{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1602.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1602.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1602.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1602.html"}],"law_id":78193,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78193,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1602","catch_line":"Sharing of such officers by two or more units of government","history":"1971, Ex. Sess., c. 223, \u00a7 15.1-40.2; 1975, c. 517; 1976, c. 301; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"Two or more units of government may share the officer or officers, or any combination of them, required by \u00a7 15.2-1600 if (i) a petition, signed by a number of qualified voters equal to fifteen percent of the number of votes cast in such units of government by voters thereof and counted for candidates in the last gubernatorial election in such units of government, and in no event signed by less than 100 voters of such units of government, is filed with a circuit court having jurisdiction in one or more of such units of government, asking that a referendum be held on the question “May the (names of the units of government) share the (officer or officers), as the case may be, (naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia?”; (ii) following the filing of such petition, the court shall by order entered of record, issued in accordance with Article 5 (\u00a7 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, require the regular election officials of the units of government to open the polls and take the sense of the voters on such question and (iii) at the election held on the day designated by order of such court, a majority of the voters voting in such election in each such unit of government shall have voted “Yes.” The clerk of the circuit court which entered the order shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in such units of government once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to the election.\n\t\tThe regular election officials of the units of government shall open the polls at the various voting places in such units of government on the date specified in the order and conduct the election in the manner provided by law. The election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral boards of the units of government and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t“May _______________ share the officer or officers, as the case may be, (naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia?\n\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\tIn the blank shall be inserted the names of the units of government in which such election is held. The question required by this section may be modified to accommodate the naming of the officer or officers. Any voter desiring to vote “Yes” shall mark a check (v) mark or a cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “Yes,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word “No,” unchanged. Any voter desiring to vote “No” shall mark a check (v) mark or cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “No,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word “Yes,” unmarked.\n\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral boards to the court ordering such election. Thereupon, the court shall enter an order proclaiming the results of the election, and a duly certified copy of the order shall be transmitted to the State Board of Elections and to the governing bodies of the units of government affected.\n\t\tThereafter, the officer or officers shall be elected by the voters of the units of government desiring to share such officer or officers; however, the provisions of this section shall not reduce the term of any person holding an office at the time the election provided for in this section is held.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":280290,"text":"Two or more units of government may share the officer or officers, or any combination of them, required by \u00a7 15.2-1600 if (i) a petition, signed by a number of qualified voters equal to fifteen percent of the number of votes cast in such units of government by voters thereof and counted for candidates in the last gubernatorial election in such units of government, and in no event signed by less than 100 voters of such units of government, is filed with a circuit court having jurisdiction in one or more of such units of government, asking that a referendum be held on the question “May the (names of the units of government) share the (officer or officers), as the case may be, (naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia?”; (ii) following the filing of such petition, the court shall by order entered of record, issued in accordance with Article 5 (\u00a7 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, require the regular election officials of the units of government to open the polls and take the sense of the voters on such question and (iii) at the election held on the day designated by order of such court, a majority of the voters voting in such election in each such unit of government shall have voted “Yes.” The clerk of the circuit court which entered the order shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in such units of government once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to the election.\n\t\tThe regular election officials of the units of government shall open the polls at the various voting places in such units of government on the date specified in the order and conduct the election in the manner provided by law. The election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral boards of the units of government and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t“May _______________ share the officer or officers, as the case may be, (naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia?\n\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\tIn the blank shall be inserted the names of the units of government in which such election is held. The question required by this section may be modified to accommodate the naming of the officer or officers. Any voter desiring to vote “Yes” shall mark a check (v) mark or a cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “Yes,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word “No,” unchanged. Any voter desiring to vote “No” shall mark a check (v) mark or cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “No,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word “Yes,” unmarked.