{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-104.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-104.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-104.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-104.html"}],"law_id":64832,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64832,"structure_id":14296,"section_number":"24.2-104","catch_line":"Requesting assistance for attorney for the Commonwealth; investigative committees","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 24-27; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-21; 1989, c. 111; 1993, c. 641; 2002, cc. 785, 819; 2013, c. 768.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Attorney General shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the election laws or prosecute violations thereof. The Attorney General shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute a violation, assure the enforcement of the elections laws, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board.B\n\nWhen the State Board is of the opinion that the public interest will be served, it may request the Attorney General, or other attorney designated by the Governor for such purpose, to assist the attorney for the Commonwealth of any jurisdiction in which election laws have been violated. When the State Board makes its request pursuant to a unanimous vote of all members, the Attorney General, or other attorney designated by the Governor, shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute a violation, assure the enforcement of the election laws, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board. The Attorney General, or the other attorney designated by the Governor, shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the election laws or prosecute violations thereof.C\n\nThe attorney for the Commonwealth or a member of the electoral board of any county or city may make a request, in writing, that the Attorney General appoint a committee to make an immediate investigation of the election practices in that city or county, accompanied by a statement under oath that substantial violations of this title have allegedly occurred which may alter or have altered the outcome of an election. On receipt of the request and statement, the Attorney General shall forthwith appoint a committee of two or more persons qualified to make the investigation. Members, officers, and employees of the Board, local electoral boards, and registrars’ offices shall not serve on the committee but may provide assistance to the committee.\n\t\t\tThe Attorney General shall direct the committee to observe, investigate or supervise the election if supervision appears necessary. The committee shall make a preliminary report to the Attorney General within five days of its appointment. If its report shows that violations of this title have occurred, the Attorney General may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, authorize the prosecution of those responsible for the violations.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235937,"text":"The Attorney General shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the election laws or prosecute violations thereof. The Attorney General shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute a violation, assure the enforcement of the elections laws, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":235938,"text":"When the State Board is of the opinion that the public interest will be served, it may request the Attorney General, or other attorney designated by the Governor for such purpose, to assist the attorney for the Commonwealth of any jurisdiction in which election laws have been violated. When the State Board makes its request pursuant to a unanimous vote of all members, the Attorney General, or other attorney designated by the Governor, shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute a violation, assure the enforcement of the election laws, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board. The Attorney General, or the other attorney designated by the Governor, shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the election laws or prosecute violations thereof.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":235939,"text":"The attorney for the Commonwealth or a member of the electoral board of any county or city may make a request, in writing, that the Attorney General appoint a committee to make an immediate investigation of the election practices in that city or county, accompanied by a statement under oath that substantial violations of this title have allegedly occurred which may alter or have altered the outcome of an election. On receipt of the request and statement, the Attorney General shall forthwith appoint a committee of two or more persons qualified to make the investigation. Members, officers, and employees of the Board, local electoral boards, and registrars’ offices shall not serve on the committee but may provide assistance to the committee.\n\t\t\tThe Attorney General shall direct the committee to observe, investigate or supervise the election if supervision appears necessary. The committee shall make a preliminary report to the Attorney General within five days of its appointment. If its report shows that violations of this title have occurred, the Attorney General may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, authorize the prosecution of those responsible for the violations.