall be made available for public inspection and copying.

6. Create a record, or direct the general registrars to create a record, to be retained on the system for at least four years, for each person whose application to register to vote is denied, including those persons who apply to register to vote under the provisions of § 24.2-420.1 , with the reason for the denial. In accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), such rejection records shall be made available for public inspection and copying.

7. Retain on the system permanently a separate record for information received regarding deaths, felony convictions, and adjudications of incapacity pursuant to §§ 24.2-408 through 24.2-410 .

8. Provide to each general registrar, at least 16 days prior to a general or primary election and three days prior to a special election, an alphabetical list of all registered voters in each precinct or portion of a precinct in which the election is being held in the county, city, or town. These precinct lists shall be used as the official lists of qualified voters and shall constitute the pollbooks. The Department shall provide instructions for the division of the pollbooks and precinct lists into sections to accommodate the efficient processing of voter lines at the polls. Prior to any general, primary, or special election, the Department shall provide any general registrar, upon his request, with a separate electronic list of all registered voters in the registrar's county or city. If electronic pollbooks are used in the locality or electronic voter registration inquiry devices are used in precincts in the locality, the Department shall provide a regional or statewide list of registered voters to the general registrar of the locality. The Department shall determine whether regional or statewide data is provided. Neither the pollbook nor the regional or statewide list of registered voters shall include the day and month of birth of the voter, but shall include the voter's year of birth.

9. Acquire by purchase, lease, or contract equipment necessary to execute the duties of the Department.

10. Use any source of information that may assist in carrying out the purposes of this section. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall cooperate with the Department in procuring and exchanging identification information for the purpose of maintaining the voter registration system. The Department may share any information that it receives from another agency of the Commonwealth with any Chief Election Officer of another state for the maintenance of the voter registration system.

11. In accordance with the provisions of § 24.2-410.3, cooperate with other states and jurisdictions to develop systems to compare voters, voter history, and voter registration lists to ensure the accuracy of the voter registration rolls, to identify voters whose addresses have changed, to prevent duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, and to determine eligibility of individuals to vote in Virginia.

12. Reprint and impose a reasonable charge for the sale of any part of Title 24.2, lists of precincts and polling places, statements of election results by precinct, and any other items required of the Department by law. Receipts from such sales shall be credited to the Board for reimbursement of printing expenses.

B. The Department shall be authorized to provide for the production, distribution, and receipt of information and lists through the Virginia voter registration system by any appropriate means including paper and electronic means. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) shall not apply to records about individuals maintained in this system.

C. The State Board shall institute procedures to ensure that each requirement of this section is fulfilled.

D. The State Board shall promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the uniform application of the law for determining a person's residence.

E. The Department shall apply to participate in the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE Program) operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the sole purpose of individually verifying the current citizenship status of persons who provided documents pursuant to subsection E of § 46.2-328.1 . Upon approval of the application, the Department shall enter into any required memorandum of agreement with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The State Board shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the use of the immigration status and citizenship status information received from the SAVE Program. The Department shall not (i) use information received from the SAVE Program as the sole reason for rejecting a registration application, (ii) upload lists of registered voters to the SAVE Program for verifying citizenship status in bulk, or (iii) transfer any information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any subdivision thereof beyond the minimum information necessary to use the SAVE Program for the purpose permitted by this subsection.

F. Prior to entering into or terminating a memorandum of understanding, or modifying the terms of an existing memorandum of understanding, with any third party for the exchange of voter registration data for any purpose, the Commissioner of Elections shall submit the proposed memorandum of understanding, the reason for termination, or the proposed modifications, as appropriate, to the State Board for review and approval. Approval of such memorandum of understanding, or termination thereof, or modifications thereto, shall require a vote of two-thirds of the State Board. However, the provisions of this subsection do not apply to any data sharing agreements established between the Department and any other entity mandated by law to exchange data with the Department in order to operate and maintain the Virginia voter registration system.

1970, c. 462, § 24.1-23; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 119; 1972, c. 620; 1973, c. 30; 1974, cc. 369, 428; 1975, c. 515; 1976, c. 616; 1978, c. 778; 1983, c. 348; 1993, c. 641; 1997, c. 801 ; 2000, cc. 510 , 554 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2004, c. 428 ; 2005, c. 378 ; 2006, cc. 243 , 926 , 940 ; 2008, c. 379 ; 2009, cc. 865 , 870 , 874 ; 2011, c. 528 ; 2012, c. 686 ; 2013, cc. 425 , 686 , 725 ; 2014, c. 452 ; 2015, c. 740 ; 2018, c. 460 ; 2020, cc. 1064 , 1065 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 217 ; 2023, c. 785 ; 2026, cc. 1038 , 1120 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-804 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 8 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-804
Contest of elections of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General
Status: in_force

In any election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General, notice of the intent to contest the election shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Delegates as prescribed in § 24.2-803 . The provisions of § 24.2-803 shall govern standing, notice of intent to contest, answers, service of process, evidence, the petition, procedures, relief, and assessed costs except (i) that in a contest of an election held at the November general election the petition shall be filed within two days following the commencement of a special session of the General Assembly called for the purpose of hearing the contest or of the next regular session of the General Assembly, whichever first occurs, and (ii) that the final determination shall be made by the General Assembly, both houses sitting in joint session in the hall of the House of Delegates, with the Speaker of the House of Delegates presiding.

At the time of filing the notice, the contestant shall post a bond with surety with the Clerk of the House of Delegates in the amount of $10 per precinct in the Commonwealth. If the contestant wins the contest, the bond shall not be forfeited. If the contestant loses the contest, the bond shall be forfeited and costs assessed as provided in subsections B and H of § 24.2-803 .

Code 1950, §§ 24-427 through 24-429; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-237; 1981, c. 570; 1993, c. 641; 2006, c. 292 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-443.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 7.1 / Section 24.2-443.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2012, c. 353 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1005.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1005.1
Communication of false information to registered voter
Status: in_force

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to communicate to a registered voter, by any means, false information, knowing the same to be false, intended to impede the voter in the exercise of his right to vote. The provisions of this section shall apply to information only about the date, time, and place of the election, or the voter's precinct, polling place, or voter registration status, or the location of a voter satellite office or the office of the general registrar.

B. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Such violation may be prosecuted either in the jurisdiction from which the communication was made or in the jurisdiction in which the communication was received.

C. In addition to the criminal penalty provided in subsection B, a violation of the provisions of this section shall also create a cause of action. A registered voter to whom such false information is communicated shall be entitled to institute an action for preventative relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, against the person communicating such false information. The action shall be instituted in the circuit court of either the jurisdiction from which the communication was made or the jurisdiction in which the communication was received. In any such action, the court may, in its discretion, allow a private plaintiff a reasonable attorney fee as part of the costs, if such plaintiff is the prevailing party.

2007, c. 313 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 528 , 533 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-119 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1 / Article 6 / Section 24.2-119
Restrictions on persons holding other offices serving as member of electoral board, registrar, or officer of election
Status: in_force

No person, nor the deputy of any person, who is employed by or holds any office or post of profit or emolument, or who holds any elective office of profit or trust, under the governments of the United States, the Commonwealth, or any county, city, or town, shall be appointed a member of the electoral board or general registrar. No person, nor the deputy or the employee of any person, who holds any elective office of profit or trust under the government of the United States, the Commonwealth, or any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth, shall be appointed a deputy registrar or officer of election.

Code 1950, §§ 24-31, 24-198; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-33; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 204; 1986, c. 248; 1993, c. 641; 2022, c. 140 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-675 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-675
Abstracts of votes to be made by secretary and forwarded to State Board and to clerks
Status: in_force

A. As soon as the electoral board determines the persons who have received the highest number of votes for any office, the secretary shall make out an abstract of the votes for each of the following: Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; members of the Senate of Virginia; members of the House of Delegates; members of the United States Senate; members of the United States House of Representatives; electors of the President and Vice President of the United States; each county office; each city office; each district office; each town office; and such others as may be required for statewide referenda. The abstracts shall contain the names of all persons receiving any vote for each office and the total number of votes received by each person or for or against each question. However, if no person was elected by write-in votes and the total number of write-in votes for any office is less than (i) 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office and (ii) the total number of votes cast for the candidate receiving the most votes, the abstract shall contain only the total number of write-in votes and not the number of write-in votes for each person receiving write-in votes.

B. The electoral board shall certify and sign the abstracts, which shall then be attested by the secretary, and retained by the electoral board as part of its records. A copy of each, certified under the official seal of the electoral board, shall immediately be mailed or delivered by hand to the State Board. The State Board shall require the electoral board of any county or city to correct any errors found on such abstracts prior to completing the requirements of § 24.2-679 .

C. One certified copy of each abstract of votes shall be forwarded (i) to the clerk of the city council or board of supervisors and recorded in its record book, (ii) for town elections, to the clerk of the town council and recorded in its minute book, and (iii) for each local referendum, to the circuit court for the locality.

D. If any local electoral board fails or refuses to perform any duty required by this section, the State Board shall be authorized to intervene and carry out any such duty in accordance with law, before proceeding to complete the requirements of § 24.2-679 .

Code 1950, §§ 24-278 through 24-280; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-150; 1972, c. 620; 1975, c. 515; 1976, c. 616; 1981, c. 425; 1993, c. 641; 1996, c. 223 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2018, c. 536 ; 2026, c. 60 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-309.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 3 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-309.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2001, c. 614 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-411.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-411.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 908 and 909 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-649 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-649
Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties
Status: in_force

A. Any qualified voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of physical disability or inability to read or write may, if he so requests, be assisted in voting. If he is blind, he may designate an officer of election or any other person to assist him. If he is unable to read and write or disabled for any cause other than blindness, he may designate an officer of election or some other person to assist him other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer, or officer or agent of the voter's union.

The officer of election or other person so designated shall not enter the booth with the voter unless (i) the voter signs a request stating that he requires assistance by reason of physical disability or inability to read or write and (ii) the officer of election or other person signs a statement that he is not the voter's employer or an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union, and that he will act in accordance with the requirements of this section. The request and statement shall be on a single form furnished by the State Board. If the voter is unable to sign the request, his own mark acknowledged by him before an officer of election shall be sufficient signature, provided no mark shall be required of a voter who is blind. An officer of election shall advise the voter and person assisting the voter of the requirements of this section and record the name of the voter and the name and address of the person assisting him.

The officer of election or other person so designated shall assist the qualified voter in the preparation of his ballot in accordance with his instructions and without soliciting his vote or in any manner attempting to influence his vote and shall not in any manner divulge or indicate, by signs or otherwise, how the voter voted on any office or question. If a printed ballot is used, the officer or other person so designated shall deposit the ballot in the ballot container in accordance with § 24.2-646 or in the ballot scanner machine in accordance with the instructions of the State Board.

B. If the voter requires assistance in a language other than English and has not designated a person to assist him, an officer of election may assist as an interpreter, but shall first inquire of the representatives authorized to be present pursuant to § 24.2-604.4 whether they have a volunteer available who can interpret for the voter. One representative interpreter for each party or candidate, insofar as available, shall be permitted to observe the officer of election communicate with the voter. In any locality designated as a covered locality pursuant to § 24.2-128 , the local electoral board shall ensure that interpretation services in the language of the applicable minority group are available and easily accessible to voters needing assistance pursuant to this subsection. The voter may designate one of the volunteer party or candidate interpreters to provide assistance. A person so designated by the voter shall meet all the requirements of this section for a person providing assistance.

