{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-102.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-102.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-102.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-102.html"}],"law_id":63339,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63339,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-102","catch_line":"Appointment; terms; Commissioner of Elections; prohibited activities","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-24, 24-345.10; 1952, c. 509; 1956, c. 392; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-18; 1973, c. 30; 1975, c. 515; 1977, c. 576; 1980, c. 728; 1984, c. 444; 1993, c. 641; 2007, c. 350; 2013, c. 542; 2020, cc. 353, 619.","full_text":"A\n\nThe State Board of Elections is continued and shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor from the qualified voters of the Commonwealth, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. In the appointment of the Board, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Three Board members shall be of the political party that cast the highest number of votes for Governor at that election. When the Governor was not elected as the candidate of a political party, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members of the General Assembly at the time of the appointment and three Board members shall be of the political party having the highest number of members in the General Assembly. Each political party entitled to an appointment may make and file recommendations with the Governor for the appointment. Its recommendations shall contain the names of at least three qualified voters of the Commonwealth. Appointments shall be made with due consideration of geographical representation, and no two Board members shall reside in the same congressional district.\n\t\t\tAfter the initial staggering of terms, Board members shall serve terms of four years, which shall begin on February 1 of the year of the appointment. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. No member shall be eligible for more than two successive four-year terms. A member appointed for an unexpired term may be appointed for the two succeeding four-year terms.\n\t\t\tEach year the Governor shall designate one Board member to be the chair of the Board and one Board member to be the vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall be members of opposite political parties.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. If a member resigns to offer for or hold such office, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this section.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall serve as the chairman of a state, local, or district level political party committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by election in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.B\n\nThe Governor shall appoint a Commissioner of Elections, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, to head the Department of Elections and to act as its principal administrative officer. The Commissioner shall be appointed to a term of four years, which shall begin on July 1 of the year following a gubernatorial election. The Commissioner shall be a qualified voter of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall receive the salary fixed by law. He may employ the personnel required to carry out the duties required by law and imposed by the Board.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. His candidacy for or election to such office shall vacate his position as Commissioner, and the Governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.\n\t\t\tThe Governor shall not appoint as Commissioner (i) any person who is the spouse of a member of the Board or of a person seeking election to an office or holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth; (ii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a member of the Board; or (iii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a person seeking election to an office or holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall submit his resignation to the Governor on the date that any such person files as a candidate for election to an office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not serve as the chairman of a state, local, or district level political party committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by election in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":230804,"text":"The State Board of Elections is continued and shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor from the qualified voters of the Commonwealth, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. In the appointment of the Board, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Three Board members shall be of the political party that cast the highest number of votes for Governor at that election. When the Governor was not elected as the candidate of a political party, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members of the General Assembly at the time of the appointment and three Board members shall be of the political party having the highest number of members in the General Assembly. Each political party entitled to an appointment may make and file recommendations with the Governor for the appointment. Its recommendations shall contain the names of at least three qualified voters of the Commonwealth. Appointments shall be made with due consideration of geographical representation, and no two Board members shall reside in the same congressional district.\n\t\t\tAfter the initial staggering of terms, Board members shall serve terms of four years, which shall begin on February 1 of the year of the appointment. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. No member shall be eligible for more than two successive four-year terms. A member appointed for an unexpired term may be appointed for the two succeeding four-year terms.\n\t\t\tEach year the Governor shall designate one Board member to be the chair of the Board and one Board member to be the vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall be members of opposite political parties.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. If a member resigns to offer for or hold such office, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this section.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall serve as the chairman of a state, local, or district level political party committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by election in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":230805,"text":"The Governor shall appoint a Commissioner of Elections, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, to head the Department of Elections and to act as its principal administrative officer. The Commissioner shall be appointed to a term of four years, which shall begin on July 1 of the year following a gubernatorial election. The Commissioner shall be a qualified voter of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall receive the salary fixed by law. He may employ the personnel required to carry out the duties required by law and imposed by the Board.