{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-219.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-219.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-219.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-219.html"}],"law_id":57783,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57783,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-219","catch_line":"Alternative for biennial county supervisor elections and staggered terms","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 24-157; 1968, c. 639; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-88; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 265; 1973, c. 30; 1976, c. 616; 1981, c. 12; 1982, c. 650; 1993, c. 641; 2011, c. 455.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of any county may by ordinance provide that the county board of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms.\n\t\t\tIn lieu of an ordinance by the board of supervisors, the registered voters of the county may file a petition with the circuit court of the county requesting that a referendum be held on the question of whether the county board of supervisors should be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the county on the January 1 preceding its filing.\n\t\t\tThe court pursuant to §§ 24.2-682 and 24.2-684 shall order the election officials on a day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the question. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the referendum in a newspaper having general circulation in the county once a week for four consecutive weeks and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the county. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the members of the county board of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe referendum shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684.B\n\nIf a majority of the voters voting in the referendum voted for biennial election of the members of the board of supervisors for staggered four-year terms, or if the governing body has so provided by ordinance, then the terms of supervisors elected at the next general election for supervisors shall be as follows:1\n\nIf the number of supervisors elected in the county is an even number, half of the successful candidates shall be elected for terms of four years and half of the successful candidates shall be elected for terms of two years; or2\n\nIf the number of supervisors in the county is an odd number, the smallest number of candidates which creates a majority of the elected supervisors shall be elected for terms of four years and all other successful candidates shall be elected for terms of two years.\n\t\t\t\tUnless the number of members who volunteer to take two-year terms exactly equals the number of two-year terms to be assigned, the electoral board of the county shall assign the individual terms of members by lot at its meeting on the day following the election and immediately upon certification of the results. However, the electoral board may assign individual terms of members by election district in a drawing at a meeting held prior to the last day for a person to qualify as a candidate, if the governing body of the county so directs by ordinance or resolution adopted at least thirty days prior to the last day for qualification and members are elected by district. In all elections thereafter all successful candidates shall be elected for terms of four years.\n\t\t\t\tIn any county where the chairman of the board is elected from the county at large pursuant to § 15.2-503 or § 15.2-802, the provisions of this section shall not affect that office. The chairman of the board shall be elected for a term of four years in 1995 and every four years thereafter.C\n\nIf the representation on the board of supervisors among the election districts is reapportioned, or the number of districts is diminished or the boundaries of the districts are changed, elections shall be held in each new district at the general election next preceding the expiration of the term of the office of the member of the board representing the predecessor district of each new district. If the number of districts is increased, the electoral board shall assign a two-year or four-year term for each new district so as to maintain as equal as practicable the number of members to be elected at each biennial election.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":211616,"text":"The governing body of any county may by ordinance provide that the county board of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms.\n\t\t\tIn lieu of an ordinance by the board of supervisors, the registered voters of the county may file a petition with the circuit court of the county requesting that a referendum be held on the question of whether the county board of supervisors should be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the county on the January 1 preceding its filing.\n\t\t\tThe court pursuant to §§ 24.2-682 and 24.2-684 shall order the election officials on a day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the question. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the referendum in a newspaper having general circulation in the county once a week for four consecutive weeks and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the county. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the members of the county board of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe referendum shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":211617,"text":"If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum voted for biennial election of the members of the board of supervisors for staggered four-year terms, or if the governing body has so provided by ordinance, then the terms of supervisors elected at the next general election for supervisors shall be as follows:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":211618,"text":"If the number of supervisors elected in the county is an even number, half of the successful candidates shall be elected for terms of four years and half of the successful candidates shall be elected for terms of two years; or","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":211619,"text":"If the number of supervisors in the county is an odd number, the smallest number of candidates which creates a majority of the elected supervisors shall be elected for terms of four years and all other successful candidates shall be elected for terms of two years.\n\t\t\t\tUnless the number of members who volunteer to take two-year terms exactly equals the number of two-year terms to be assigned, the electoral board of the county shall assign the individual terms of members by lot at its meeting on the day following the election and immediately upon certification of the results. However, the electoral board may assign individual terms of members by election district in a drawing at a meeting held prior to the last day for a person to qualify as a candidate, if the governing body of the county so directs by ordinance or resolution adopted at least thirty days prior to the last day for qualification and members are elected by district. In all elections thereafter all successful candidates shall be elected for terms of four years.