C. A person who willfully violates subsection A or B is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. In addition, the provisions of § 24.2-1016 and its felony penalties for false statements shall be applicable to any request or statement signed pursuant to this section, and the provisions of §§ 24.2-704 and 24.2-1012 and the felony penalties for violations of the law related to providing assistance to absentee voters shall be applicable in such cases.

D. In any precinct in which an electronic voting machine is available that provides an audio ballot, the officers of election shall notify a voter requiring assistance pursuant to this section that such machine is available for him to use to vote in privacy without assistance and the officers of election shall instruct the voter on the use of the voting machine. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a voter to use the machine unassisted.

Code 1950, §§ 24-245, 24-251, 24-252, 24-310; 1950, c. 230; 1952, c. 581; 1962, c. 536; 1964, c. 593; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 5; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-129, 24.1-132, 24.1-220; 1973, c. 30; 1975, c. 515; 1978, c. 778; 1984, cc. 234, 775; 1985, cc. 197, 458; 1986, c. 558; 1987, c. 349; 1988, c. 598; 1993, c. 641; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2004, cc. 993 , 1010 ; 2005, c. 569 ; 2006, c. 242 ; 2009, c. 809 ; 2014, cc. 540 , 576 ; 2020, c. 561 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 163 , 528 , 533 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-416.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 3.1 / Section 24.2-416.1
Voter registration by mail
Status: in_force

A person may apply to register to vote by mail by completing and returning a mail voter registration application form in the manner and time provided by law.

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2020, cc. 718 , 1149 , 1151 , 1201 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 471 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-130 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1.1 / Section 24.2-130
Causes of action; standing; remedies
Status: in_force

A. Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this chapter, any organization whose membership includes members of a protected class or individuals aggrieved by a violation of this chapter, any organization whose mission would be frustrated by a violation of this chapter, or any organization that would expend resources in order to fulfill its mission as a result of a violation of this chapter, shall be entitled to initiate a cause of action in the circuit court of the county or city in which the locality where the violation is alleged to have occurred is located.

B. In an action related to a districting or redistricting plan, any individual with standing to challenge any single district in such plan shall be deemed to have standing to challenge the districting or redistricting plan as a whole.

C. In an action brought pursuant to this section, the court may, in its discretion, allow a private plaintiff a reasonable attorney fee as part of the costs, if such plaintiff is the prevailing party.

D. Upon a finding of a violation of this chapter, the court shall implement appropriate remedies that are tailored to remedy the violation.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 528 , 533 ; 2026, c. 717 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1014 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1014
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2002, c. 487 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-602 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-602
Exemption for ballots and election materials from certain purchasing and procurement requirements
Status: in_force

The provisions of Article 3, Division of Purchases and Supply, (§ 2.2-1109 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 and of Articles 1 (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.), 2 (§ 2.2-4303 et seq.), 3 (§ 2.2-4343 et seq.), and 5 (§ 2.2-4357 et seq.) of Chapter 43, Virginia Public Procurement Act, of Title 2.2 shall not apply to contracts for equipment, software, services, the printing of ballots or statements of results, or other materials essential to the conduct of the election. The provisions of Articles 4 (§ 2.2-4347 et seq.) and 6 (§ 2.2-4367 et seq.) of Chapter 43, Virginia Public Procurement Act, of Title 2.2 shall apply to such contracts.

1980, c. 639, § 24.1-113.1; 1981, c. 425; 1982, c. 647; 1992, c. 105; 1993, c. 641; 2004, cc. 993 , 1010 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-604.5 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-604.5
Polling places; presence of additional persons authorized
Status: in_force

A. A local electoral board or general registrar may authorize in writing the presence in the polling place of additional neutral observers as may be deemed appropriate, except as otherwise prohibited or limited by the provisions of § 24.2-604 . Such observers shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604 and shall not be allowed in any case to provide assistance to any voter as permitted under § 24.2-649 or to wear any indication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the polling place or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to remain outside of the prohibited area.

B. The officers of election shall permit representatives of the news media to visit and film or photograph inside the polling place for a reasonable and limited period of time while the polls are open. However, the media (i) shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604 ; (ii) shall not film or photograph any person who specifically asks the media representative at that time that he not be filmed or photographed; (iii) shall not film or photograph the voter or the ballot in such a way that divulges how any individual voter is voting; and (iv) shall not film or photograph the voter list or any other voter record or material at the precinct in such a way that it divulges the name or other information concerning any individual voter. Any interviews with voters, candidates, or other persons; live broadcasts; or taping of reporters' remarks shall be conducted outside of the polling place and the prohibited area. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to leave the polling place and the prohibited area.

2020, c. 561 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-671.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-671.2
Risk-limiting audits
Status: in_force

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Contested race" means an election for an office where more names appear on the ballot then there are vacancies to be filled or a statewide referendum or proposed constitutional amendment.

"Risk limit" means the largest probability that the risk-limiting audit will fail to correct an election outcome that differs from the outcome that would be found by a full manual tabulation of the votes on all ballots cast in the contested race.

"Risk-limiting audit" means an audit protocol conducted after an election and prior to the certification of the election results with a pre-specified minimum probability of requiring a full hand count of votes cast if the outcome reported by the voting system differs from the outcome that would be found by a full hand count of the votes in a contested race. A "risk-limiting audit" requires a hand count of randomly sampled printed ballots that continues until there is either strong statistical evidence that the reported outcome is correct or, in the absence of such evidence, a full hand count of all ballots cast in the contested race that determines the outcome.

B. Risk-limiting audits conducted pursuant to this section shall be performed by the local electoral boards and general registrars under the supervision of the Department and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the State Board, including:

1. Processes for randomly selecting contested races and determining the risk limit.

2. Procedures for preparing for a risk-limiting audit, including guidelines for organizing ballots, selecting venues, and securing appropriate materials by local electoral boards and general registrars.

3. Procedures for ballot custody, accounting, security, and written record retention that ensure that the collection of cast ballots from which samples are drawn is complete and accurate throughout the audit.

4. Procedures for hand counting of the audited ballots.

5. Processes and methods for conducting the risk-limiting audit.

6. Procedures for ensuring transparency and understanding of the process by participants and the public, including guidelines for direct observation by members of the public, representatives of the candidates involved in the risk-limiting audit, and representatives of the political parties.

C. The Department shall provide that the following risk-limiting audits be conducted:

1. In the year of a general election for members of the United States House of Representatives, a risk-limiting audit of at least one randomly selected contested race for such office;

2. In the year of a general election for members of the General Assembly, a risk-limiting audit of at least one randomly selected contested race for such office;

3. In any year in which there is not a general election for a statewide office, a risk-limiting audit of at least one randomly selected contested race for a local office, including constitutional offices, for which certification by the State Board is required under § 24.2-680 ; and

4. In any year, any other risk-limiting audit of a contested race that is necessary to ensure that each locality participates in a risk-limiting audit of an office within its jurisdiction at least once every five years or that the State Board finds appropriate. Such audits must be approved by at least a two-thirds majority vote of all members of the Board.

D. A local electoral board may request that the State Board approve the conduct of a risk-limiting audit for a contested race within the local electoral board's jurisdiction. The state board shall promulgate regulations for submitting such requests. The State Board shall grant an extension of the local electoral board's certification deadline under § 24.2-671 as necessary to accommodate the conduct of a risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to this subsection. The Department may count a risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to this subsection toward the requirement in subdivision C 4.

E. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections C and D, no contested race shall be selected to receive a risk-limiting audit if the tabulation of the unofficial result for the contested race shows a difference of not more than one percent of the total vote cast for the top two candidates.

F. Upon the tabulation of the unofficial results of an election, the State Board shall determine, in accordance with subsection C, all the contested races for that election that will receive a risk-limiting audit and shall set the risk limit to be applied in such audits. As soon as practicable after selection of the contests to be audited, the Department shall publish a notice of the contested races in accordance with the requirements for public meetings in § 2.2-3707 . The Department shall provide support to local electoral boards and general registrars in preparing to hold the risk-limiting audits.

G. The local electoral board and general registrar shall conduct a risk-limiting audit within their jurisdiction at the date, time, and location noticed by the Department. At least one member of the local electoral board representing each party shall participate in the risk-limiting audit and be present for the duration of the risk-limiting audit when ballots are being selected and counted and calculations are being made. All risk-limiting audits shall be conducted in a place and manner that is open to the public. At the conclusion of a risk-limiting audit, all audit materials, including ballots and any records generated during the course of the audit, shall be delivered to the clerk of the circuit court and retained as election materials pursuant to § 24.2-668 .

H. The local electoral board in coordination with the general registrar shall promptly report the results of a risk-limiting audit of any contested races subject to § 24.2-680 in their jurisdiction to the Department. The results of any risk-limiting audit for a local contested race shall also be retained by the local electoral board. At the conclusion of each risk-limiting audit requiring certification by the State Board, the Department shall submit to the State Board a report, which shall include all data generated by the risk-limiting audit and all information required to confirm that the risk-limiting audit was conducted in accordance with the procedures adopted by the State Board. The Department shall publish the results of all risk-limiting audits pursuant to this section on the Department's website.

I. If a risk-limiting audit of a contested race escalates to a full hand count, the results of the hand count shall be used to certify the election in lieu of the tabulation of the unofficial results obtained prior to the conduct of the risk-limiting audit. A full hand count conducted pursuant to this section shall not be construed as a recount under Chapter 8 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.). Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the rights of a candidate under Chapter 8.

2022, cc. 443 , 444 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-466 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4.1 / Section 24.2-466
Sending and updating notices
Status: in_force

A. A covered voter may request and upon such request the Department of Elections shall provide a copy of an election notice without cost to the voter. The Department of Elections shall send the notice to the voter using the method requested and to the address provided by the voter.

B. As soon as ballot styles are verified pursuant to § 24.2-612 and not later than the date ballots are required to be transmitted to voters under §§ 24.2-460 and 24.2-612 , the Department of Elections shall update the notice with the certified candidates for each office and ballot measure questions and make the updated notice publicly available.

C. A local election jurisdiction that maintains a website shall make the election notice prepared under § 24.2-465 and updated versions of the election notice regularly available on the website.

2012, c. 353 ; 2015, c. 313 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-209.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 2.1 / Section 24.2-209.2
Appointment of presidential electors pursuant to Agreement
Status: in_force

When the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote (Agreement) governs the appointment of presidential electors for a presidential election as provided in the ninth clause of Article III of that Agreement, as provided for in § 24.2-209.1, the provisions of that Agreement shall supersede any conflicting provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth.

2026, cc. 715 , 716 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-946.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-946.1
Standards and requirements for electronic preparation and transmittal of campaign finance disclosure reports; database
Status: in_force

A. The State Board shall review or cause to be developed and shall approve standards for the preparation, production, and transmittal by computer or electronic means of campaign finance reports required by this chapter. The State Board may prescribe the method of execution and certification of and the procedures for receiving electronically filed campaign finance reports required by this chapter in the office of the State Board or any local electoral board. The State Board may provide campaign finance report-creation software to filers without charge or at a reasonable cost.

B. The State Board shall accept any campaign finance report filed by candidates for the General Assembly and statewide office by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the Board and using software meeting standards approved by it. This information shall be made available to the public promptly by the Board through the Internet.