\n\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral boards to the court ordering such election. Thereupon, the court shall enter an order proclaiming the results of the election, and a duly certified copy of the order shall be transmitted to the State Board of Elections and to the governing bodies of the units of government affected.\n\t\tThereafter, the officer or officers shall be elected by the voters of the units of government desiring to share such officer or officers; however, the provisions of this section shall not reduce the term of any person holding an office at the time the election provided for in this section is held.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14768,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12877,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:48","permalink":{"id":153307,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14768,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12877,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153305,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12877,"identifier":"16","token":"15.2\/II\/16","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":65970,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1600","catch_line":"Counties and cities required to elect certain officers; qualifications of attorney for the Commonwealth; duties and compensation of officers; vacancies, certain counties and cities excepted; officer's powers not to be diminished","url":"\/15.2-1600\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1600","metadata":false},{"id":85670,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1601","catch_line":"Requirements for officers","url":"\/15.2-1601\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1601","metadata":false},{"id":78193,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1602","catch_line":"Sharing of such officers by two or more units of government","url":"\/15.2-1602\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1602","metadata":false},{"id":58488,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1603","catch_line":"Appointment of deputies; their powers; how removed","url":"\/15.2-1603\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1603","metadata":false},{"id":67681,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1604","catch_line":"Appointment of deputies and employment of employees; discriminatory practices by certain officers; civil penalty","url":"\/15.2-1604\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1604","metadata":false},{"id":56532,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1605","catch_line":"Vacations; sick leave and compensatory time for certain officers and employees","url":"\/15.2-1605\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1605","metadata":false},{"id":79797,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1605.1","catch_line":"Supplementing compensation of certain county and city officers and their employees","url":"\/15.2-1605.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1605.1","metadata":false},{"id":58472,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1605.2","catch_line":"Salary increases for constitutional officers","url":"\/15.2-1605.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1605.2","metadata":false},{"id":85524,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1606","catch_line":"Defense of constitutional officers; appointment of counsel","url":"\/15.2-1606\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1606","metadata":false},{"id":79074,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1607","catch_line":"Providing legal fees and expenses for sheriffs and deputies","url":"\/15.2-1607\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1607","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85670,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1601","catch_line":"Requirements for officers","url":"\/15.2-1601\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1601","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58488,"structure_id":14768,"section_number":"15.2-1603","catch_line":"Appointment of deputies; their powers; how removed","url":"\/15.2-1603\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1603","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1602\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1975, chapter 517; in 1976, chapter 301; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75030,"section_number":"15.2-1636.7","catch_line":"Filing requests for salaries","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1636.7\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65970,"section_number":"15.2-1600","catch_line":"Counties and cities required to elect certain officers; qualifications of attorney for the Commonwealth; duties and compensation of officers; vacancies, certain counties and cities excepted; officer's powers not to be diminished","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1600\/"},{"id":58078,"section_number":"24.2-681","catch_line":"How special elections superintended and determined","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-681\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153317,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78193,"identifier":"15.2-1602","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1602","url":"\/15.2-1602\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1602\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/1\/15.2-1602","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sharing of such officers by two or more units of government","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1602","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Two or more units of government may share the officer or officers, or any combination of them, required by \u00a7 15.2-1600<\/a> if (i) a petition<\/span>, signed by a number of qualified voters<\/span> equal to fifteen percent of the number of votes cast in such units of government by voters<\/span> thereof and counted for candidates in the last gubernatorial election in such units of government, and in no event signed by less than 100 voters<\/span> of such units of government, is filed with a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> in one or more of such units of government, asking that a referendum<\/span> be held on the question “May the (names of the units of government) share the (officer or officers), as the case may be, (naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia?”; (ii) following the filing of such petition<\/span>, the court<\/span> shall by order<\/span> entered of record, issued in accordance with Article 5 (\u00a7 24.2-681<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, require the regular election officials of the units of government to open the polls and take the sense of the voters<\/span> on such question and (iii) at the election held on the day designated by order<\/span> of such court<\/span>, a majority of the voters<\/span> voting in such election in each such unit of government shall have voted “Yes.” The clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> which entered the order<\/span> shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in such units of government once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to the election.