{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1654.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1654.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1654.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1654.html"}],"law_id":63752,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63752,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1654","catch_line":"Contest of election","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-53; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-569; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"Returns in such election shall be subject to the inquiry, determination and judgment of the circuit court for the county in which the election is held, upon complaint of fifteen or more voters of the county of an undue election or false return. The complaint shall fully set out the grounds of contest and, if any votes were improperly received or rejected, shall give a list of such votes, with objections to the action of the election officials in receiving or rejecting the same. Two of the persons making the complaint shall take and subscribe an oath that the facts therein stated are true to the best of their knowledge and belief. The complaint shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which such election is held. Notice of contest, stating that the complaint has been filed in the clerk’s office, shall be given by posting the same at the courthouse door and at two or more public places in the county, and by publishing it once a week for two successive weeks in some newspaper published in the county or, if there is none so published, then in some newspaper having general circulation in the county. The time and place of taking depositions, if any, shall be stated in the notice, which shall entitle the parties giving the notice to take the depositions to be read as evidence in the contest. The complaint shall be filed and notice given within ten days after the election, otherwise the complaint shall not be valid. Any one or more persons who voted at such removal election may, within thirty days from the election, file in the circuit court clerk’s office an answer to the complaint, in which any of the allegations of the complaint may be denied, and any statement made going to show the regularity of the old election, and the propriety of the action of the election officials in receiving or rejecting the votes set out in the complaint, and a list of the votes he or they will dispute. If the respondents desire to take depositions, notice thereof shall be given to any one or more of the persons signing the complaint. If no answer is filed to the complaint within thirty days from the election, no one shall be heard to deny the allegations of the complaint, but the persons making the same shall prove the allegations thereof to the satisfaction of the court. The circuit court for the county in which the election is held, after the expiration of thirty days from the election, shall proceed to pass upon the complaint without a jury, on such depositions as may have been taken under the notices aforesaid, and upon such other legal testimony as may be adduced by either party at the hearing of the case. In judging such election and return, the court shall proceed on the merits thereof and decide the same on the Constitution and laws and according to the right of the case and shall enter such order as will carry its decision into full and complete effect. The judgment of the court shall be final.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":232258,"text":"Returns in such election shall be subject to the inquiry, determination and judgment of the circuit court for the county in which the election is held, upon complaint of fifteen or more voters of the county of an undue election or false return. The complaint shall fully set out the grounds of contest and, if any votes were improperly received or rejected, shall give a list of such votes, with objections to the action of the election officials in receiving or rejecting the same. Two of the persons making the complaint shall take and subscribe an oath that the facts therein stated are true to the best of their knowledge and belief. The complaint shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which such election is held. Notice of contest, stating that the complaint has been filed in the clerk’s office, shall be given by posting the same at the courthouse door and at two or more public places in the county, and by publishing it once a week for two successive weeks in some newspaper published in the county or, if there is none so published, then in some newspaper having general circulation in the county. The time and place of taking depositions, if any, shall be stated in the notice, which shall entitle the parties giving the notice to take the depositions to be read as evidence in the contest. The complaint shall be filed and notice given within ten days after the election, otherwise the complaint shall not be valid. Any one or more persons who voted at such removal election may, within thirty days from the election, file in the circuit court clerk’s office an answer to the complaint, in which any of the allegations of the complaint may be denied, and any statement made going to show the regularity of the old election, and the propriety of the action of the election officials in receiving or rejecting the votes set out in the complaint, and a list of the votes he or they will dispute. If the respondents desire to take depositions, notice thereof shall be given to any one or more of the persons signing the complaint. If no answer is filed to the complaint within thirty days from the election, no one shall be heard to deny the allegations of the complaint, but the persons making the same shall prove the allegations thereof to the satisfaction of the court. The circuit court for the county in which the election is held, after the expiration of thirty days from the election, shall proceed to pass upon the complaint without a jury, on such depositions as may have been taken under the notices aforesaid, and upon such other legal testimony as may be adduced by either party at the hearing of the case. In judging such election and return, the court shall proceed on the merits thereof and decide the same on the Constitution and laws and according to the right of the case and shall enter such order as will carry its decision into full and complete effect. The judgment of the court shall be final.