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. His candidacy for or election to such office shall vacate his position as Commissioner, and the Governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.\n\t\t\tThe Governor shall not appoint as Commissioner (i) any person who is the spouse of a member of the Board or of a person seeking election to an office or holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth; (ii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a member of the Board; or (iii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a person seeking election to an office or holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall submit his resignation to the Governor on the date that any such person files as a candidate for election to an office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not serve as the chairman of a state, local, or district level political party committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by election in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14296,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Board of Elections","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13929,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:38","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:38","permalink":{"id":187171,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14296,"identifier":"2","token":"24.2\/1\/2","url":"\/24.2\/1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13929,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions and Administration","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","permalink":{"id":187151,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13929,"identifier":"1","token":"24.2\/1","url":"\/24.2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12937,"edition_id":1,"name":"Elections","identifier":"24.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":187149,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12937,"identifier":"24.2","token":"24.2","url":"\/24.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63339,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-102","catch_line":"Appointment; terms; Commissioner of Elections; prohibited activities","url":"\/24.2-102\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-102","metadata":false},{"id":79439,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-103","catch_line":"Powers and duties in general; report","url":"\/24.2-103\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-103","metadata":false},{"id":56372,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-103.1","catch_line":"Duties of Department of Elections related to redistricting","url":"\/24.2-103.1\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-103.1","metadata":false},{"id":57663,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-103.2","catch_line":"Duties of the Department of Elections related to accessible absentee voting","url":"\/24.2-103.2\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-103.2","metadata":false},{"id":64832,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-104","catch_line":"Requesting assistance for attorney for the Commonwealth; investigative committees","url":"\/24.2-104\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-104","metadata":false},{"id":55567,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-104.1","catch_line":"Civil actions by Attorney General","url":"\/24.2-104.1\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-104.1","metadata":false},{"id":79223,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-105","catch_line":"Prescribing various forms","url":"\/24.2-105\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-105","metadata":false},{"id":64105,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-105.1","catch_line":"Election and voter participation information on the Internet","url":"\/24.2-105.1\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-105.1","metadata":false},{"id":77502,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-105.2","catch_line":"Acceptance of payments","url":"\/24.2-105.2\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-105.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":79439,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-103","catch_line":"Powers and duties in general; report","url":"\/24.2-103\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-103","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-102\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 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 1952, chapter 509; in 1956, chapter 392; in 1970, chapter 462; in 1973, chapter 30; in 1975, chapter 515; in 1977, chapter 576; in 1980, chapter 728; in 1984, chapter 444; in 1993, chapter 641; in 2007, chapter 350<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 542<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 353<\/a> and 619<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":187173,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63339,"identifier":"24.2-102","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-102","url":"\/24.2-102\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-102\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-102","dublin_core":{"Title":"Appointment; terms; Commissioner of Elections; prohibited activities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-102","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The State Board<\/span> of Elections<\/span> is continued and shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor from the qualified voters<\/span> of the Commonwealth, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. In the appointment of the Board, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election<\/span>. Three Board members shall be of the political party<\/span> that cast the highest number of votes for Governor at that election<\/span>. When the Governor was not elected as the candidate<\/span> of a political party<\/span>, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members of the General Assembly at the time of the appointment and three Board members shall be of the political party<\/span> having the highest number of members in the General Assembly. Each political party<\/span> entitled to an appointment may make and file recommendations with the Governor for the appointment. Its recommendations shall contain the names of at least three qualified voters<\/span> of the Commonwealth. Appointments shall be made with due consideration of geographical representation, and no two Board members shall reside in the same congressional district.\n\t\t\tAfter the initial staggering of terms, Board members shall serve terms of four years, which shall begin on February 1 of the year of the appointment. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. No member shall be eligible for more than two successive four-year terms. A member appointed for an unexpired term may be appointed for the two succeeding four-year terms.\n\t\t\tEach year the Governor shall designate one Board member to be the chair of the Board and one Board member to be the vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall be members of opposite political parties.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth. If a member resigns to offer for or hold such office, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this section.