C. The State Board of Elections shall develop and implement a centralized system to accept reports from candidates for local and constitutional offices. Such reports shall be filed in accordance with, and using software that meets, standards approved by the State Board. The State Board shall promptly notify the general registrar of the locality in which a candidate resides and make the information contained in the report available to the general registrar. In the case of a former candidate who is no longer seeking election but has not yet filed a final report as required by § 24.2-948.4 , the State Board shall promptly notify the general registrar of the locality in which he sought office and make the information contained in the report available to such general registrar.

D. The State Board shall enter or cause to be entered into a campaign finance database, available to the public through the Internet, the information from required campaign finance reports filed by computer, electronic, or other means by candidates for the General Assembly and statewide office.

E. Other campaign finance reports required by this chapter to be filed by a committee with the State Board or a general registrar, or both, may be filed electronically on terms agreed to by the committee and the Board.

1996, c. 687 , § 24.2-914.1; 1997, cc. 364 , 392 ; 1998, c. 416 ; 1999, c. 864 ; 2000, cc. 511 , 555 ; 2003, c. 242 ; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 ; 2007, cc. 151 , 286 ; 2015, cc. 644 , 645 ; 2018, c. 683 ; 2020, c. 769 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-416 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-416
Closing registration records before elections
Status: in_force

A. In any county, city, or town in which an election is being held, the registration records shall be closed for the purpose of registering voters on the election day and during the period in advance of the election as provided in this section. The registration records shall be closed during the 10 days before a primary or general election. If the registration records have not been closed previously for a primary or general election, they shall be closed during the six days before a special election called by the Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, or President pro tempore of the Senate, or pursuant to rule or resolution of either house of the General Assembly and during the 10 days before any other special election.

B. In the event that a failure of the Virginia online voter registration system occurs prior to the close of registration records pursuant to this section, the Governor shall have the authority to order the online voter registration system to be available for registration activities after the date for closing the registration records for a period of time equal to the amount of time during which the online voter registration system was unavailable for registration activities, rounded up to the nearest whole day, plus an additional day to allow for voter education efforts. During this period, persons shall be permitted to register in person and mail voter registration applications shall be accepted.

Code 1950, §§ 24-82, 24-83.1; 1962, c. 536; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-50; 1973, c. 30; 1975, c. 515; 1993, c. 641; 2008, c. 424 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 159 ; 2025, cc. 548 , 559 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-701.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 7 / Section 24.2-701.1
Absentee voting in person
Status: in_force

A. Absentee voting in person shall be available on the forty-fifth day prior to any election and shall continue until 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately preceding the election. In the case of a special election, excluding for federal offices, if time is insufficient between the issuance of the writ calling for the special election and the date of the special election, absentee voting in person shall be available as soon as possible after the issuance of the writ.

Any registered voter offering to vote absentee in person shall provide his name and his residence address in the county or city in which he is offering to vote. After verifying that the voter is a registered voter of that county or city, the general registrar shall enroll the voter's name and address on the absentee voter applicant list maintained pursuant to § 24.2-706 .

Except as provided in subsection F, a registered voter voting by absentee ballot in person shall provide one of the forms of identification specified in subsection B of § 24.2-643 . If he does not show one of the forms of identification specified in subsection B of § 24.2-643 , he shall be allowed to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016 , that he is the named registered voter he claims to be. A voter who requires assistance in voting by reason of a physical disability or an inability to read or write, and who requests assistance pursuant to § 24.2-649 , may be assisted in preparation of this statement in accordance with that section. The provisions of § 24.2-649 regarding voters who are unable to sign shall be followed when assisting a voter in completing this statement. A voter who does not show one of the forms of identification specified in this subsection or does not sign this statement shall be offered a provisional ballot under the provisions of § 24.2-653 . The State Board shall provide instructions to the general registrar for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to § 24.2-653.01 and this section.

B. Absentee voting in person shall be available during regular business hours. The electoral board of each county and city shall provide for absentee voting in person in the office of the general registrar or a voter satellite office established pursuant to § 24.2-701.2 . The provisions of §§ 24.2-604 , 24.2-604.4 , 24.2-605 , 24.2-606 , and 24.2-607 prohibiting certain conduct or activities and allowing for designation of a law-enforcement officer in and around a polling place shall apply to such offices whenever absentee voting in person is available.

For purposes of this chapter, such offices shall be open to the public (i) a minimum of eight hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the first and second Saturday and (ii) a minimum of five hours between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the second and third Sunday immediately preceding all elections. The electoral board or general registrar may provide for absentee voting in person in such offices on additional Sundays. Any applicant who is in line to cast his ballot when the office of the general registrar or voter satellite office closes shall be permitted to cast his absentee ballot that day.

C. The general registrar may provide for the casting of absentee ballots in person pursuant to this section on voting systems. The Department shall prescribe the procedures for use of voting systems. The procedures shall provide for absentee voting in person on voting systems that have been certified and are currently approved by the State Board. The procedures shall be applicable and uniformly applied by the Department to all localities using comparable voting systems.

D. At least two officers of election shall be present during all hours that absentee voting in person is available and shall represent the two major political parties, except in the case of a party primary, when they may represent the party conducting the primary. However, such requirement shall not apply when (i) voting systems that are being used pursuant to subsection C are located in the office of the general registrar or voter satellite office and (ii) the general registrar or a deputy registrar is present.

E. The Department shall include absentee ballots voted in person in its instructions for the preparation, maintenance, and reporting of ballots, pollbooks, records, and returns.

F. This subsection shall apply in the case of any individual who is required by subparagraph (b) of 52 U.S.C. § 21083 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to show identification the first time he votes in a federal election in the state. At such election, such individual shall present (i) a current and valid photo identification or (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Such individual who desires to vote in person but who does not show one of the forms of identification specified in this subsection shall be offered a provisional ballot under the provisions of § 24.2-653 . The identification requirements of subsection B of § 24.2-643 and subsection A of § 24.2-653 shall not apply to such voter at such election. The Department of Elections shall provide instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to § 24.2-653.01 and this section.

2019, cc. 278 , 668 , 669 ; 2020, cc. 735 , 856 , 1064 , 1065 , 1149 , 1151 , 1201 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 204 ; 2022, c. 140 ; 2026, cc. 945 , 1078 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-947.10 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-947.10
Filing requirements for persons with multiple campaign committees
Status: in_force

Any person who is named as the candidate on the statement of organization for more than one campaign committee required to file campaign finance reports under this article shall have separate campaign finance reports filed for all such campaign committees by the deadline for filing campaign finance reports for any such campaign committee. Such campaign finance reports shall be complete through the period prescribed for the associated deadline.

2020, c. 347 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-214 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-214
Election and term of Senators
Status: in_force

The members of the Senate of Virginia shall be elected at the general election in November 1995, and every four years thereafter for terms of four years, to begin on the second Wednesday in January succeeding their election.

Code 1950, § 24-13; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-13; 1993, c. 641.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-400.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-400.1
(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2026, cc. 992 and 1081, cl. 3) Persons entitled to register and vote; restoration of rights
Status: in_force

Any person who is convicted of a felony and sentenced to a period of incarceration for such felony conviction shall not be entitled to register to vote or to vote for the duration of the period of incarceration, but he shall be invested with all political rights lost as a result of the felony conviction upon release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote as provided in this chapter.

2026, cc. 992 , 1081 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-704 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 7 / Section 24.2-704
Applications and ballots for persons requiring assistance in voting; penalty
Status: in_force

A. The application for an absentee ballot shall provide space for the applicant to indicate that he will require assistance to vote his absentee ballot by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.

B. On receipt of an application from an applicant who indicated that he will require assistance due to a visual impairment or print disability, the general registrar shall offer to provide to the applicant a ballot marking tool with screen reader assistive technology made available pursuant to § 24.2-103.2 . If the applicant opts to use such tool, the general registrar shall send by mail to him a ballot return envelope and accessible instructions provided by the Department for using such tool and returning the marked ballot. The general registrar shall cause the outer envelope containing the ballot return envelope and accessible instructions to have a tactile marking that identifies the outer envelope as the outer envelope to the voter. For purposes of this section, "tactile marking" includes a hole punch, a cut corner, or a tactile sticker.

An absentee voter using such tool shall return the marked absentee ballot in accordance with the instructions provided by the Department.

No ballot marked with the electronic ballot marking tool shall be rejected because the ballot was printed on regular paper. No ballot marked with the electronic ballot marking tool shall be rejected on the basis of the position of the voter's signature or address on the ballot return envelope as long as the voter's signature or address is anywhere on the ballot return envelope.

C. On receipt of an application from an applicant marked to indicate that he will require assistance due to any other disability or if an applicant offered the ballot marking tool pursuant to subsection B declines to use such tool, the general registrar shall deliver, with the items required by § 24.2-706 , the voter assistance form furnished by the State Board pursuant to § 24.2-649 . The voter and any person assisting him shall complete the form by signing the request for assistance and statement required of the assistant. If the voter is unable to sign the request, the person assisting him will note this fact on the line for signature of voter. The provisions of § 24.2-649 shall apply to absentee voting and assistance for absentee voters. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this section or § 24.2-649 in providing assistance to a person who is voting absentee shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

1984, c. 775, § 24.1-228.2; 1993, c. 641; 1996, c. 295 ; 2006, c. 242 ; 2008, c. 880 ; 2015, cc. 644 , 645 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 255 , 471 , 522 ; 2023, c. 785 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-706 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 7 / Section 24.2-706
(Effective until January 1, 2027) Duty of general registrar on receipt of application; statement of voter
Status: in_force

A. On receipt of an application for an absentee ballot, the general registrar shall enroll the name and address of each registered applicant on an absentee voter applicant list that shall be maintained in the office of the general registrar with a file of the applications received. The list shall be available for inspection and copying and the applications shall be available for inspection only by any registered voter during regular office hours. Upon request and for a reasonable fee, the Department of Elections shall provide an electronic copy of the absentee voter applicant list to any political party or candidate. Such list shall be used only for campaign and political purposes. Any list made available for inspection and copying under this section shall contain the post office box address in lieu of the residence street address for any individual who has furnished at the time of registration or subsequently, in addition to his street address, a post office box address pursuant to subsection B of § 24.2-418 .

No list or application containing an individual's social security number, or any part thereof, or the individual's day and month of birth, shall be made available for inspection or copying by anyone. The Department of Elections shall prescribe procedures for general registrars to make the information in the lists and applications available in a manner that does not reveal social security numbers or parts thereof, or an individual's day and month of birth.

B. The completion and timely delivery of an application for an absentee ballot shall be construed to be an offer by the applicant to vote in the election.

The general registrar shall note on each application received whether the applicant is or is not a registered voter. In reviewing the application for an absentee ballot, the general registrar shall not reject the application of any individual because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to the application, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified to vote absentee.

C. If the application has been properly completed and signed and the applicant is a registered voter of the precinct in which he offers to vote, the general registrar shall, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available, send by the deadline set out in § 24.2-612 , obtaining a certificate or other evidence of either first-class or expedited mailing or delivery from the United States Postal Service or other commercial delivery provider, or deliver to him in person in the office of the registrar, the following items and nothing else:

1. An envelope containing the folded ballot, sealed and marked "Ballot within."

2. An envelope for resealing the marked ballot, on which envelope is printed the following:

"Statement of Voter."