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-104\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 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 1970, chapter 462; in 1989, chapter 111; in 1993, chapter 641; in 2002, chapters 785<\/a> and 819<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 768<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77776,"section_number":"2.2-511","catch_line":"Criminal cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-511\/"},{"id":71586,"section_number":"24.2-953.5","catch_line":"Additional penalties related to federal political action or out-of-state political committees","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-953.5\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":187189,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64832,"identifier":"24.2-104","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-104","url":"\/24.2-104\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-104\/","token":"24.2\/1\/2\/24.2-104","dublin_core":{"Title":"Requesting assistance for attorney for the Commonwealth; investigative committees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-104","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Attorney General<\/span> shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the election<\/span> laws<\/span> or prosecute<\/span> violations thereof. The Attorney General<\/span> shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute<\/span> a violation, assure the enforcement of the elections<\/span> laws<\/span>, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> When the State Board<\/span> is of the opinion<\/span> that the public interest will be served, it may request the Attorney General<\/span>, or other attorney designated by the Governor for such purpose, to assist the attorney for the Commonwealth of any jurisdiction<\/span> in which election<\/span> laws<\/span> have been violated. When the State Board<\/span> makes its request pursuant to a unanimous vote of all members, the Attorney General<\/span>, or other attorney designated by the Governor, shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute<\/span> a violation, assure the enforcement of the election<\/span> laws<\/span>, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board<\/span>. The Attorney General<\/span>, or the other attorney designated by the Governor, shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the election<\/span> laws<\/span> or prosecute<\/span> violations thereof. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The attorney for the Commonwealth or a member of the electoral board<\/span> of any county or city may make a request, in writing, that the Attorney General<\/span> appoint a committee to make an immediate investigation of the election<\/span> practices in that city or county, accompanied by a statement under oath<\/span> that substantial violations of this title have allegedly occurred which may alter or have altered the outcome of an election<\/span>. On receipt of the request and statement, the Attorney General<\/span> shall forthwith appoint a committee of two or more persons qualified to make the investigation. Members, officers, and employees of the Board, local electoral boards<\/span>, and registrars’ offices shall not serve on the committee but may provide assistance to the committee.\n\t\t\tThe Attorney General<\/span> shall direct the committee to observe, investigate or supervise the election<\/span> if supervision appears necessary. The committee shall make a preliminary report to the Attorney General<\/span> within five days of its appointment. If its report shows that violations of this title have occurred, the Attorney General<\/span> may, notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, authorize the prosecution<\/span> of those responsible for the violations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREQUESTING ASSISTANCE FOR ATTORNEY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH; INVESTIGATIVE\nCOMMITTEES (\u00a7 24.2-104)\n\nA. The Attorney General shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or\nappropriate to enforce the election laws or prosecute violations thereof. The\nAttorney General shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct\nan investigation, prosecute a violation, assure the enforcement of the elections\nlaws, and report the results of the investigation to the State Board.\n\nB. When the State Board is of the opinion that the public interest will be\nserved, it may request the Attorney General, or other attorney designated by the\nGovernor for such purpose, to assist the attorney for the Commonwealth of any\njurisdiction in which election laws have been violated. When the State Board\nmakes its request pursuant to a unanimous vote of all members, the Attorney\nGeneral, or other attorney designated by the Governor, shall exercise the\nauthority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, prosecute a\nviolation, assure the enforcement of the election laws, and report the results\nof the investigation to the State Board. The Attorney General, or the other\nattorney designated by the Governor, shall have full authority to do whatever is\nnecessary or appropriate to enforce the election laws or prosecute violations\nthereof.\n\nC. The attorney for the Commonwealth or a member of the electoral board of any\ncounty or city may make a request, in writing, that the Attorney General appoint\na committee to make an immediate investigation of the election practices in that\ncity or county, accompanied by a statement under oath that substantial\nviolations of this title have allegedly occurred which may alter or have altered\nthe outcome of an election. On receipt of the request and statement, the\nAttorney General shall forthwith appoint a committee of two or more persons\nqualified to make the investigation. Members, officers, and employees of the\nBoard, local electoral boards, and registrars’ offices shall not serve on\nthe committee but may provide assistance to the committee.\n\t\t\tThe Attorney General shall direct the committee to observe, investigate or\nsupervise the election if supervision appears necessary. The committee shall\nmake a preliminary report to the Attorney General within five days of its\nappointment. If its report shows that violations of this title have occurred,\nthe Attorney General may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, authorize\nthe prosecution of those responsible for the violations.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 24-27; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-21; 1989, c. 111; 1993, c.\n641; 2002, cc. 785, 819; 2013, c. 768.","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}}