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12878,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courthouses","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12877,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12878,"identifier":"8","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/8\/","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":54980,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1638","catch_line":"County or city governing body to provide courthouse, clerk's office, jail and suitable facilities for attorney for the Commonwealth; acquisition of land","url":"\/15.2-1638\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1638","metadata":false},{"id":77491,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1638.1","catch_line":"Administrative assistants in offices of circuit court judges who are employees of a locality","url":"\/15.2-1638.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1638.1","metadata":false},{"id":65943,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1639","catch_line":"Providing offices for various officers, judges, etc","url":"\/15.2-1639\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1639","metadata":false},{"id":54006,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1640","catch_line":"Renting rooms in courthouse","url":"\/15.2-1640\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1640","metadata":false},{"id":58374,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1641","catch_line":"Leasing or other use of other buildings","url":"\/15.2-1641\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1641","metadata":false},{"id":82120,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1642","catch_line":"Certain conveyances of courthouse grounds validated","url":"\/15.2-1642\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1642","metadata":false},{"id":68081,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1643","catch_line":"Circuit courts to order court facilities to be repaired","url":"\/15.2-1643\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1643","metadata":false},{"id":82935,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1644","catch_line":"Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election","url":"\/15.2-1644\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1644","metadata":false},{"id":69629,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1645","catch_line":"How election held and conducted","url":"\/15.2-1645\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1645","metadata":false},{"id":81736,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1646","catch_line":"Certification of result to board of supervisors; procuring land and buildings; relocation to contiguous or nearby land","url":"\/15.2-1646\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1646","metadata":false},{"id":74262,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1647","catch_line":"Removal of court","url":"\/15.2-1647\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1647","metadata":false},{"id":84668,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1648","catch_line":"Donation of land and money","url":"\/15.2-1648\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1648","metadata":false},{"id":84635,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1649","catch_line":"Town may issue bonds to finance donation; election on bonds","url":"\/15.2-1649\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1649","metadata":false},{"id":76544,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1650","catch_line":"When and how council to issue bonds; payment of interest; sinking fund","url":"\/15.2-1650\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1650","metadata":false},{"id":85541,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1651","catch_line":"When supervisors may issue bonds of county","url":"\/15.2-1651\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1651","metadata":false},{"id":84384,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1652","catch_line":"Form of ballots for county election on removal and appropriation; certificate of electoral board","url":"\/15.2-1652\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1652","metadata":false},{"id":81259,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1653","catch_line":"Ascertaining results","url":"\/15.2-1653\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1653","metadata":false},{"id":63752,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1654","catch_line":"Contest of election","url":"\/15.2-1654\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1654","metadata":false},{"id":58199,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1655","catch_line":"No other election held for ten years","url":"\/15.2-1655\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1655","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":81259,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1653","catch_line":"Ascertaining results","url":"\/15.2-1653\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1653","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58199,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1655","catch_line":"No other election held for ten years","url":"\/15.2-1655\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1655","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1654\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1962, chapter 623; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82935,"section_number":"15.2-1644","catch_line":"Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1644\/"},{"id":84635,"section_number":"15.2-1649","catch_line":"Town may issue bonds to finance donation; election on bonds","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1649\/"},{"id":86921,"section_number":"4.1-127","catch_line":"Contests of local option referenda","order_by":null,"url":"\/4.1-127\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":153733,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63752,"identifier":"15.2-1654","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1654","url":"\/15.2-1654\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1654\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1654","dublin_core":{"Title":"Contest of election","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1654","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Returns