{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3540.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3540.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3540.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3540.html"}],"law_id":87413,"edition_id":1,"section_id":87413,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3540","catch_line":"Result of elections; determination of form of government","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-226; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1140; 1970, c. 751; 1975, c. 214; 1978, c. 642; 1979, c. 85; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to each of the judges of the circuit courts having jurisdiction in the localities proposing to be consolidated. If it appears by the report that a majority of the voters of each locality voting on the question submitted are in favor of the consolidation provided that no separate vote on the question shall be required in towns within a county when such county proposes to consolidate in its entirety with a county or city having a common boundary, the judge or judges shall enter such fact of record in each such county and city and shall notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Upon the day prescribed in the order for the consolidation agreement to become effective, the localities shall be consolidated into a city or into a city and one or more counties or into a single county as proposed in the consolidation agreement.\n\t\tIf the election offers to the voters a choice between forms of government, the question shall be determined by a majority of all the voters voting in such election and reported accordingly.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":312959,"text":"The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to each of the judges of the circuit courts having jurisdiction in the localities proposing to be consolidated. If it appears by the report that a majority of the voters of each locality voting on the question submitted are in favor of the consolidation provided that no separate vote on the question shall be required in towns within a county when such county proposes to consolidate in its entirety with a county or city having a common boundary, the judge or judges shall enter such fact of record in each such county and city and shall notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Upon the day prescribed in the order for the consolidation agreement to become effective, the localities shall be consolidated into a city or into a city and one or more counties or into a single county as proposed in the consolidation agreement.\n\t\tIf the election offers to the voters a choice between forms of government, the question shall be determined by a majority of all the voters voting in such election and reported accordingly.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13191,"edition_id":1,"name":"Consolidation of Certain Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13098,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","permalink":{"id":157351,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13191,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13098,"edition_id":1,"name":"Consolidation of Localities","identifier":"35","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":157267,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13098,"identifier":"35","token":"15.2\/III\/35","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13062,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":156919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13062,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","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":62773,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3520","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative consolidations","url":"\/15.2-3520\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3520","metadata":false},{"id":76869,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3521","catch_line":"Proposed consolidated city; notice of motion; service and publication","url":"\/15.2-3521\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3521","metadata":false},{"id":76330,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3522","catch_line":"Petition; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3522\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3522","metadata":false},{"id":77723,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3523","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3523\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3523","metadata":false},{"id":56869,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3524","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors","url":"\/15.2-3524\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3524","metadata":false},{"id":63758,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3525","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3525\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3525","metadata":false},{"id":72751,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3526","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3526\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3526","metadata":false},{"id":81937,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3527","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3527\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3527","metadata":false},{"id":74300,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3528","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3528\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3528","metadata":false},{"id":67012,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3529","catch_line":"Consolidation agreement generally; advisory committee; filing agreement and referendum petition with court","url":"\/15.2-3529\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3529","metadata":false},{"id":57135,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3530","catch_line":"Continuation of services of Department of Transportation after consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3530\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3530","metadata":false},{"id":66517,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3531","catch_line":"Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum","url":"\/15.2-3531\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3531","metadata":false},{"id":80311,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3532","catch_line":"Required provisions of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3532\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3532","metadata":false},{"id":54885,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3533","catch_line":"Transfer of property and indebtedness","url":"\/15.2-3533\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3533","metadata":false},{"id":57984,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3534","catch_line":"Optional provisions of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3534\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3534","metadata":false},{"id":55792,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3535","catch_line":"Advertising of charter","url":"\/15.2-3535\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3535","metadata":false},{"id":58929,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3536","catch_line":"Charter for consolidated city","url":"\/15.2-3536\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3536","metadata":false},{"id":74992,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3537","catch_line":"Publication of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3537\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3537","metadata":false},{"id":57289,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3538","catch_line":"Order