\n\t\tThe regular election officials of the units of government shall open the polls at the various voting places in such units of government on the date specified in the order<\/span> and conduct the election in the manner provided by law<\/span>. The election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral boards of the units of government and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t“May _______________ share the officer or officers, as the case may be, (naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia?\n\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\tIn the blank shall be inserted the names of the units of government in which such election is held. The question required by this section may be modified to accommodate the naming of the officer or officers. Any voter<\/span> desiring to vote “Yes” shall mark a check (v) mark or a cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “Yes,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word “No,” unchanged. Any voter<\/span> desiring to vote “No” shall mark a check (v) mark or cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “No,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word “Yes,” unmarked.\n\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral boards to the court<\/span> ordering such election. Thereupon, the court<\/span> shall enter an order<\/span> proclaiming the results of the election, and a duly certified copy of the order<\/span> shall be transmitted to the State Board of Elections and to the governing bodies of the units of government affected.\n\t\tThereafter, the officer or officers shall be elected by the voters<\/span> of the units of government desiring to share such officer or officers; however, the provisions of this section shall not reduce the term of any person holding an office at the time the election provided for in this section is held.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSHARING OF SUCH OFFICERS BY TWO OR MORE UNITS OF GOVERNMENT (\u00a7 15.2-1602)\n\nTwo or more units of government may share the officer or officers, or any\ncombination of them, required by \u00a7 15.2-1600 if (i) a petition, signed by a\nnumber of qualified voters equal to fifteen percent of the number of votes cast\nin such units of government by voters thereof and counted for candidates in the\nlast gubernatorial election in such units of government, and in no event signed\nby less than 100 voters of such units of government, is filed with a circuit\ncourt having jurisdiction in one or more of such units of government, asking\nthat a referendum be held on the question “May the (names of the units of\ngovernment) share the (officer or officers), as the case may be, (naming such\nofficers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of the\nConstitution of Virginia?”; (ii) following the filing of such petition,\nthe court shall by order entered of record, issued in accordance with Article 5\n(\u00a7 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, require the regular election\nofficials of the units of government to open the polls and take the sense of the\nvoters on such question and (iii) at the election held on the day designated by\norder of such court, a majority of the voters voting in such election in each\nsuch unit of government shall have voted “Yes.” The clerk of the\ncircuit court which entered the order shall publish notice of the election in a\nnewspaper of general circulation in such units of government once a week for\nthree consecutive weeks prior to the election.\n\t\tThe regular election officials of the units of government shall open the polls\nat the various voting places in such units of government on the date specified\nin the order and conduct the election in the manner provided by law. The\nelection shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral boards of\nthe units of government and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t“May _______________ share the officer or officers, as the case may be,\n(naming such officers if less than all) required by Article VII, Section 4 of\nthe Constitution of Virginia?\n\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\tIn the blank shall be inserted the names of the units of government in which\nsuch election is held. The question required by this section may be modified to\naccommodate the naming of the officer or officers. Any voter desiring to vote\n“Yes” shall mark a check (v) mark or a cross (X or +) mark or a line\n(-) in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word\n“Yes,” leaving the square immediately preceding the word\n“No,” unchanged. Any voter desiring to vote “No” shall\nmark a check (v) mark or cross (X or +) mark or a line (-) in the square\nprovided for such purpose immediately preceding the word “No,”\nleaving the square immediately preceding the word “Yes,” unmarked.\n\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other\nelections, and the results certified by the electoral boards to the court\nordering such election. Thereupon, the court shall enter an order proclaiming\nthe results of the election, and a duly certified copy of the order shall be\ntransmitted to the State Board of Elections and to the governing bodies of the\nunits of government affected.\n\t\tThereafter, the officer or officers shall be elected by the voters of the\nunits of government desiring to share such officer or officers; however, the\nprovisions of this section shall not reduce the term of any person holding an\noffice at the time the election provided for in this section is held.\n\nHISTORY: 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 223, \u00a7 15.1-40.2; 1975, c. 517; 1976, c. 301;\n1997, c. 587.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}