in such election shall be subject to the inquiry, determination and judgment<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> in which the election is held, upon complaint of fifteen or more voters<\/span> of the county<\/span> of an undue election or false return. The complaint shall fully set out the grounds of contest and, if any votes were improperly received or rejected, shall give a list of such votes, with objections to the action of the election officials in receiving or rejecting the same. Two of the persons making the complaint shall take and subscribe an oath<\/span> that the facts<\/span> therein stated are true to the best of their knowledge and belief. The complaint shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> in which such election is held. Notice of contest, stating that the complaint has been filed in the clerk’s office, shall be given by posting the same at the courthouse door and at two or more public places in the county<\/span>, and by publishing it once a week for two successive weeks in some newspaper published in the county<\/span> or, if there is none so published, then in some newspaper having general circulation in the county<\/span>. The time and place of taking depositions<\/span>, if any, shall be stated in the notice, which shall entitle the parties giving the notice to take the depositions<\/span> to be read as evidence<\/span> in the contest. The complaint shall be filed and notice given within ten days after the election, otherwise the complaint shall not be valid. Any one or more persons who voted at such removal election may, within thirty days from the election, file in the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk’s office an answer to the complaint, in which any of the allegations<\/span> of the complaint may be denied, and any statement made going to show the regularity of the old election, and the propriety of the action of the election officials in receiving or rejecting the votes set out in the complaint, and a list of the votes he or they will dispute. If the respondents desire to take depositions<\/span>, notice thereof shall be given to any one or more of the persons signing the complaint. If no answer is filed to the complaint within thirty days from the election, no one shall be heard to deny the allegations<\/span> of the complaint, but the persons making the same shall prove the allegations<\/span> thereof to the satisfaction of the court<\/span>. The circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> in which the election is held, after the expiration of thirty days from the election, shall proceed to pass upon the complaint without a jury<\/span>, on such depositions<\/span> as may have been taken under the notices aforesaid, and upon such other legal testimony<\/span> as may be adduced by either party<\/span> at the hearing<\/span> of the case. In judging such election and return, the court<\/span> shall proceed on the merits thereof and decide the same on the Constitution and laws<\/span> and according to the right of the case and shall enter such order<\/span> as will carry its decision into full and complete effect. The judgment<\/span> of the court<\/span> shall be final.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONTEST OF ELECTION (\u00a7 15.2-1654)\n\nReturns in such election shall be subject to the inquiry, determination and\njudgment of the circuit court for the county in which the election is held, upon\ncomplaint of fifteen or more voters of the county of an undue election or false\nreturn. The complaint shall fully set out the grounds of contest and, if any\nvotes were improperly received or rejected, shall give a list of such votes,\nwith objections to the action of the election officials in receiving or\nrejecting the same. Two of the persons making the complaint shall take and\nsubscribe an oath that the facts therein stated are true to the best of their\nknowledge and belief. The complaint shall be filed in the office of the clerk of\nthe circuit court for the county in which such election is held. Notice of\ncontest, stating that the complaint has been filed in the clerk’s office,\nshall be given by posting the same at the courthouse door and at two or more\npublic places in the county, and by publishing it once a week for two successive\nweeks in some newspaper published in the county or, if there is none so\npublished, then in some newspaper having general circulation in the county. The\ntime and place of taking depositions, if any, shall be stated in the notice,\nwhich shall entitle the parties giving the notice to take the depositions to be\nread as evidence in the contest. The complaint shall be filed and notice given\nwithin ten days after the election, otherwise the complaint shall not be valid.\nAny one or more persons who voted at such removal election may, within thirty\ndays from the election, file in the circuit court clerk’s office an answer\nto the complaint, in which any of the allegations of the complaint may be\ndenied, and any statement made going to show the regularity of the old election,\nand the propriety of the action of the election officials in receiving or\nrejecting the votes set out in the complaint, and a list of the votes he or they\nwill dispute. If the respondents desire to take depositions, notice thereof\nshall be given to any one or more of the persons signing the complaint. If no\nanswer is filed to the complaint within thirty days from the election, no one\nshall be heard to deny the allegations of the complaint, but the persons making\nthe same shall prove the allegations thereof to the satisfaction of the court.\nThe circuit court for the county in which the election is held, after the\nexpiration of thirty days from the election, shall proceed to pass upon the\ncomplaint without a jury, on such depositions as may have been taken under the\nnotices aforesaid, and upon such other legal testimony as may be adduced by\neither party at the hearing of the case. In judging such election and return,\nthe court shall proceed on the merits thereof and decide the same on the\nConstitution and laws and according to the right of the case and shall enter\nsuch order as will carry its decision into full and complete effect. The\njudgment of the court shall be final.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-53; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-569; 1997, 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}}