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall serve as the chairman of a state, local, or district level political party<\/span> committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the campaign of a candidate<\/span> for nomination or election<\/span> to an office filled by election<\/span> in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Governor shall appoint a Commissioner of Elections, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, to head the Department of Elections<\/span> and to act as its principal administrative officer. The Commissioner shall be appointed to a term of four years, which shall begin on July 1 of the year following a gubernatorial election<\/span>. The Commissioner shall be a qualified voter<\/span> of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall receive the salary fixed by law<\/span>. He may employ the personnel required to carry out the duties required by law<\/span> and imposed by the Board.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be filled in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth. His candidacy for or election<\/span> to such office shall vacate his position as Commissioner, and the Governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.\n\t\t\tThe Governor shall not appoint as Commissioner (i) any person who is the spouse of a member of the Board or of a person seeking election<\/span> to an office or holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth; (ii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a member of the Board; or (iii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a person seeking election<\/span> to an office or holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall submit his resignation to the Governor on the date that any such person files as a candidate<\/span> for election<\/span> to an office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not serve as the chairman of a state, local, or district level political party<\/span> committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the campaign of a candidate<\/span> for nomination or election<\/span> to an office filled by election<\/span> in whole or in part by qualified voters<\/span> in the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAPPOINTMENT; TERMS; COMMISSIONER OF ELECTIONS; PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES (\u00a7\n24.2-102)\n\nA. The State Board of Elections is continued and shall consist of five members\nappointed by the Governor from the qualified voters of the Commonwealth, subject\nto confirmation by the General Assembly. In the appointment of the Board,\nrepresentation shall be given to each of the political parties having the\nhighest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the\nlast preceding gubernatorial election. Three Board members shall be of the\npolitical party that cast the highest number of votes for Governor at that\nelection. When the Governor was not elected as the candidate of a political\nparty, representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the\nhighest and next highest number of members of the General Assembly at the time\nof the appointment and three Board members shall be of the political party\nhaving the highest number of members in the General Assembly. Each political\nparty entitled to an appointment may make and file recommendations with the\nGovernor for the appointment. Its recommendations shall contain the names of at\nleast three qualified voters of the Commonwealth. Appointments shall be made\nwith due consideration of geographical representation, and no two Board members\nshall reside in the same congressional district.\n\t\t\tAfter the initial staggering of terms, Board members shall serve terms of\nfour years, which shall begin on February 1 of the year of the appointment.\nVacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. No member shall be eligible\nfor more than two successive four-year terms. A member appointed for an\nunexpired term may be appointed for the two succeeding four-year terms.\n\t\t\tEach year the Governor shall designate one Board member to be the chair of\nthe Board and one Board member to be the vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair\nshall be members of opposite political parties.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be\nfilled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. If a member\nresigns to offer for or hold such office, the vacancy shall be filled as\nprovided in this section.\n\t\t\tNo member of the Board shall serve as the chairman of a state, local, or\ndistrict level political party committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the\ncampaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by\nelection in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.\n\nB. The Governor shall appoint a Commissioner of Elections, subject to\nconfirmation by the General Assembly, to head the Department of Elections and to\nact as its principal administrative officer. The Commissioner shall be appointed\nto a term of four years, which shall begin on July 1 of the year following a\ngubernatorial election. The Commissioner shall be a qualified voter of the\nCommonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall receive the salary fixed by law. He may employ the\npersonnel required to carry out the duties required by law and imposed by the\nBoard.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not be eligible to offer for or hold an office to be\nfilled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth. His\ncandidacy for or election to such office shall vacate his position as\nCommissioner, and the Governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.\n\t\t\tThe Governor shall not appoint as Commissioner (i) any person who is the\nspouse of a member of the Board or of a person seeking election to an office or\nholding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified\nvoters in the Commonwealth; (ii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is\nthe grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a member of the Board;\nor (iii) any person, or the spouse of any person, who is the grandparent,\nparent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a person seeking election to an office\nor holding an elective office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified\nvoters in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall submit his resignation to the\nGovernor on the date that any such person files as a candidate for election to\nan office that is filled in whole or in part by qualified voters in the\nCommonwealth.\n\t\t\tThe Commissioner shall not serve as the chairman of a state, local, or\ndistrict level political party committee or as a paid or volunteer worker in the\ncampaign of a candidate for nomination or election to an office filled by\nelection in whole or in part by qualified voters in the Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-24, 24-345.10; 1952, c. 509; 1956, c. 392; 1970, c.\n462, \u00a7 24.1-18; 1973, c. 30; 1975, c. 515; 1977, c. 576; 1980, c. 728; 1984, c.\n444; 1993, c. 641; 2007, c. 350; 2013, c. 542; 2020, cc. 353, 619.","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}}