{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3543.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3543.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3543.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3543.html"}],"law_id":67281,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67281,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3543","catch_line":"Electoral board, general registrar and officers of election","history":"1986, c. 312, \u00a7 15.1-1141.2; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A\n\nIf any county and all incorporated towns located therein consolidate into a county or city, the members of the electoral board, general registrar and officers of election of the consolidating county or city shall continue to serve as like officers of the consolidated county or city until the expiration of the terms to which they were appointed.B\n\nIf one or more counties or cities consolidate into a single county or city, the provisions set forth in this subsection shall apply as follows:\n\t\t\t1. Electoral Board. — The terms of the electoral board members of the consolidating localities shall expire on the effective date of consolidation. The judges of the circuit courts of the consolidating localities, no later than thirty days prior to the effective date of consolidation, shall appoint pursuant to § 24.2-106 for the consolidated county or city an electoral board of three members who shall qualify and take office on the day following the effective date of consolidation. The term of the first member so appointed shall expire at midnight on the last day of February in the year following the year in which he takes office; the term of the second member appointed shall expire one year later; and the term of the third member shall expire two years later. At a meeting to be held on the day its members take office, the electoral board for the consolidated county or city shall (i) designate one of the general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions to serve as the general registrar of the consolidated county or city until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of consolidation and (ii) appoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109 and 24.2-115 the officers of election for the consolidated county or city. At a meeting to be held in the first week of March following the effective date of consolidation, such electoral board shall appoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109 and 24.2-110 a general registrar for the consolidated county or city who shall qualify and take office on April 1 following the effective date of consolidation and serve for the remainder of the term set forth in § 24.2-110.\n\t\t\t2. General Registrar. — The general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions shall continue in office, with one of them designated the general registrar for the consolidated county or city as hereinabove provided, until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of consolidation during which time they shall compile, on the schedule and in the manner prescribed by the State Board of Elections, the registration records for the consolidated county or city. The governing body of the consolidated county or city shall pay the salary of each such general registrar in the amount authorized by the State Board of Elections and shall be reimbursed for such compensation from the state treasury.\n\t\t\t3. Officers of Election. — The terms of the officers of election of the consolidating jurisdictions shall expire on the effective date of consolidation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":243833,"text":"If any county and all incorporated towns located therein consolidate into a county or city, the members of the electoral board, general registrar and officers of election of the consolidating county or city shall continue to serve as like officers of the consolidated county or city until the expiration of the terms to which they were appointed.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":243834,"text":"If one or more counties or cities consolidate into a single county or city, the provisions set forth in this subsection shall apply as follows:\n\t\t\t1. Electoral Board. — The terms of the electoral board members of the consolidating localities shall expire on the effective date of consolidation. The judges of the circuit courts of the consolidating localities, no later than thirty days prior to the effective date of consolidation, shall appoint pursuant to § 24.2-106 for the consolidated county or city an electoral board of three members who shall qualify and take office on the day following the effective date of consolidation. The term of the first member so appointed shall expire at midnight on the last day of February in the year following the year in which he takes office; the term of the second member appointed shall expire one year later; and the term of the third member shall expire two years later. At a meeting to be held on the day its members take office, the electoral board for the consolidated county or city shall (i) designate one of the general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions to serve as the general registrar of the consolidated county or city until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of consolidation and (ii) appoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109 and 24.2-115 the officers of election for the consolidated county or city. At a meeting to be held in the first week of March following the effective date of consolidation, such electoral board shall appoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109 and 24.2-110 a general registrar for the consolidated county or city who shall qualify and take office on April 1 following the effective date of consolidation and serve for the remainder of the term set forth in § 24.2-110.\n\t\t\t2. General Registrar. — The general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions shall continue in office, with one of them designated the general registrar for the consolidated county or city as hereinabove provided, until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of consolidation during which time they shall compile, on the schedule and in the manner prescribed by the State Board of Elections, the registration records for the consolidated county or city. The governing body of the consolidated county or city shall pay the salary of each such general registrar in the amount authorized by the State Board of Elections and shall be reimbursed for such compensation from the state treasury.\n\t\t\t3. Officers of Election. — The terms of the officers of election of the consolidating jurisdictions shall expire on the effective date of consolidation.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3543\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1986. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 312 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1986 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":75398,"section_number":"24.2-106","catch_line":"Appointment and terms; vacancies; chairman and secretary; certain prohibitions; training","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-106\/"},{"id":60985,"section_number":"24.2-109","catch_line":"Appointment and removal of general registrar and officers of election; powers and duties in general","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-109\/"},{"id":64062,"section_number":"24.2-110","catch_line":"Appointment, qualifications, and term of general registrar; vacancies; certain prohibitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-110\/"},{"id":57939,"section_number":"24.2-115","catch_line":"Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-115\/"}],"permalink":{"id":157445,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67281,"identifier":"15.2-3543","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3543","url":"\/15.2-3543\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3543\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3543","dublin_core":{"Title":"Electoral board, general registrar and officers of election","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3543","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If any county<\/span> and all incorporated towns<\/span> located therein consolidate into a county<\/span> or city<\/span>, the members of the electoral board, general registrar and officers of election of the consolidating county<\/span> or city<\/span> shall continue to serve as like officers of the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> until the expiration of the terms to which they were appointed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If one or more counties or cities consolidate into a single county<\/span> or city<\/span>, the provisions set forth in this subsection shall apply as follows:\n\t\t\t1. Electoral Board. — The terms of the electoral board members of the consolidating localities shall expire on the effective date of consolidation<\/span>. The judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> of the consolidating localities, no later than thirty days prior to the effective date of consolidation<\/span>, shall appoint pursuant to § 24.2-106<\/a> for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> an electoral board of three members who shall qualify and take office on the day following the effective date of consolidation<\/span>. The term of the first member so appointed shall expire at midnight on the last day of February in the year following the year in which he takes office; the term of the second member appointed shall expire one year later; and the term of the third member shall expire two years later. At a meeting to be held on the day its members take office, the electoral board for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> shall (i) designate one of the general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions<\/span> to serve as the general registrar of the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of consolidation<\/span> and (ii) appoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109<\/a> and 24.2-115<\/a> the officers of election for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span>. At a meeting to be held in the first week of March following the effective date of consolidation<\/span>, such electoral board shall appoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109<\/a> and 24.2-110<\/a> a general registrar for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> who shall qualify and take office on April 1 following the effective date of consolidation<\/span> and serve for the remainder of the term set forth in § 24.2-110<\/a>.\n\t\t\t2. General Registrar. — The general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions<\/span> shall continue in office, with one of them designated the general registrar for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> as hereinabove provided, until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of consolidation<\/span> during which time they shall compile, on the schedule and in the manner prescribed by the State Board of Elections, the registration records for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span>. The governing body<\/span> of the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> shall pay the salary of each such general registrar in the amount authorized by the State Board of Elections and shall be reimbursed for such compensation from the state treasury.\n\t\t\t3. Officers of Election. — The terms of the officers of election of the consolidating jurisdictions<\/span> shall expire on the effective date of consolidation<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nELECTORAL BOARD, GENERAL REGISTRAR AND OFFICERS OF ELECTION (\u00a7 15.2-3543)\n\nA. If any county and all incorporated towns located therein consolidate into a\ncounty or city, the members of the electoral board, general registrar and\nofficers of election of the consolidating county or city shall continue to serve\nas like officers of the consolidated county or city until the expiration of the\nterms to which they were appointed.\n\nB. If one or more counties or cities consolidate into a single county or city,\nthe provisions set forth in this subsection shall apply as follows:\n\t\t\t1. Electoral Board. — The terms of the electoral board members of\nthe consolidating localities shall expire on the effective date of\nconsolidation. The judges of the circuit courts of the consolidating localities,\nno later than thirty days prior to the effective date of consolidation, shall\nappoint pursuant to § 24.2-106 for the consolidated county or city an\nelectoral board of three members who shall qualify and take office on the day\nfollowing the effective date of consolidation. The term of the first member so\nappointed shall expire at midnight on the last day of February in the year\nfollowing the year in which he takes office; the term of the second member\nappointed shall expire one year later; and the term of the third member shall\nexpire two years later. At a meeting to be held on the day its members take\noffice, the electoral board for the consolidated county or city shall (i)\ndesignate one of the general registrars of the consolidating jurisdictions to\nserve as the general registrar of the consolidated county or city until midnight\non March 31 following the effective date of consolidation and (ii) appoint\npursuant to §§ 24.2-109 and 24.2-115 the officers of election for the\nconsolidated county or city. At a meeting to be held in the first week of March\nfollowing the effective date of consolidation, such electoral board shall\nappoint pursuant to §§ 24.2-109 and 24.2-110 a general registrar for\nthe consolidated county or city who shall qualify and take office on April 1\nfollowing the effective date of consolidation and serve for the remainder of the\nterm set forth in § 24.2-110.\n\t\t\t2. General Registrar. — The general registrars of the\nconsolidating jurisdictions shall continue in office, with one of them\ndesignated the general registrar for the consolidated county or city as\nhereinabove provided, until midnight on March 31 following the effective date of\nconsolidation during which time they shall compile, on the schedule and in the\nmanner prescribed by the State Board of Elections, the registration records for\nthe consolidated county or city. The governing body of the consolidated county\nor city shall pay the salary of each such general registrar in the amount\nauthorized by the State Board of Elections and shall be reimbursed for such\ncompensation from the state treasury.\n\t\t\t3. Officers of Election. — The terms of the officers of election\nof the consolidating jurisdictions shall expire on the effective date of\nconsolidation.\n\nHISTORY: 1986, c. 312, \u00a7 15.1-1141.2; 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}}