\n\t\t\t\tIn any county where the chairman of the board is elected from the county at large pursuant to § 15.2-503 or § 15.2-802, the provisions of this section shall not affect that office. The chairman of the board shall be elected for a term of four years in 1995 and every four years thereafter.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":211620,"text":"If the representation on the board of supervisors among the election districts is reapportioned, or the number of districts is diminished or the boundaries of the districts are changed, elections shall be held in each new district at the general election next preceding the expiration of the term of the office of the member of the board representing the predecessor district of each new district. If the number of districts is increased, the electoral board shall assign a two-year or four-year term for each new district so as to maintain as equal as practicable the number of members to be elected at each biennial election.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15174,"edition_id":1,"name":"Constitutional and Local Officers","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14248,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:42","permalink":{"id":187523,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15174,"identifier":"5","token":"24.2\/2\/5","url":"\/24.2\/2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14248,"edition_id":1,"name":"Federal, Commonwealth, and Local Officers","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","permalink":{"id":187457,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14248,"identifier":"2","token":"24.2\/2","url":"\/24.2\/2\/","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":61791,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-217","catch_line":"Election and terms of constitutional officers","url":"\/24.2-217\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-217","metadata":false},{"id":58578,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-218","catch_line":"Election and term of county supervisors","url":"\/24.2-218\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-218","metadata":false},{"id":57783,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-219","catch_line":"Alternative for biennial county supervisor elections and staggered terms","url":"\/24.2-219\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-219","metadata":false},{"id":86735,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-220","catch_line":"Reversion to quadrennial elections","url":"\/24.2-220\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-220","metadata":false},{"id":64102,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-221","catch_line":"Time and frequency of referenda on election and term of supervisors","url":"\/24.2-221\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-221","metadata":false},{"id":76277,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-222","catch_line":"Election and terms of mayor and council for cities and towns","url":"\/24.2-222\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-222","metadata":false},{"id":70449,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-222.1","catch_line":"Alternative election of mayor and council at November general election in cities and towns","url":"\/24.2-222.1\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-222.1","metadata":false},{"id":82830,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-223","catch_line":"Election and term of school board members","url":"\/24.2-223\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-223","metadata":false},{"id":77866,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-224","catch_line":"Local elections not otherwise provided for","url":"\/24.2-224\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-224","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58578,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-218","catch_line":"Election and term of county supervisors","url":"\/24.2-218\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-218","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86735,"structure_id":15174,"section_number":"24.2-220","catch_line":"Reversion to quadrennial elections","url":"\/24.2-220\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-220","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-219\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1968, chapter 639; in 1970, chapter 462; in 1973, chapter 30; in 1976, chapter 616; in 1981, chapter 12; in 1982, chapter 650; in 1993, chapter 641; in 2011, chapter 455<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58578,"section_number":"24.2-218","catch_line":"Election and term of county supervisors","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-218\/"},{"id":86735,"section_number":"24.2-220","catch_line":"Reversion to quadrennial elections","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-220\/"},{"id":64102,"section_number":"24.2-221","catch_line":"Time and frequency of referenda on election and term of supervisors","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-221\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55111,"section_number":"15.2-503","catch_line":"Referendum on election of the county chairman from the county at large; powers and duties of chairman","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-503\/"},{"id":60402,"section_number":"15.2-802","catch_line":"Powers of county vested in board of supervisors; membership, election, terms, etc., of board; vacancies; powers of chairman","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-802\/"},{"id":77612,"section_number":"24.2-682","catch_line":"Times for special elections","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-682\/"},{"id":82479,"section_number":"24.2-684","catch_line":"How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-684\/"}],"permalink":{"id":187533,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57783,"identifier":"24.2-219","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-219","url":"\/24.2-219\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-219\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-219","dublin_core":{"Title":"Alternative for biennial county supervisor elections and staggered terms","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-219","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body of any county may by ordinance<\/span> provide that the county board<\/span> of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms.\n\t\t\tIn lieu of an ordinance<\/span> by the board<\/span> of supervisors, the registered voters<\/span> of the county may file a petition<\/span> with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county requesting that a referendum<\/span> be held on the question of whether the county board<\/span> of supervisors should be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms. The petition<\/span> shall be signed by registered voters<\/span> equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the county on the January 1 preceding its filing.\n\t\t\tThe court<\/span> pursuant to §§ 24.2-682<\/a> and 24.2-684<\/a> shall order<\/span> the election<\/span> officials on a day fixed in the order<\/span> to conduct a referendum<\/span> on the question. The clerk of the court<\/span> shall publish notice of the referendum<\/span> in a newspaper having general circulation in the county once a week for four consecutive weeks and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the county. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the members of the county board<\/span> of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe referendum<\/span> shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum<\/span> voted for biennial election of the members of the board<\/span> of supervisors for staggered four-year terms, or if the governing body has so provided by ordinance<\/span>, then the terms of supervisors elected at the next general election<\/span> for supervisors shall be as follows: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> If the number of supervisors elected in the county is an even number, half of the successful candidates<\/span> shall be elected for terms of four years and half of the successful candidates<\/span> shall be elected for terms of two years; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> If the number of supervisors in the county is an odd number, the smallest number of candidates<\/span> which creates a majority of the elected supervisors shall be elected for terms of four years and all other successful candidates<\/span> shall be elected for terms of two years.\n\t\t\t\tUnless the number of members who volunteer to take two-year terms exactly equals the number of two-year terms to be assigned, the electoral board<\/span> of the county shall assign the individual terms of members by lot at its meeting on the day following the election and immediately upon certification of the results. However, the electoral board<\/span> may assign individual terms of members by election district<\/span> in a drawing at a meeting held prior to the last day for a person to qualify as a candidate<\/span>, if the governing body of the county so directs by ordinance<\/span> or resolution adopted at least thirty days prior to the last day for qualification and members are elected by district. In all elections<\/span> thereafter all successful candidates<\/span> shall be elected for terms of four years.\n\t\t\t\tIn any county where the chairman of the board is elected from the county at large pursuant to § 15.2-503<\/a> or § 15.2-802<\/a>, the provisions of this section shall not affect that office. The chairman of the board shall be elected for a term of four years in 1995 and every four years thereafter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If the representation on the board of supervisors among the election districts<\/span> is reapportioned, or the number of districts is diminished or the boundaries of the districts are changed, elections<\/span> shall be held in each new district at the general election<\/span> next preceding the expiration of the term of the office of the member of the board representing the predecessor district of each new district. If the number of districts is increased, the electoral board<\/span> shall assign a two-year or four-year term for each new district so as to maintain as equal as practicable the number of members to be elected at each biennial election. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nALTERNATIVE FOR BIENNIAL COUNTY SUPERVISOR ELECTIONS AND STAGGERED TERMS (\u00a7\n24.2-219)\n\nA. The governing body of any county may by ordinance provide that the county\nboard of supervisors be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms.\n\t\t\tIn lieu of an ordinance by the board of supervisors, the registered voters of\nthe county may file a petition with the circuit court of the county requesting\nthat a referendum be held on the question of whether the county board of\nsupervisors should be elected biennially for staggered four-year terms. The\npetition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten\npercent of the number registered in the county on the January 1 preceding its\nfiling.\n\t\t\tThe court pursuant to §§ 24.2-682 and 24.2-684 shall order the\nelection officials on a day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the\nquestion. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the referendum in a\nnewspaper having general circulation in the county once a week for four\nconsecutive weeks and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the\ncourthouse of the county. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the members of the county board of supervisors be elected\nbiennially for staggered four-year terms?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe referendum shall be held and the results certified as provided in §\n24.2-684.\n\nB. If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum voted for biennial\nelection of the members of the board of supervisors for staggered four-year\nterms, or if the governing body has so provided by ordinance, then the terms of\nsupervisors elected at the next general election for supervisors shall be as\nfollows:\n\n 1. If the number of supervisors elected in the county is an even number, half\n of the successful candidates shall be elected for terms of four years and half\n of the successful candidates shall be elected for terms of two years; or\n\n 2. If the number of supervisors in the county is an odd number, the smallest\n number of candidates which creates a majority of the elected supervisors shall\n be elected for terms of four years and all other successful candidates shall\n be elected for terms of two years.\n \t\t\t\tUnless the number of members who volunteer to take two-year terms exactly\n equals the number of two-year terms to be assigned, the electoral board of the\n county shall assign the individual terms of members by lot at its meeting on\n the day following the election and immediately upon certification of the\n results. However, the electoral board may assign individual terms of members\n by election district in a drawing at a meeting held prior to the last day for\n a person to qualify as a candidate, if the governing body of the county so\n directs by ordinance or resolution adopted at least thirty days prior to the\n last day for qualification and members are elected by district. In all\n elections thereafter all successful candidates shall be elected for terms of\n four years.\n \t\t\t\tIn any county where the chairman of the board is elected from the county\n at large pursuant to § 15.2-503 or § 15.2-802, the provisions of\n this section shall not affect that office. The chairman of the board shall be\n elected for a term of four years in 1995 and every four years thereafter.\n\nC. If the representation on the board of supervisors among the election\ndistricts is reapportioned, or the number of districts is diminished or the\nboundaries of the districts are changed, elections shall be held in each new\ndistrict at the general election next preceding the expiration of the term of\nthe office of the member of the board representing the predecessor district of\neach new district. If the number of districts is increased, the electoral board\nshall assign a two-year or four-year term for each new district so as to\nmaintain as equal as practicable the number of members to be elected at each\nbiennial election.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 24-157; 1968, c. 639; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-88; 1971, Ex.\nSess., c. 265; 1973, c. 30; 1976, c. 616; 1981, c. 12; 1982, c. 650; 1993, c.\n641; 2011, c. 455.","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}}