I do hereby state, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016 , that my FULL NAME is (last, first, middle); that I am now or have been at some time since last November's general election a legal resident of (STATE YOUR LEGAL RESIDENCE IN VIRGINIA including the house number, street name or rural route address, city, zip code); that I received the enclosed ballot(s) upon application to the registrar of such county or city; that I opened the envelope marked 'ballot within' and marked the ballot(s), without assistance or knowledge on the part of anyone as to the manner in which I marked it (or I am returning the form required to report how I was assisted); that I then sealed the ballot(s) in this envelope; and that I have not voted and will not vote in this election at any other time or place.

Signature of Voter

Last four digits of voter's social security number

Voter's birth year

Date"

For elections held after January 1, 2004, instead of the envelope containing the above oath, an envelope containing the standard oath prescribed by the presidential designee under § 101(b)(7) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.) shall be sent to voters who are qualified to vote absentee under that Act.

For purposes of properly completing this statement, the unique identifier assigned to the voter in the voter registration system pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 24.2-404 shall be accepted in place of the last four digits of the voter's social security number for those voters whose registration includes a statement of affirmation that they have never been issued a social security number.

3. An envelope, properly addressed and postage prepaid, for the return of the ballot to the general registrar by mail or by the applicant in person, or to a drop-off location.

4. Printed instructions for completing the ballot and statement on the envelope and returning the ballot. Such instructions shall include information on the sites of all drop-off locations in the county or city. Whenever there is a proposed constitutional amendment or a statewide referendum to be voted on by the voters, these instructions shall also include the website address where the explanation of the proposed amendment prepared pursuant to § 30-19.9 or the information about the referendum prepared pursuant to § 30-19.10 is posted on the Department's website.

For federal elections held after January 1, 2004, for any voter who is required by subparagraph (b) of 52 U.S.C. § 21083 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to show identification the first time the voter votes in a federal election in the state, the printed instructions shall direct the voter to submit with his ballot (i) a copy of a current and valid photo identification or (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Such individual who desires to vote by mail but who does not submit one of the forms of identification specified in this paragraph may cast such ballot by mail and the ballot shall be counted as a provisional ballot under the provisions of § 24.2-653.01 . The Department of Elections shall provide instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to § 24.2-653.01 and this section.

5. For any voter entitled to vote absentee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.), information provided by the Department of Elections specific to the voting rights and responsibilities for such citizens, or information provided by the registrar specific to the status of the voter registration and absentee ballot application of such voter, may be included.

The envelopes and instructions shall be in the form prescribed by the Department of Elections.

D. The general registrar may contract with a third party for the printing, assembly, and mailing of the items set forth in subsection C. The general registrar shall provide to the contractor in a timely manner the names, addresses, precincts, and ballot styles of voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail. The vendor shall provide to the general registrar a report of the voters to whom the absentee ballot materials have been sent.

E. If the applicant completes his application in person under § 24.2-701 at a time when the printed ballots for the election are available, he may request that the general registrar send to him by mail the items set forth in subdivisions C 1 through 4, instead of casting the ballot in person. Such request shall be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh day prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote, and the general registrar shall send those items to the applicant by mail, obtaining a certificate or other evidence of mailing.

F. If the applicant is a covered voter, as defined in § 24.2-452 , the general registrar, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available, shall mail by the deadline set forth in § 24.2-612 or deliver in person to the applicant in the office of the general registrar the items as set forth in subdivisions C 1 through 4 and, if necessary, an application for registration. A certificate or other evidence of mailing shall not be required. If the applicant requests that such items be sent by electronic transmission, the general registrar, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available but not later than the deadline set forth in § 24.2-612 , shall send by electronic transmission the blank ballot, the form for the envelope for returning the marked ballot, and instructions to the voter. Such materials shall be sent using the official email address or fax number of the office of the general registrar published on the Department of Elections website. The State Board of Elections may prescribe by regulation the format of the email address used for transmitting ballots to eligible voters. A general registrar may also use electronic transmission facilities provided by the Federal Voting Assistance Program. The voted ballot shall be returned to the general registrar as otherwise required by this chapter.

G. The circuit courts shall have jurisdiction to issue an injunction to enforce the provisions of this section upon the application of (i) any aggrieved voter, (ii) any candidate in an election district in whole or in part in the court's jurisdiction where a violation of this section has occurred, or is likely to occur, or (iii) the campaign committee or the appropriate district political party chairman of such candidate. Any person who fails to discharge his duty as provided in this section through willful neglect of duty and with malicious intent shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor as provided in subsection A of § 24.2-1001 .

Code 1950, §§ 24-327, 24-332, 24-333, 24-345.6, 24-345.7; 1952, c. 509; 1956, c. 525; 1958, c. 351; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-229; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 119, 247, 265; 1972, c. 620; 1974, c. 428; 1975, c. 515; 1977, c. 490; 1978, c. 778; 1980, c. 639; 1981, c. 425; 1983, c. 461; 1988, cc. 624, 691; 1993, c. 641; 1994, cc. 633 , 656 ; 1996, c. 253 ; 2000, c. 421 ; 2001, cc. 621 , 866 ; 2002, cc. 785 , 819 ; 2003, cc. 247 , 478 ; 2004, c. 410 ; 2006, c. 438 ; 2007, c. 318 ; 2008, cc. 106 , 300 , 379 ; 2009, cc. 345 , 405 , 873 ; 2010, cc. 213 , 316 , 449 , 538 , 645 , 812 ; 2011, cc. 427 , 458 ; 2012, c. 393 ; 2015, cc. 313 , 644 , 645 ; 2016, cc. 16 , 463 ; 2019, cc. 668 , 669 ; 2020, cc. 289 , 735 , 1149 , 1151 , 1201 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 246 , 471 , 522 ; 2022, c. 254 ; 2023, c. 785 ; 2026, c. 1064 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-246 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2.1 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-246
Pay of electors
Status: in_force

Each elector shall receive the sum of $50 per day while actually engaged in the discharge of his official duties and the same mileage as is allowed to members of the General Assembly.

2024, c. 801 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-673 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-673
Candidates having highest number of votes to receive certificate of election
Status: in_force

A. Except as provided in subsection B or in the case of a recount pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.), in all elections for the choice of any officer, unless it is otherwise expressly provided, the person having the highest number of votes for any office shall be deemed to have been elected to such office and shall receive the certificate of election.

B. In an election for a local office in a locality with a population of no more than 4,000 persons, if the person having the highest number of votes for the office is elected by write-in votes and is not qualified to hold such office or declines to assume such office, the person having the second highest number of votes shall be deemed to have been elected to such office and shall receive the certificate of election. In the event that the person having the second highest number of votes is not qualified to hold such office or declines to assume such office, the person having the next highest number of votes shall be deemed to have been elected to such office and shall receive the certificate of election. In the event that the person having the next highest number of votes is not qualified to hold such office or declines to assume such office, a vacancy shall be declared and filled by special election.

Code 1950, § 24-276; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-148; 1993, c. 641; 2023, c. 221 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-229.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 6 / Section 24.2-229.1
Legitimacy of votes by appointees
Status: in_force

All votes cast prior to July 1, 2010, by persons duly appointed to fill a vacancy pursuant to this article, including votes appropriating money in excess of $500, imposing taxes, or authorizing the borrowing of moneys, are hereby validated and confirmed as the lawful vote of an elected member of the governing body.

2010, c. 624 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-546 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 5 / Article 8 / Section 24.2-546
Challenges to candidate qualifications
Status: in_force

A. Any legal action relating to a person's eligibility to have his name printed on the ballot for any election on the basis that such person failed to meet all qualifications or to fulfill all requirements for candidacy shall be filed in a circuit court and served on all parties (i) at least 90 days before the date of a general election; (ii) at least 65 days before the date of a primary election; (iii) at least 70 days before the date of a special election held on the same date as the general election; or (iv) for any special election held at a time other than a general election, (a) at least 55 days before the date of the special election or (b) within 10 days of any writ of election or order calling for a special election to be held less than 60 days after the issuance of the writ or order.

B. In any district-based election where the district contains multiple circuit court jurisdictions, a legal action described by subsection A or B shall be filed in the jurisdiction that makes up the largest portion of the district by registered voters. Any legal action relating to a candidate's eligibility shall be given precedence on the docket and shall be decided by the circuit court (i) no later than 10 days before the date on which ballots for that election are made available for absentee voting or (ii) for any action filed pursuant to subsection B, within 30 days of filing. Any notice of appeal shall be filed within seven days of the circuit court's final order, and all appeals shall be given precedence on the docket.

C. The qualifications of a candidate who was nominated at a primary election shall not be subject to a challenge on the basis of facts that were present prior to the primary election and could have been raised in a challenge to such candidate's eligibility for the primary ballot.

D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit challenges to an elected official's qualification to serve based upon Article IV, § 4 of the Constitution of Virginia or § 24.2-500 outside of an election cycle.

2026, c. 882 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-103.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-103.2
Duties of the Department of Elections related to accessible absentee voting
Status: in_force

The Department shall make available to all localities a tool to allow a voter with a visual impairment or print disability to electronically and accessibly receive and mark his absentee ballot using screen reader assistive technology. The Department shall develop instructions regarding the use and availability of such tool, including instructions on making the tool available to voters and counting ballots voted with such tool.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 255 , 471 , 522 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-950.8 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-950.8
With whom political party committees file reports
Status: in_force

A. Except as provided in subsection B, a political party committee that is required by this chapter to file reports with the State Board, and that accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $10,000 in any calendar year, or that accepted contributions or made expenditures in excess of $10,000 in the previous calendar year, shall file its reports with the State Board by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the State Board until such time as the political party committee files a final report. Any political party committee that has been filing electronically, but does not anticipate accepting contributions or making expenditures in excess of $10,000 in the upcoming calendar year, may sign a waiver, on a form prescribed by the State Board, to exempt the committee from the electronic filing requirement for the calendar year. Such waiver form shall be submitted and received no later than the date the first report is due covering activity for that calendar year.

B. A county, city, or local district political party committee shall not be required to file by computer or electronic means if it files its reports with the general registrar of that county or city.

C. Other political party committees required to file reports by this article shall file all campaign finance reports with the State Board, if filing by electronic means, or with the State Board and the general registrar for its jurisdiction if filing campaign finance reports by nonelectronic means.

1996, c. 687 , § 24.2-914.1; 1997, cc. 364 , 392 ; 1998, c. 416 ; 1999, c. 864 ; 2000, cc. 511 , 555 ; 2003, c. 242 ; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 ; 2015, cc. 644 , 645 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1014.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1014.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2006, cc. 787 and 892 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-128 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1.1 / Section 24.2-128
Minority language accessibility
Status: in_force

A. The State Board shall designate a county, city, or town as a covered locality if it determines, in consultation with the Director of the Census, on the basis of the 2010 American Community Survey census data and subsequent American Community Survey data in five-year increments, or comparable census data, that (i) more than three percent of the citizens of voting age of such county, city, or town are members of a single language minority and are unable to speak or understand English adequately enough to participate in the electoral process; (ii) more than 5,000 of the citizens of voting age of such county, city, or town are members of a single language minority and are unable to speak or understand English adequately enough to participate in the electoral process; or (iii) in the case of a county, city, or town containing all or any part of an Indian reservation, more than three percent of the American Indian citizens of voting age within the Indian reservation are members of a single language minority and are unable to speak or understand English adequately enough to participate in the electoral process.

