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§ 24.2-945 Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive

A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all elections held in Virginia, including referenda, and to nominating conventions, mass meetings, and other methods to nominate a political party candidate for public office, except nominations and elections for (i) members of the United States Congress, (ii) President and Vice President of the United States, (iii) town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000, or (iv) political party committees. The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to a candidate for a town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000 if (a) such candidate accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $25,000 within the candidate’s election cycle, as set forth in § 24.2-947, or (b) the governing body of any such town provides, by ordinance, that such provisions so apply.

B. This chapter shall constitute the exclusive and entire campaign finance disclosure law of the Commonwealth, and elections to which the chapter applies shall not be subject to further regulation by local law.

History

This law was first created in 1970. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 462 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1970 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 10 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 1972, chapter 620; in 1973, chapter 30; in 1980, chapter 639; in 1982, chapter 650; in 1993, chapters 641 and 715; in 2004, chapter 457; in 2006, chapters 787 and 892; in 2008, chapter 359; in 2019, chapter 825; in 2020, chapter 772.

1970, c. 462, § 24.1-251; 1972, c. 620; 1973, c. 30; 1980, c. 639; 1982, c. 650; 1993, cc. 641, 715, § 24.2-900; 2004, c. 457; 2006, cc. 787, 892; 2008, c. 359; 2019, c. 825; 2020, c. 772.

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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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If you’re reading this for anything important, you should double-check its accuracy—read § 24.2-945 on the official Code of Virginia website.

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Court Decisions

Judicial Inquiry & Review Comm'n v. Bumgardner (SCV, 07/20/17)
. . . OPINION BY CHIEF JUSTICE DONALD W. LEMONS . . .

Court opinions are provided by CourtListener, which is developed by the Free Law Project.

Amendment Attempts

HB972: Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; reorganizes and clarifies provisions thereof.
SB141: Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; reorganizes and clarifies provisions in the act.
HB637: Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; applicability to town elections. (passed)
HB1719: Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; applicability to certain candidates for town offices. (passed)
SB979: Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; applicability to nominations and elections for directors. (passed)
HB1686: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds; complaints, hearings, civil penalty, and advisory opinions. (failed)
HB1745: Conflict of Interests Act, State and Local Government, etc.; personal interest in a transaction. (failed)
HB1838: General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; definition of "gift." (failed)
HB2165: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, etc. (passed)
HB2173: Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure. (failed)
HB2288: Unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another; creates a tiered system of penalties. (failed)
HB2347: Limitation of prosecutions; false entries or destruction of records by officers. (failed)
HB2479: Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty. (failed)
HB2484: Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure. (failed)
HB2654: Unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another; creates a tiered system of penalties. (failed)
HB2702: Conflict of Interests Act, State & Local Gov't.; contracts, nonexclusive towing service programs. (failed)
SB906: Campaign advertisements; independent expenditures, electioneering communications. (failed)
SB914: Sexual assault of a child; mandatory minimum sentence, penalty. (failed)
SB1002: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, etc. (passed)
SB1185: Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure. (failed)
SB1357: Conflict of Interests Act, State and Local Government, etc.; personal interest in a transaction.
SB1399: Lobbyist registration; definition of "lobbyist". (failed)
SB1482: Bribes to officers or candidates for office; gratuities for previous acts. (failed)
SB1494: Registration of lobbyists & conflict of interest; disclosure by those making political contribution. (failed)
HB620: General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; definition of "gift."
HB868: Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty. (failed)
HB909: Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting. (passed)
HB932: General Assembly; recodification of Title 30, effective clause for certain enactments. (passed)
HB964: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. (passed)
HB982: Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
SB50: Lobbying; expands definition to include influencing/attempting to influence local government action.
SB141: Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
SB162: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. (passed)