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§ 24.2-416 Closing registration records before elections

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.

History

The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 536; in 1970, chapter 462; in 1973, chapter 30; in 1975, chapter 515; in 1993, chapter 641; in 2008, chapter 424; in 2025, chapters 548 and 559.

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.

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What This Is

This is a law from the Code of Virginia. This is the actual, unchanged text of one of the many laws that govern Virginia.

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Keyboard Guide

Amendment Attempts

HB1197: Voter registration; period of time that registration records must be closed before primary election. (passed)
SB1062: Elections; reforms to improve voter access to polls.
HB1955: Voter registration records; deadline extension. (failed)
HB2365: Registration records; deadline extension. (failed)
HB1904: Voter registration; registration on election day, registration of provisional voters, etc. (failed)
HB26: Voter registration; close of registration records. (failed)
HB26: Voter registration; close of registration records.
HB1810: Voter registration; failure of online voter registration system, deadline extension.
HB1810: Voter registration; failure of online voter registration system, deadline extension.
HB1812: Foreign interference in elections; registration, absentee voting, and conduct of elections. (failed)
HB1652: Elections; voter identification containing photograph required; who may register up to and including the day of the election; absentee ballot application requirements; absentee voting in person availability; return of absentee ballots. (failed)
HB1735: Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections. (passed)
HB1863: Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before elections; (failed)
HB2002: Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data. (failed)
HB2011: Voter registration; cancellation of registration by voter. (failed)
HB2057: Voter registration; automatic registration of hunting, fishing, and milk distributor license. (failed)
HB2276: Voter registration; list maintenance activities, cancellation procedures, required record matches. (failed)
HB2337: Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections. (failed)
HB2357: Voter registration; list of unqualified persons transmitted to general registrars. (failed)
HB2388: Voter registration; list of unqualified persons transmitted to general registrars. (failed)
HB2434: Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. (failed)
HB2513: Voter registration; cancellation of registration, notice of cancellation, new address if available.
HB2586: Voter registration; automatic registration upon application for hunting and fishing license. (failed)
SB764: Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. (failed)
SB991: Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections. (passed)
SB1070: Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. (failed)
SB1454: Voter registration; systematic citizenship verification program. (failed)
HB28: Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records. (failed)
HB111: Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data.
HB640: Elections; challenges to a voter or voter's registration, filing of petition, notice of appeal. (passed)
HB774: Elections; absentee and provisional ballots, cure process, delayed effective date. (passed)
HB909: Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting. (passed)
HB964: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. (passed)
HB972: Voter registration; list maintenance activities, cancellation procedures, required record matches. (passed)
HB1056: Voter registration by political party affiliation; partially closed primary elections.
HB1131: Elections; identification containing a photograph required and excuse required to vote absentee.
SB52: Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records.
SB162: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. (passed)
SB544: Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required.
SB582: Absentee & provisional ballots; process & timing for rejected applications, rejected prov. ballots. (passed)
SB658: Back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation. (passed)