B. Whenever a covered locality provides any voting or election materials, it shall provide such materials in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language. Such materials shall be of an equal quality to the corresponding English-language materials, produced at the same time as the corresponding English-language materials, and convey the intent and essential meaning of the original English language text or communication. Materials that are translated solely by an automated translation service are presumed to be insufficient to completely convey intent and essential meaning. For purposes of this requirement, "voting or election materials" means registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, voter information pamphlets, ballots, sample ballots, candidate qualification information, and notices regarding changes to local election districts, precincts, or polling places. For purposes of this requirement, "registration notices" means any notice of voter registration approval, denial, or cancellation required by the provisions of Chapter 4 (§ 24.2-400 et seq.). A covered locality may distribute such materials in the preferred language identified by the voter.

C. The Attorney General, or any qualified voter who is a member of a language minority group for whom a covered locality is required to provide voting or election materials in such language, or any organization that assists members of the language minority group or whose membership includes members of the language minority group may institute a cause of action in the circuit court of the covered locality to compel the provision of the voting or election materials in the language of the applicable minority group. In such action, the court may, in its discretion, allow a private plaintiff a reasonable attorney fee as part of the costs, if such plaintiff is the prevailing party.

D. The Department shall post on its website by no later than September 1, 2026, a list of the localities designated as a covered locality pursuant to subsection A and the minority languages in which each such covered locality is required to provide voting or election materials pursuant to subsection B. The Department of Elections shall update such list as necessary to maintain accuracy.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 528 , 533 ; 2026, c. 717 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-243 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2.1 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-243
Electors for President and Vice President
Status: in_force

A. Balloting for the Commonwealth's electors for President and Vice President of the United States shall occur at the general election in November 2028 and every fourth year thereafter. The number of electors to be appointed shall equal the whole number of senators and representatives to which the Commonwealth at the time is entitled in the Congress of the United States.

B. The manner of appointing such electors shall be as follows:

1. When the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote does not govern the appointment of presidential electors, a vote cast for a presidential-vice-presidential slate shall be deemed to be a vote for each of the elector candidates nominated by the political party or group of qualified voters that nominated that presidential-vice-presidential slate. The Commonwealth's electors for President and Vice President of the United States shall be the elector candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the Commonwealth in the balloting conducted pursuant to subsection A.

2. When the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote governs the appointment of the Commonwealth's presidential electors, the Commonwealth's electors shall be the elector candidates determined in accordance with the procedures of § 24.2-209.1 using the number of votes in the balloting for President conducted pursuant to subsection A.

2024, c. 801 ; 2026, cc. 715 , 716 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-625.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-625.1
Voting equipment security
Status: in_force

A. Records of the State Board of Elections or of a local electoral board, to the extent such records describe protocols for maintaining the security of ballots or voting and counting equipment, or reveal the results of risk assessments of specific local electoral procedures, the release of which would compromise the security of any election, shall be confidential and excluded from inspection and copying under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

B. The State Board of Elections or a local electoral board may hold a closed meeting pursuant to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act for the purpose of discussing protocols for maintaining the security of ballots or voting and counting equipment, or risk assessments of specific local electoral procedures, where discussion of such matters in open meeting would compromise the security of any election. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize a closed meeting to discuss any breach of security in the conduct of an election.

C. Two members of any local electoral board may conduct site visits for the sole purpose of investigating compliance with security policies and procedures. No such visit shall be deemed a meeting under the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. However, prior to conducting such site visits, the board shall hold an open meeting, as defined in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and shall identify at that meeting its intention to conduct such site visits, the dates on which such visits will occur, and all polling places or other locations at which such visits will occur, withholding only information identifying secure sites at which voting and counting equipment or ballots are stored. No later than 30 days after any site visit has been conducted pursuant to this paragraph, the board shall hold an open meeting, as defined in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, at which it shall identify each location visited and the date on which each such location was visited, withholding only information identifying secure sites at which voting and counting equipment or ballots are stored.

D. The electoral board of each county and city that utilizes electronic voting systems shall develop and annually update written plans and procedures to ensure the security and integrity of its electronic voting systems. The general registrar and the State Board shall provide the electoral board assistance, upon request.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the release of information concerning any breach of security in the conduct of an election.

2005, c. 568 ; 2007, c. 794 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-950.9 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-950.9
Final report requirement; transfer of surplus funds
Status: in_force

A. Any political party committee that, after having filed a statement of organization, disbands or determines it will no longer receive contributions or make expenditures during the calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $200 shall so notify the State Board. A final report shall be filed by the committee that sets forth (i) all receipts and disbursements not previously reported, (ii) an accounting of the retirement of all debts, and (iii) the disposition of the committee's surplus funds. This final report shall include a termination statement, signed by the treasurer or other principal officer listed on the statement of organization, that all reporting for the committee is complete and final.

B. Amounts received by a political party committee as contributions may be disposed of only by one or any combination of the following: (i) transferring the excess to an affiliated organization of the committee; (ii) returning the excess to a contributor in an amount not to exceed the contributor's original contribution; (iii) donating the excess to any organization described in § 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; (iv) contributing the excess to one or more candidates or to any political committee that has filed a statement of organization pursuant to this chapter; (v) contributing the excess to any political party committee; and (vi) defraying any ordinary, nonreimbursed expense related to the political party committee. It shall be unlawful for any person to convert any contributed moneys, securities, or like intangible personal property to his personal use or to the use of a member of the "immediate family," as that term is defined in § 30-101 , of the committee's treasurer or chief executive.

1990, c. 931, § 24.1-258.1; 1993, c. 641, § 24.2-921; 2004, c. 457 ; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 ; 2009, c. 231 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-810 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 8 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-810
Taking depositions and deciding contests
Status: in_force

After service of a copy of the complaint and after reasonable notice to the other party or parties, any party shall be authorized to take depositions to sustain or invalidate the election. The proceedings shall take precedence over all other business of the court or of any of the judges and shall be heard and determined as soon as possible. The contest shall be heard and determined without a jury, on the testimony thus taken and on any other legal testimony that may be adduced by any party. In judging the contest, the court shall proceed on the merits thereof and decide the same according to the Constitution and statutes of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 24-436; 1952, c. 489; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-243; 1981, c. 570; 1993, c. 641.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-653.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-653.2
Ballots cast after normal close of polling hours due to court-ordered extension; provisional ballots
Status: in_force

Whenever the polling hours are extended by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, any ballots marked after the normal polling hours by persons who were not already in line at the time the polls would have closed, notwithstanding the court order, shall be treated as provisional ballots under this section. The officers of election shall mark the green envelope for each such provisional ballot to indicate that it was cast after normal polling hours due to the court order, and when preparing the materials to deliver to the registrar or electoral board, shall separate these provisional ballots from any provisional ballots used for any other reason. The electoral board shall treat these provisional ballots as provided in § 24.2-653.01 ; however, the counted and uncounted provisional ballots marked after the normal polling hours shall be kept separate from all other ballots and recorded in a separate provisional ballots pollbook. The Department of Elections shall provide instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to this section.

2020, c. 735 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-951 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 6 / Section 24.2-951
Referendum committee election cycle; political advertisement requirements
Status: in_force

A. The referendum committee's election cycle shall be deemed to begin on the date that the referendum committee first organizes for the referendum through December 31 immediately following the referendum.

B. The provisions of Chapter 9.5 (§ 24.2-955 et seq.) shall not be applicable to referendum committees subject to the provisions of this article.

2003, c. 257 , § 24.2-910.1; 2005, c. 745 ; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-428.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-428.2
(Repealed effective July 1, 2027) Return of registered voter to active status
Status: repealed

A registered voter shall be returned to active status from inactive status if, during the period beginning on the date the voter was assigned to inactive status and ending on the day of the second general election for federal office thereafter, the voter:

1. Notifies the general registrar of a change of address within the county or city;

2. Responds to a confirmation notice with information that the voter continues to reside at the registration address;

3. Votes or attempts to vote in a primary or a special or general election and, if necessary, corrects the registration record; or

4. Transfers his registration to another county or city within the Commonwealth, pursuant to § 24.2-424 or subsection E of § 24.2-428 .

If the registered voter fails to take such action on or before the day of the second general election for federal office after the voter was placed on inactive status, the general registrar shall cancel the person's voter registration.

The general registrar shall post at the courthouse or have published in a newspaper of general circulation in his county or city a list of names of persons whose registration has been cancelled pursuant to this section. He shall deliver or mail, obtaining a certificate of mailing, a certified copy of the list to the chairman of each political party in his county or city.

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2026, c. 1120 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-311 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 3 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-311
Effective date of decennial redistricting measures; elections following decennial redistricting
Status: in_force

A. Legislation enacted to accomplish the decennial redistricting of congressional and General Assembly districts required by Article II, § 6 of the Constitution of Virginia shall take effect immediately. Members of Congress and the General Assembly in office on the effective date of the decennial redistricting legislation shall complete their terms of office. The elections for their successors shall be held at the November general election next preceding the expiration of the terms of office of the incumbent members and shall be conducted on the basis of the districts set out in the legislation to accomplish the decennial redistricting. However, (i) if the decennial redistricting of congressional districts has not been enacted and approved for implementation pursuant to § 5 of the United States Voting Rights Act of 1965 before January 1 of the year of the election for statewide office, the previously enacted congressional districts shall remain in effect for the purpose of meeting the petition signature requirements set out in §§ 24.2-242 , 24.2-506 , 24.2-521 , and 24.2-545 and (ii) any reference on a petition to the usual primary date of the third Tuesday in June shall not be cause to invalidate the petition even though the date of the primary may be altered by law.

B. Ordinances adopted by local governing bodies to accomplish the decennial redistricting of districts for county, city, and town governing bodies required by Article VII, § 5 of the Constitution of Virginia shall take effect immediately. Members of county, city, and town governing bodies in office on the effective date of a decennial redistricting measure shall complete their terms of office. The elections for their successors shall be held at the general election next preceding the expiration of the terms of office of the incumbent members and shall be conducted on the basis of the districts set out in the measures to accomplish the decennial redistricting.

C. If a vacancy in any such office occurs after the effective date of a decennial redistricting measure and a special election is required by law to fill the vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled from the district in the decennial redistricting measure which most closely approximates the district in which the vacancy occurred.

D. If a decennial redistricting measure adopted by a local governing body adds one or more districts and also increases the size of the governing body, an election for the additional governing body member or members to represent the additional district or districts for the full or partial term provided by law shall be held at the next November general election in any county or in any city or town that regularly elects its governing body in November pursuant to § 24.2-222.1 , or at the next May general election in any other city or town, which occurs at least 120 days after the effective date of the redistricting measure.

E. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of a decennial redistricting measure and the provisions of the charter of any locality, the provisions of the redistricting measure shall be deemed to override the charter provisions to the extent required to give effect to the redistricting plan.

1990, c. 500, § 24.1-17.2; 1993, c. 641; 2000, c. 1045 ; 2012, c. 791 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 239 ; 2024, c. 801 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-604.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-604.1
Signs for special entrances to polling places
Status: in_force

The electoral board or the general registrar shall provide and have posted outside each polling place appropriate signs to direct people with disabilities and elderly persons to any special entrance designed for their use.