for election","url":"\/15.2-3538\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3538","metadata":false},{"id":76047,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3539","catch_line":"Conduct of election","url":"\/15.2-3539\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3539","metadata":false},{"id":87413,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3540","catch_line":"Result of elections; determination of form of government","url":"\/15.2-3540\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3540","metadata":false},{"id":85286,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3541","catch_line":"General effect of consolidation; officers","url":"\/15.2-3541\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3541","metadata":false},{"id":84944,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3542","catch_line":"Governing body to be elected and take office before effective date of consolidation in certain cases; powers","url":"\/15.2-3542\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3542","metadata":false},{"id":67281,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3543","catch_line":"Electoral board, general registrar and officers of election","url":"\/15.2-3543\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3543","metadata":false},{"id":54206,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3544","catch_line":"Effect on pending suits","url":"\/15.2-3544\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3544","metadata":false},{"id":66202,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3545","catch_line":"Effect on assembly districts","url":"\/15.2-3545\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3545","metadata":false},{"id":81817,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3546","catch_line":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","url":"\/15.2-3546\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3546","metadata":false},{"id":60743,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3547","catch_line":"Consolidation of entire county requires no action of town council","url":"\/15.2-3547\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3547","metadata":false},{"id":82967,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3548","catch_line":"Effect on town charter","url":"\/15.2-3548\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3548","metadata":false},{"id":66812,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3549","catch_line":"Powers of a tier-city","url":"\/15.2-3549\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3549","metadata":false},{"id":77012,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3550","catch_line":"Effect of consolidation into single county; exceptions for tier-city","url":"\/15.2-3550\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3550","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":76047,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3539","catch_line":"Conduct of election","url":"\/15.2-3539\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3539","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85286,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3541","catch_line":"General effect of consolidation; officers","url":"\/15.2-3541\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3541","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3540\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 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 1970, chapter 751; in 1975, chapter 214; in 1978, chapter 642; in 1979, chapter 85; in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85286,"section_number":"15.2-3541","catch_line":"General effect of consolidation; officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3541\/"},{"id":82967,"section_number":"15.2-3548","catch_line":"Effect on town charter","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3548\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":157433,"object_type":"law","relational_id":87413,"identifier":"15.2-3540","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3540","url":"\/15.2-3540\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3540\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3540","dublin_core":{"Title":"Result of elections; determination of form of government","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3540","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to each of the <span class=\"dictionary\">judges<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> having <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> in the localities proposing to be consolidated. If it appears by the report that a majority of the <span class=\"dictionary\">voters<\/span> of each <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> voting on the question submitted are in favor of the <span class=\"dictionary\">consolidation<\/span> provided that no separate vote on the question shall be required in <span class=\"dictionary\">towns<\/span> within a <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> when such <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> proposes to consolidate in its entirety with a <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> having a common boundary, the <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">judges<\/span> shall enter such <span class=\"dictionary\">fact<\/span> of record in each such <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> and shall notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Upon the day prescribed in the <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> for the <span class=\"dictionary\">consolidation<\/span> agreement to become effective, the localities shall be consolidated into a <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> or into a <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> and one or more counties or into a single <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> as proposed in the <span class=\"dictionary\">consolidation<\/span> agreement.\n\t\tIf the election offers to the <span class=\"dictionary\">voters<\/span> a choice between forms of government, the question shall be determined by a majority of all the <span class=\"dictionary\">voters<\/span> voting in such election and reported accordingly.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRESULT OF ELECTIONS; DETERMINATION OF FORM OF GOVERNMENT (\u00a7 15.2-3540)\n\nThe ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in other\nelections, and the results certified by the electoral board to each of the\njudges of the circuit courts having jurisdiction in the localities proposing to\nbe consolidated. If it appears by the report that a majority of the voters of\neach locality voting on the question submitted are in favor of the consolidation\nprovided that no separate vote on the question shall be required in towns within\na county when such county proposes to consolidate in its entirety with a county\nor city having a common boundary, the judge or judges shall enter such fact of\nrecord in each such county and city and shall notify the Secretary of the\nCommonwealth. Upon the day prescribed in the order for the consolidation\nagreement to become effective, the localities shall be consolidated into a city\nor into a city and one or more counties or into a single county as proposed in\nthe consolidation agreement.\n\t\tIf the election offers to the voters a choice between forms of government, the\nquestion shall be determined by a majority of all the voters voting in such\nelection and reported accordingly.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-226; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1140; 1970, c. 751; 1975,\nc. 214; 1978, c. 642; 1979, c. 85; 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}}