Opinion ID: 4542320
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The City of Hopewell Electoral Board

Text: Herbert F. Townes, Jr. (“Townes”) and David W. Silvestro (“Silvestro”) were appointed to the Board in 2014 and 2018, respectively, for three-year terms. Townes was reappointed for a three-year term in 2017 following his initial term on the Board. The Board consisted of Townes, Silvestro, and one additional member who was not subject to this removal action. Prior to taking their seats on the Board, Appellants both signed the following oath pursuant to Code § 24.2-120 and Article II, Section 7 of the Constitution of Virginia: I [] do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Virginia, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a member of the City of Hopewell Electoral Board [] according to the best of my ability, so help me God. As members of the Board, Appellants were responsible for ensuring the fair, uniform, and efficient administration of elections in the City of Hopewell (“Hopewell”) and timely appointment of a General Registrar. Among other duties, Appellants were to “[e]nsure the creation, production and proper custody of ballots,” to “[a]ssist in absentee voting when requested by the Director of Elections,” and to determine the “validity and counting of provisional ballots.” The “Electoral Board Job Description” further required Appellants to conduct “meetings in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act” (“VFOIA”).