1993, c. 160, § 24.1-97.1; 1993, c. 641; 2016, cc. 18 , 492 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-518 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-518
County and city treasurers to pay primary expenses; certain uses of machinery by party
Status: in_force

The treasurer of the county or city in which the elections are held shall pay the costs of primary elections.

A political party may hold an election to select the members of its party committee at the same time and in the same places as a primary election without fee or charge for making use of the electoral machinery, provided that a primary to nominate the party's candidate for an office is in fact conducted on that primary date. Such elections for party committee members may be conducted by paper ballots or by voting machines in the discretion of the local electoral board.

The proper political party committee shall pay the costs of using the election machinery at any other time for the purpose of conducting other nominating procedures adopted pursuant to the rules of that party, if such use is authorized by the officials having custody of the machinery.

Code 1950, §§ 24-349, 24-364.1; 1952, c. 4; 1958, c. 580; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-174, 24.1-180; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 119; 1975, c. 515; 1982, c. 650; 1993, c. 641.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1004 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1004
Illegal voting and registrations
Status: in_force

A. Any person who wrongfully deposits a ballot in the ballot container or casts a vote on any voting equipment, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any person who intentionally (i) votes more than once in the same election, whether those votes are cast in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, (ii) procures, assists, or induces another to vote more than once in the same election, whether those votes are cast in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, (iii) votes knowing that he is not qualified to vote where and when the vote is to be given, or (iv) procures, assists, or induces another to vote knowing that such person is not qualified to vote where and when the vote is to be given is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

C. Any person who intentionally (i) registers to vote at more than one residence address at the same time, whether such registrations are in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, or (ii) procures, assists, or induces another to register to vote at more than one address at the same time, whether such registrations are in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This subsection shall not apply to any person who, when registering to vote, changing the address at which he is registered, transferring his registration, or assisting another in registering, changing his address, or transferring his registration, provides the information required by § 24.2-418 on the applicant's place of last previous registration to vote.

D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a covered voter, as defined in § 24.2-452 , from casting in the same election both a state ballot and a write-in absentee ballot that is processed in the manner provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.). If both ballots are received prior to the close of the polls on election day, the state ballot shall be counted.

Code 1950, §§ 24-450, 24-451; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-268; 1993, c. 641; 2001, c. 636 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2009, cc. 865 , 870 , 874 ; 2012, cc. 652 , 667 ; 2019, cc. 668 , 669 ; 2020, cc. 1149 , 1151 , 1201 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-416.3 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 3.1 / Section 24.2-416.3
Distribution of mail voter registration application forms
Status: in_force

A. Subject to the conditions set forth in § 24.2-416.6 , the Department of Elections shall make available to any individual or group a reasonable number of mail voter registration application forms.

B. The Department shall provide a reasonable number of mail voter registration application forms to each agent of the Department of Wildlife Resources authorized to sell hunting or fishing licenses in Virginia. The Department of Wildlife Resources shall assist the Department by providing a list of its agents appointed to sell hunting and fishing licenses in Virginia and by instructing its agents to make the mail voter registration application forms available to persons purchasing hunting or fishing licenses.

C. The Department shall provide a reasonable number of mail voter registration application forms to (i) each public institution of higher education, as that term is defined in § 23.1-100 ; (ii) each nonprofit private institution of higher education, as that term is defined in § 23.1-100 , that is eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program pursuant to Article 5 (§ 23.1-628 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 23.1; and (iii) any other entity authorized to issue bonds pursuant to Chapter 11 (§ 23.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 23.1. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall assist the Department by providing a list of such institutions and by requesting those institutions to make the mail voter registration application forms available to students.

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2011, cc. 197 , 225 ; 2013, c. 465 ; 2015, c. 740 ; 2020, cc. 921 , 958 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-404.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-404.1
Commissioner of Elections to serve as state coordinator for the administration of the National Voter Registration Act
Status: in_force

The Commissioner of Elections shall be the chief state election officer responsible for the coordination of state responsibilities under the National Voter Registration Act (52 U.S.C. § 20501 et seq.).

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2013, c. 542 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-948.9 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-948.9
Prohibited Personal Use Enforcement Fund
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Prohibited Personal Use Enforcement Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All civil penalties levied pursuant to § 24.2-948.7 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of administering the provisions of §§ 24.2-948.6 , 24.2-948.7 , and 24.2-948.8 . Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Commissioner of Elections.

2025, cc. 535 , 537 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-532 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-532
Abstracts of votes
Status: in_force

As soon as the electoral board shall determine the persons who have received the highest number of votes for nomination to any such office, the secretary of the board shall immediately make out abstracts and certificates of the votes cast as provided in § 24.2-675 and forward certified copies thereof to the State Board. The secretary in addition shall place certified copies thereof in an envelope and forward them in person or by certified mail (i) for members of the House of Representatives of the United States, to the chairman of the congressional district committee, (ii) for members of the General Assembly, to the chairman of the Senate or House of Delegates district committee, and (iii) for county and city and district officers, to the chairman of the county or city. For purposes of this section, "chairman" means the chairman of the political party under whose auspices the primary is held.

Code 1950, §§ 24-388, 24-390; 1952, c. 4; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-191, 24.1-193; 1976, c. 616; 1993, c. 641; 2026, c. 776 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-531 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-531
Pollbooks used during primaries
Status: in_force

There shall be pollbooks in the form set forth in § 24.2-611 provided for use during any primary.

Code 1950, § 24-377; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-189; 1980, c. 639; 1981, c. 425; 1993, c. 641; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2010, c. 812 ; 2014, cc. 540 , 576 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1002.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1002.1
Unlawful disclosure or use of social security number or part thereof
Status: in_force

Any person who discloses or makes any use of the social security number, or any part thereof, of any applicant for voter registration, except as authorized by law for official use, shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2007, c. 318 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-673.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-673.1
Ranked choice voting
Status: in_force

A. For purposes of this section:

"Ranked choice voting" means a method of casting and tabulating votes in which (i) voters rank candidates in order of preference, (ii) tabulation proceeds in rounds such that in each round either a candidate or candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated, (iii) votes for voters' next-ranked candidates are transferred from elected or defeated candidates, and (iv) tabulation ends when the number of candidates elected equals the number of offices to be filled. "Ranked choice voting" is known as "instant runoff voting" when electing a single office and "single transferable vote" when electing multiple offices.

"Ranking" means the ordinal number assigned on a ballot by a voter to a candidate to express the voter's preference for that candidate. The first ranking is the highest ranking, the second ranking is the next-highest ranking, and so on, consecutively, up to the number of candidates indicated by the voter on the ballot.

B. Elections of members of a local governing body may be conducted by ranked choice voting pursuant to this section. The decision to conduct an election by ranked choice voting shall be made, in consultation with the local electoral board and general registrar, by a majority vote of the local governing body that the office being elected serves. Any decision to conduct an election by ranked choice voting made by a local governing body shall be transmitted to the State Board, which shall provide an assessment of technical feasibility within 10 days of receipt of the decision. If the State Board assesses that implementation of the local governing body's decision is not technically feasible, the State Board's assessment shall include an explanation of those steps necessary to proceed with implementation.

If a majority of the members of a town council vote to conduct an election for town council by ranked choice voting, the board of supervisors of the county in which the town is located may require the town to reimburse the county for costs associated with conducting the election by ranked choice voting that would not have been incurred by the county absent the town council's decision to conduct the election by ranked choice voting.

C. The State Board shall provide standards for vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. Any person manufacturing, owning, or offering for sale any vote tabulation software designed to be used with existing voting systems may apply to the State Board, in the manner prescribed by the State Board, to have examined a production version of such software. A local governing body that makes the decision to conduct elections by ranked choice voting shall provide for the use of vote tabulating software approved by the State Board in any such elections.

D. The State Board shall promulgate regulations for the proper and efficient administration of elections determined by ranked choice voting, including (i) procedures for tabulating and reporting votes in rounds, (ii) procedures for determining winners in elections for offices to which only one candidate is being elected and to which more than one candidate is being elected, and (iii) standards for ballots pursuant to § 24.2-613 , notwithstanding the provisions of subsection E of that section.

E. In any election conducted by ranked choice voting, final tabulation of votes shall be conducted at the meeting of the electoral board held pursuant to § 24.2-671 .

F. If, in the process of tabulating final results for an election conducted by ranked choice voting, any machine readable ballot is damaged or defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the electronic voting systems, a true duplicate copy shall be made of the damaged ballot by a team of election officials representing both parties. The duplicate ballot shall be substituted for the damaged ballot. Every duplicate ballot shall be clearly labeled as such and shall bear an identifier that shall be recorded on the damaged ballot.

G. The Department shall make public the total number and percentage of votes each candidate received in each round of the official tabulation, including votes for candidates who have withdrawn pursuant to § 24.2-612.2 , and ballot-level ranking data on an election-by-election basis to the extent feasible and consistent with the need to maintain voter privacy.

H. The State Board may administer or prescribe standards for a voter outreach and public information program for use by any locality conducting ranked choice voting pursuant to this section. The State Board shall produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting that shall be published on its website and shall assist any locality that has made the decision to conduct elections by ranked choice voting in developing voter education materials specific to that locality upon request.

I. A local electoral board may request a risk-limiting audit, pursuant to subsection D of § 24.2-671.2 , of an election conducted by ranked choice voting. An election conducted by ranked choice voting shall not be included in any random drawing required by subsection C of § 24.2-671.2 .

J. For the purposes of conducting a recount pursuant to Article 1 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.) of Chapter 8, the State Board shall have the authority to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election conducted by ranked choice voting. Any such risk-limiting audit shall be limited to an audit of first rankings reported by voting systems.

2020, c. 1054 ; 2026, cc. 993 , 1062 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-956.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.5 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-956.1
Requirements for print media advertisements sponsored by a person or political committee, other than a candidate campaign committee
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person or political committee to sponsor a print media advertisement that constitutes an expenditure or contribution required to be disclosed under Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) unless the following requirements are met:

1. It bears the legend or includes the statement: "Paid for by [Name of person or political committee]."

2. In an advertisement supporting or opposing the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified candidates, the sponsor states whether it is authorized by a candidate. The visual legend in the advertisement shall state either "Authorized by [Name of candidate], candidate for [Name of office]" or "Not authorized by a candidate."

3. In an advertisement that identifies a candidate the sponsor is opposing, the sponsor must disclose in the advertisement the name of the candidate who is intended to benefit from the advertisement, if the sponsor coordinates with, or has the authorization of, the benefited candidate.

4. If an advertisement is jointly sponsored, the disclosure statement shall name all the sponsors.

5. Any disclosure statement required by this section shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner in a font size proportionate to the size of the advertisement. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate standards for meeting the requirements of this subdivision.

6. Any print media advertisement appearing in electronic format shall display the disclosure statement in a minimum font size of seven point; however, if the advertisement lacks sufficient space for a disclosure statement in a minimum font size of seven point, the advertisement may meet disclosure requirements if, by clicking on the print media advertisement appearing in electronic format, the viewer is taken to a landing page or a home page that displays the disclosure statement in a conspicuous manner.

2002, c. 487 , § 24 .2-943; 2003, c. 237 ; 2004, cc. 55 , 457 ; 2005, c. 369 ; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 ; 2012, c. 519 ; 2020, c. 557 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-310 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 3 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-310
Requirements for polling places
Status: in_force

A. The polling place for each precinct shall be located within the county or city and either within the precinct or within one mile of the precinct boundary, unless a waiver has been granted pursuant to subsection G. The polling place for a county precinct may be located within a city (i) if the city is wholly contained within the county election district served by the precinct or (ii) if the city is wholly contained within the county and the polling place is located on property owned by the county. The polling place for a town precinct may be located within one mile of the precinct and town boundary. For town elections held in November, the town shall use the polling places established by the county for its elections.

B. The governing body of each county, city, and town shall provide funds to enable the general registrar to provide adequate facilities at each polling place for the conduct of elections. Each polling place shall be located in a public building whenever practicable. If more than one polling place is located in the same building, each polling place shall be located in a separate room or separate and defined space.

C. Polling places shall be accessible to qualified voters as required by the provisions of the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1 et seq.), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to public services (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.). The State Board shall provide instructions to the local electoral boards and general registrars to assist the localities in complying with the requirements of the Acts.

D. If an emergency makes a polling place unusable or inaccessible, the electoral board or the general registrar shall provide an alternative polling place and give notice of the change in polling place, including to all candidates, or such candidate's campaign, appearing on the ballot to be voted at the alternative polling place, subject to the prior approval of the State Board. The general registrar shall provide notice to the voters appropriate to the circumstances of the emergency. For the purposes of this subsection, an "emergency" means a rare and unforeseen combination of circumstances, or the resulting state, that calls for immediate action.

E. It shall be permissible to distribute campaign and referendum materials on the election day on the property on which a polling place is located and outside of the building containing the room where the election is conducted except as specifically prohibited by law including, without limitation, the prohibitions of § 24.2-604 and the establishment of the "Prohibited Area" within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place. However, and notwithstanding the provisions of clause (i) of subsection A of § 24.2-604 , and upon the approval of the local electoral board, campaign and referendum materials may be distributed outside the polling place and inside the structure where the election is conducted, provided that the "Prohibited Area" (i) includes the area within the structure that is beyond 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place and the area within the structure that is within 40 feet of any entrance to the room where the election is conducted and (ii) is maintained and enforced as provided in § 24.2-604 . The local electoral board may approve campaigning activities inside the building where the election is conducted when an entrance to the building is from an adjoining building, or if establishing the 40-foot prohibited area outside the polling place would hinder or delay a qualified voter from entering or leaving the building.

F. Any local government, local electoral board, or the State Board may make monetary grants to any non-governmental entity furnishing facilities under the provisions of § 24.2-307 or 24.2-308 for use as a polling place. Such grants shall be made for the sole purpose of meeting the accessibility requirements of this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to obligate any local government, local electoral board, or the State Board to appropriate funds to any non-governmental entity.

G. The general registrar or the governing body of the locality may request from the Department of Elections a waiver to establish a polling place that does not meet the location requirements of subsection A in the event that there is no suitable building that could be used within the precinct or within one mile of the precinct boundary. The Department shall grant such a waiver and may impose any conditions on the waiver that it deems necessary or appropriate to ensure accessibility and security of the polling place and compliance with any other requirements of state or federal law.

Code 1950, §§ 24-45, 24-46, 24-171, 24-179 through 24-181; 1954, c. 375; 1956, c. 378; 1962, cc. 185, 536; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-36, 24.1-37, 24.1-92, 24.1-97; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 119; 1976, c. 616; 1977, c. 30; 1978, c. 778; 1980, c. 639; 1981, c. 425; 1984, c. 217; 1985, c. 197; 1986, c. 558; 1992, c. 445; 1993, cc. 546, 641; 1994, c. 307 ; 2003, c. 1015 ; 2004, c. 25 ; 2005, c. 340 ; 2008, cc. 113 , 394 ; 2010, cc. 639 , 707 ; 2012, cc. 488 , 759 ; 2016, cc. 18 , 492 ; 2022, c. 5 ; 2025, c. 584 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-426.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-426.1
(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2026, cc. 992 and 1081, cl. 3) Cancellation of registration by voter
Status: in_force

A. Any registered voter may cancel his registration by submitting to the general registrar a written authorization, signed by the voter, that his voter registration shall be canceled. Such cancellation authorization shall be made at least 22 days prior to an election in order to be valid in that election, unless such cancellation authorization is made in person or notarized. Within 10 days of receiving such authorization, the general registrar shall acknowledge receipt of the authorization and advise the voter by first-class mail, or in person if such authorization is made in person, that his registration has been canceled.

B. Notice received by a general registrar from the registration official of another jurisdiction, or signed by the voter, that a registered voter has moved from the Commonwealth or that the registered voter has registered to vote outside the Commonwealth subsequent to his registration in the Commonwealth shall be considered a written authorization from the voter to have his registration canceled. Information received through a list exchange or list comparison pursuant to § 24.2-410.3 shall not be deemed to be notice for purposes of this subsection.

2026, c. 1120 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-118.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-118.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2020, c. 838 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-428.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-428.1
(Repealed effective July 1, 2027) Other procedures for assigning registered voters to inactive status
Status: repealed

In addition to the voter list maintenance program provided for in § 24.2-428 , the general registrar and the registered voter shall follow the confirmation notification procedures set forth in subsections C through E of § 24.2-428 if a voter provides an address on a candidate or referendum petition that differs from the address for the voter on the voter registration system or if any of the following documents sent to the registered voter are returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable:

1. An acknowledgment of registration;

2. An acknowledgment of transfer to a new address;

3. An absentee ballot or application for an absentee ballot sent or provided in accordance with Chapter 7 (§ 24.2-700 et seq.);

4. Notification to a voter after a precinct reassignment;

5. Notification of a change of address sent to a voter in accordance with subsection B of § 24.2-428 ; or

6. Any official voter registration or election mail.

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2001, c. 625 ; 2026, c. 1120 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-417 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-417
Persons to be registered
Status: in_force

Each registrar shall register every resident of his county or city who has the qualifications required by the Constitution of Virginia and this title and who applies for registration or transfer of his registration from another county or city in the Commonwealth at the time and in the manner required by law.

Any person, once properly registered, shall remain registered unless his registration is cancelled pursuant to Article 5 (§ 24.2-427 et seq.) of this chapter.

Code 1950, §§ 24-67, 24-68; 1952, c. 341; 1958, c. 576; 1960, c. 288; 1962, c. 536; 1963, Ex. Sess., c. 2; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-47, 24.1-48; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 119, 205; 1972, c. 620; 1974, c. 428; 1977, c. 490; 1980, c. 639; 1989, c. 138; 1992, c. 433; 1993, c. 641; 1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2000, c. 857 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-460 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4.1 / Section 24.2-460
Transmission of unvoted ballots
Status: in_force

A. For an election described in § 24.2-454 for which this state has not received a waiver pursuant to § 579 of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20302(g)(2), not later than 45 days before the election, the election official in each jurisdiction charged with distributing a ballot and balloting materials shall transmit a ballot and balloting materials to all covered voters who by that date submit a valid military-overseas ballot application.

B. A covered voter may request that a ballot and balloting materials be sent to the voter as authorized in § 24.2-706 .

C. If a ballot application from a covered voter arrives after the jurisdiction begins transmitting ballots and balloting materials to voters, the official charged with distributing a ballot and balloting materials shall transmit them to the voter not later than three business days after the application arrives.

2012, c. 353 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-407.1 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-407.1
Prohibition on disclosure of social security numbers or parts thereof
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person who has obtained, under § 24.2-405 or 24.2-406 or any prior law, a list of persons registered or voting which contained social security numbers, or any parts thereof, to disclose any voter's social security number, or any part thereof, to any other person. Any person maintaining a system containing social security numbers, or any parts thereof, obtained from the Board or the Department of Elections shall delete or destroy the portion of his records containing those numbers, except for a list furnished to a court of the Commonwealth or of the United States for jury selection purposes, a commissioner of the revenue, as defined in § 58.1-3100 , or a treasurer, as defined in § 58.1-3123 , for tax assessment, collection, and enforcement purposes, or the Chief Election Officer of another state, permitted to use social security numbers, or any parts thereof, that provides for the use of such numbers on applications for voter registration in accordance with federal law, for the purpose of matching voter registration lists.

1994, c. 656 ; 2007, c. 318 ; 2010, c. 452 ; 2015, c. 712 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-653.3 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-653.3
Voters assigned to split precinct; provisional ballots
Status: in_force

A. Any voter who is assigned to a precinct that is split between two or more election districts and believes he was given a ballot for the district of which he is not a qualified voter may request, prior to casting the ballot, and shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot for the district of which he believes he is a qualified voter and for the district in which the pollbook indicates he is registered. The provisional ballots shall be cast in accordance with the provisions of § 24.2-653 , except that the voter shall be given a printed ballot for the district of which he believes he is a qualified voter and for the district in which the pollbook indicates he is registered, and an envelope for each ballot, which shall be labeled with the corresponding district number. After marking each printed ballot, the voter shall seal each ballot in its corresponding envelope, and the ballot envelopes shall then be sealed in the green envelope provided for in § 24.2-653 .

B. At the meeting of the electoral board to determine the validity of all provisional ballots offered in the election, the electoral board shall verify in which district a voter who voted provisionally pursuant to this section is a qualified voter, and the provisional ballot cast by the voter for that district shall be counted. The electoral board shall process the ballot in accordance with the provisions of § 24.2-653.01 and the instructions of the State Board.

2020, c. 920 , § 24.2-653.2.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-411.2 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-411.2
State-designated voter registration agencies
Status: in_force

A. The following agencies are designated as voter registration agencies in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (52 U.S.C. § 20501 et seq.) and shall provide voter registration opportunities at their state, regional, or local offices, depending upon the point of service:

1. Agencies whose primary function is to provide public assistance, including agencies that provide benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children; Medicaid program; or Food Stamps program;

2. Agencies whose primary function is to provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities;

3. Armed Forces recruitment offices; and

4. The regional offices of the Department of Wildlife Resources and the offices of the Virginia Employment Commission in the Northern Virginia Planning District 8.

B. The Commissioner of Elections, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General, shall compile and maintain a list of the specific agencies covered by subdivisions A 1 and A 2 that, in the legal opinion of the Attorney General, must be designated to meet the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act. The Commissioner of Elections shall notify each agency of its designation and thereafter notify any agency added to or deleted from the list.

C. At each voter registration agency, the following services shall be made available on the premises of the agency:

1. Distribution of mail voter registration forms provided by the Department of Elections;

2. Assistance to applicants in completing voter registration application forms, unless the applicant refuses assistance; and

3. Receipt of completed voter registration application forms.

D. A voter registration agency, which provides service or assistance in conducting voter registration, shall make the following services available on the premises of the agency:

1. Distribution with each application for its service or assistance, or upon admission to a facility or program, and with each recertification, readmission, renewal, or change of address form, of a voter registration application prescribed by the Department of Elections that complies with the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act (52 U.S.C. § 20501 et seq.).

2. Provision, as part of the voter registration process, of a form that includes:

a. The question: "If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?"

b. If the agency provides public assistance, the statement: "Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency."

c. Boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would like to register, declines to register to vote, or is already registered (failure to check any box being deemed to constitute a declination to register for purposes of subdivision 2 a), together with the statement (in close proximity to the boxes and in prominent type): "IF YOU DO NOT CHECK ANY BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME."

d. The statement: "If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek help or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private."

e. The statement: "If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, or your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, you may file a complaint with the Department of Elections." The statement shall include the address and telephone number of the Department.

f. The following statement accompanying the form which features prominently in boldface capital letters: "WARNING: INTENTIONALLY MAKING A MATERIALLY FALSE STATEMENT ON THIS FORM CONSTITUTES THE CRIME OF ELECTION FRAUD, WHICH IS PUNISHABLE UNDER VIRGINIA LAW AS A FELONY. VIOLATORS MAY BE SENTENCED TO UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON, OR UP TO 12 MONTHS IN JAIL AND/OR FINED UP TO $2,500."

3. Provision to each applicant who does not decline to register to vote of the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the voter registration application as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of its own applications, unless the applicant refuses assistance.

E. If a voter registration agency designated under subsection A of this section provides services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency shall provide the voter registration services as provided for in this section.

F. A person who provides services at a designated voter registration agency shall not:

1. Seek to influence an applicant's political preference;

2. Display any material indicating the person's political preference or party allegiance;

3. Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits; or

4. Disclose, except as authorized by law for official use, the social security number, or any part thereof, of any applicant for voter registration.

Any person who is aggrieved by a violation of this subsection may provide written notice of the violation to the Department. The Department shall be authorized to cooperate with the agency to resolve the alleged violation. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prohibit an aggrieved person from filing a complaint in accordance with § 24.2-1019 against a person who commits any election law offense enumerated in §§ 24.2-1000 through 24.2-1016 .

G. A completed voter registration application shall be transmitted as directed by the Department not later than five business days after the date of receipt.

H. Each state-designated voter registration agency shall maintain such statistical records on the number of applications to register to vote as requested by the Department.

1996, cc. 72 , 73 ; 2002, c. 747 ; 2007, c. 318 ; 2013, c. 542 ; 2015, c. 740 ; 2020, c. 958 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-403 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-403
Persons under 18 years of age
Status: in_force

Any person who is otherwise qualified and will be 18 years of age on or before the day of the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is otherwise qualified and will be 18 years of age on or before the day of the next November general presidential election shall be permitted to register in advance of and also vote in any intervening presidential primary and any other primary held on the same day as the presidential primary.

Code 1950, §§ 24-17, 24-22, 24-23; 1963, Ex. Sess., c. 2; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-41; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 205, 265; 1974, c. 428; 1977, c. 490; 1978, c. 778; 1993, c. 641; 2004, c. 481 ; 2006, c. 205 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-687 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 5 / Section 24.2-687
Authorization for distribution of information on referendum elections
Status: in_force

A. The governing body of any county, city or town may provide for the preparation and printing of an explanation for each referendum question to be submitted to the voters of the county, city or town to be distributed at the polling places on the day of the referendum election. The governing body may have the explanation published by paid advertisement in a newspaper with general circulation in the county, city or town one or more times preceding the referendum.

The explanation shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county, city or town or, if there is no county, city or town attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. "Plain English" means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.

If the referendum question involves the issuance of bonds by a locality, the locality shall provide for such printed explanation. The explanation shall (i) state the estimated maximum amount of the bonds proposed to be issued, and (ii) state the proposed use of the bond proceeds, and if there is more than one use, state the proposed uses for which more than 10 percent of the total bond proceeds is expected to be used.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a county, city or town from disseminating other neutral materials or advertisements concerning issues of public concern that are the subject of a referendum; however, the materials or advertisements shall not advocate the passage or defeat of the referendum question.

C. This section shall not be applicable to statewide referenda.

D. Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of the referendum.

1996, c. 297 ; 2004, cc. 21 , 399 ; 2006, c. 302 ; 2011, c. 590 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-126 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 1.1 / Section 24.2-126
Voter suppression prohibited
Status: in_force

A. No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, rule, standard, practice, or procedure shall be enacted or implemented by the state or any locality in a manner that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in a denial or abridgement of the right of members of a protected class to vote.

B. A violation of subsection A is established if, on the basis of the totality of circumstances, it is shown that the challenged qualification, law, ordinance, rule, standard, practice, or procedure results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in a material disparity between members of a protected class and other eligible voters in regards to voter participation, access to voting opportunities, or the opportunity or ability to participate in the political process.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to establish a right to have members of a protected class elected in numbers equal to their proportion in the population.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 528 , 533 ; 2026, c. 717 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-628 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 3 / Section 24.2-628
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2014, c. 540 , cl. 2, effective April 3, 2014, and c. 576 , cl. 2, effective April 4, 2014.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-410.4 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4 / Article 2.1 / Section 24.2-410.4
(Effective July 1, 2027) Regular periodic review of registration records; confirmation notification process
Status: in_force

A. In accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. § 20501 et seq.), the Department of Elections shall establish a voter list maintenance program using the change of address information supplied by the United States Postal Service through its licensees, or by other reliable sources, to identify voters whose addresses may have changed. Any such program shall be regular and periodic and shall be conducted at least annually. The program shall be completed not later than 90 days prior to the date of a federal primary or federal general election.

B. If it appears from information provided by the United States Postal Service or by other reliable sources that a voter has moved to a different address in the same county or city in which the voter is currently registered, the Department shall provide to the general registrar the information necessary to change the registration records to show the new address, and the Department or the general registrar shall send to the new address of the voter by forwardable mail, a notice of the change, along with a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return card by which the voter may verify or correct the address information.

C. If it appears from information provided by the United States Postal Service or by other reliable sources that a voter has moved to a different address not in the same county or city, the Department or the general registrar shall send to the last known address of the voter by forwardable mail, a notice on a form prescribed by the Department, along with a postage prepaid and pre-addressed return card on which the voter may verify or correct the address information or state his current address.

D. The registered voter shall complete and sign the return card subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016 and shall return such card to the general registrar within 30 days of it being sent.

E. The general registrar shall correct his registration records from the information obtained from the return card. If the information indicates that the registered voter has moved to another general registrar's jurisdiction within the Commonwealth, the general registrar shall transfer the registration record, along with the return card, to the appropriate general registrar who shall treat the request for a change of address as a request for transfer and shall send a voter registration card as confirmation of the transfer to the voter pursuant to § 24.2-424 .

2026, c. 1120 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-457 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 4.1 / Section 24.2-457
Methods of registering to vote
Status: in_force

A. To apply to register to vote, in addition to any other approved method, a covered voter may use a federal postcard application.

B. A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received by the applicable deadline for registration. If the declaration is received after that date, it must be treated as an application to register to vote for subsequent elections.

C. The electoral board shall ensure that the system described in subsection C of § 24.2-455 is capable of accepting both a federal postcard application and any other approved registration application sent to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the system or any other approved method to register to vote.

2012, c. 353 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-949.3 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 9.3 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-949.3
Use of candidate's name in name of political committee
Status: in_force

A. No political action committee required to file a statement of organization pursuant to § 24.2-949.2 shall include in any part of its name the name of a candidate unless the political action committee either (i) has obtained, prior to filing, the written authorization of the candidate to use the candidate's name as part of the name of the political action committee or (ii) has mailed by certified mail, 21 or more days prior to filing, written notice to the candidate of its intent to use his name as part of the name of the political action committee.

B. Any political action committee which intends to use the name of a candidate as part of the name of the political action committee shall file with the statement of organization required by § 24.2-949.2 either (i) a copy of the written authorization of the candidate consenting to the use of his name or (ii) a copy of its notice to the candidate and evidence of its timely mailing. If two candidates seeking the same office have the same surname, the political action committee shall include the first name, or other initial or nickname, and the last name of the candidate, in the name of the political action committee so as to identify which candidate is associated with the political action committee; and either the written authorization of the identified candidate or written notice to the identified candidate shall be required by this section.

1996, cc. 586 , 601 , § 24.2-908.1; 2006, cc. 787 , 892 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-303 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 3 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-303
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2001, Sp. Sess. I, c. 2 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1019 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1019
Complaints and allegations concerning election law offenses
Status: in_force

Any complaint or allegation concerning unlawful conduct under this title shall be filed with the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in which the alleged violation occurred. In the case of a complaint or allegation concerning the filing of a false statement in a voter registration application, the violation shall be deemed to have occurred in the county or city where the applicant sought to be registered.

1983, c. 461, § 24.1-282; 1993, c. 641; 1999, c. 374 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-664 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 6 / Article 4 / Section 24.2-664
Reduction in number of ballots
Status: in_force

Whenever the number of ballots is reduced by fraudulent or void ballots below the number of names of qualified voters on the pollbooks who voted on paper ballots, the cause of such reduction shall be stated in the space provided on the statement of results.

Code 1950, § 24-624; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-141; 1981, c. 425; 1983, c. 461; 1993, c. 641.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-713 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 7 / Section 24.2-713
Emergency authority of the Commissioner of Elections
Status: in_force

The provisions of this section shall apply in the case of an emergency that will not allow sufficient time for the distribution and handling of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, in accordance with the procedures of this title, for qualified voters who are unable to vote in person because of the emergency. The Commissioner of Elections shall have the authority to designate alternative methods and procedures to handle such applications and ballots. Nothing in this section shall authorize the counting of any absentee ballot returned after the polls have closed. For purposes of this section, "an emergency" shall mean (i) any emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Chapter 3.2 (§ 44-146.13 et seq.) of Title 44, (ii) any emergency declared by the President of the United States or the governor of another state pursuant to law and confirmed by the Governor by the executive order as an emergency for the purposes of this section, or (iii) any public emergency that interferes with the electoral process or the opportunity for qualified voters to exercise their right to vote as determined by the Commissioner of Elections.

1994, c. 240 ; 2002, cc. 785 , 819 ; 2013, c. 542 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-1006 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 10 / Section 24.2-1006
Advice or assistance in casting ballot
Status: in_force

Except as provided by § 24.2-649 , no person shall directly or indirectly advise or assist any voter as to how he shall cast his ballot after the voter has entered the prohibited area at the polls as designated in § 24.2-604 . Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 24-237; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-267; 1993, c. 641.
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-814 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 8 / Article 2 / Section 24.2-814
Contest following recount
Status: in_force

A candidate in a primary or an election to office, who was originally declared a winner and subsequently loses as the result of a recount, may file either (i) notice of his intent to contest the result in accordance with § 24.2-803 or 24.2-804 or (ii) a written complaint pursuant to § 24.2-805 or 24.2-806 . Such notice or complaint shall be filed within 10 days following the date of the entry of the order of the recount court pursuant to subsection F of § 24.2-802.2 .

In the case of a contest pursuant to § 24.2-803 or 24.2-804 , the times for filing the answer, petition, and reply and for taking depositions and affidavits shall be set by the Committee on Privileges and Elections of the appropriate house. The Committee may consider the contestant's and contestee's recommendations for the procedural schedule.

This section shall not be applicable to a contest of an election for the President and Vice President of the United States.

1988, c. 714, § 24.1-241.1; 1993, c. 641; 2001, cc. 639 , 641 ; 2003, c. 268 ; 2020, c. 886 .
Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-201 — Virginia Code / Title 24.2 / Chapter 2 / Article 1 / Section 24.2-201
When term of officer elected to fill vacancy commences and expires
Status: in_force

The term of office of any person chosen at a special election to fill a vacancy in any public office shall commence as soon as he shall qualify and give bond, if bond is required, and shall continue for the unexpired term of such office. Any person so elected shall qualify and give bond, if bond is required, no later than thirty days following the date on which the special election was held.

Code 1950, § 24-144; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-75; 1982, c. 146; 1993, c. 641.