{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-222.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-222.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-222.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-222.1.html"}],"law_id":70449,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"2000, c. 1045; 2002, c. 30; 2016, c. 402.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-222, and notwithstanding any contrary provisions of a city or town charter, the council of a city or town may provide by ordinance that the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council shall be elected at the November general election date of any cycle as designated in the ordinance, for terms to commence January 1. No such ordinance shall be adopted between January 1 and the May general election date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be held therein.B\n\nAlternatively, the registered voters of a city or town may file a petition with the circuit court of the city or of the county within which the town is located asking that a referendum be held on the question of whether the city or town should elect the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council members at the November general election date of any cycle as designated in the petition. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the city or town on the January 1 preceding the filing.\n\t\t\tThe court, pursuant to § 24.2-684, shall order the election officials on a day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the question, provided that no such referendum shall be scheduled between January 1 and the May general election date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be held therein. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the referendum once a week for the three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum in a newspaper having general circulation in the city or town, and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the city or county within which the town is located. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the (city or town) change the election date of the mayor (if so provided by charter) and members of council from the May general election to the November general election (in even-numbered or odd-numbered years or as otherwise designated in the petition)?”\n\t\t\tIf members of the school board in the city or town are elected by the voters, the ballot question also shall state that the change in election date applies to the election of school board members.\n\t\t\tThe referendum shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684. If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum vote in favor of the change, the mayor and council thereafter shall be elected at the November general election date for terms to commence January 1.C\n\nExcept as provided in subsection D, no term of a mayor or member of council shall be shortened in implementing the change to the November election date. Mayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election and whose terms are to expire as of June 30 shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election and have been qualified to serve.D\n\nIn any city or town that elects its council biennially or quadrennially and that changes to the November general election date in odd-numbered years from the May general election date in even-numbered years, mayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election shall have their term of office shortened by six months but shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election and have been qualified to serve.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":254216,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-222, and notwithstanding any contrary provisions of a city or town charter, the council of a city or town may provide by ordinance that the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council shall be elected at the November general election date of any cycle as designated in the ordinance, for terms to commence January 1. No such ordinance shall be adopted between January 1 and the May general election date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be held therein.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":254217,"text":"Alternatively, the registered voters of a city or town may file a petition with the circuit court of the city or of the county within which the town is located asking that a referendum be held on the question of whether the city or town should elect the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council members at the November general election date of any cycle as designated in the petition. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the city or town on the January 1 preceding the filing.\n\t\t\tThe court, pursuant to § 24.2-684, shall order the election officials on a day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the question, provided that no such referendum shall be scheduled between January 1 and the May general election date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be held therein. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the referendum once a week for the three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum in a newspaper having general circulation in the city or town, and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the city or county within which the town is located. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the (city or town) change the election date of the mayor (if so provided by charter) and members of council from the May general election to the November general election (in even-numbered or odd-numbered years or as otherwise designated in the petition)?”\n\t\t\tIf members of the school board in the city or town are elected by the voters, the ballot question also shall state that the change in election date applies to the election of school board members.\n\t\t\tThe referendum shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684. If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum vote in favor of the change, the mayor and council thereafter shall be elected at the November general election date for terms to commence January 1.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":254218,"text":"Except as provided in subsection D, no term of a mayor or member of council shall be shortened in implementing the change to the November election date. Mayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election and whose terms are to expire as of June 30 shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election and have been qualified to serve.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":254219,"text":"In any city or town that elects its council biennially or quadrennially and that changes to the November general election date in odd-numbered years from the May general election date in even-numbered years, mayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election shall have their term of office shortened by six months but shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election and have been qualified to serve.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-222.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 1045<\/a> 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. It has been modified 2 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 2002, chapter 30<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 402<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60235,"section_number":"15.2-1400","catch_line":"Governing bodies","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1400\/"},{"id":76277,"section_number":"24.2-222","catch_line":"Election and terms of mayor and council for cities and towns","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-222\/"},{"id":76285,"section_number":"24.2-311","catch_line":"Effective date of decennial redistricting measures; elections following decennial redistricting","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-311\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":76277,"section_number":"24.2-222","catch_line":"Election and terms of mayor and council for cities and towns","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-222\/"},{"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":187549,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70449,"identifier":"24.2-222.1","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-222.1","url":"\/24.2-222.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-222.1\/","token":"24.2\/2\/5\/24.2-222.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Alternative election of mayor and council at November general election in cities and towns","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-222.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-222<\/a>, and notwithstanding any contrary provisions of a city or town charter, the council of a city or town may provide by ordinance<\/span> that the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council shall be elected at the November general election<\/span> date of any cycle as designated in the ordinance<\/span>, for terms to commence January 1. No such ordinance<\/span> shall be adopted between January 1 and the May general election<\/span> date of the year in which city or town elections<\/span> regularly are scheduled to be held therein. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Alternatively, the registered voters<\/span> of a city or town may file a petition<\/span> with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the city or of the county within which the town is located asking that a referendum<\/span> be held on the question of whether the city or town should elect the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council members at the November general election<\/span> date of any cycle as designated in the petition<\/span>. The petition<\/span> shall be signed by registered voters<\/span> equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the city or town on the January 1 preceding the filing.\n\t\t\tThe court<\/span>, pursuant to § 24.2-684<\/a>, shall order<\/span> the election officials on a day fixed in the order<\/span> to conduct a referendum<\/span> on the question, provided that no such referendum<\/span> shall be scheduled between January 1 and the May general election<\/span> date of the year in which city or town elections<\/span> regularly are scheduled to be held therein. The clerk of the court<\/span> shall publish notice of the referendum<\/span> once a week for the three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum<\/span> in a newspaper having general circulation in the city or town, and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the city or county within which the town is located. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the (city or town) change the election date of the mayor (if so provided by charter) and members of council from the May general election<\/span> to the November general election<\/span> (in even-numbered or odd-numbered years or as otherwise designated in the petition<\/span>)?”\n\t\t\tIf members of the school board<\/span> in the city or town are elected by the voters, the ballot question also shall state that the change in election date applies to the election of school board<\/span> members.\n\t\t\tThe referendum<\/span> shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684<\/a>. If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum<\/span> vote in favor of the change, the mayor and council thereafter shall be elected at the November general election<\/span> date for terms to commence January 1. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Except as provided in subsection D, no term of a mayor or member of council shall be shortened in implementing the change to the November election date. Mayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election<\/span> and whose terms are to expire as of June 30 shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election<\/span> and have been qualified to serve. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In any city or town that elects its council biennially or quadrennially and that changes to the November general election<\/span> date in odd-numbered years from the May general election<\/span> date in even-numbered years, mayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election<\/span> shall have their term of office shortened by six months but shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election<\/span> and have been qualified to serve. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nALTERNATIVE ELECTION OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION IN CITIES\nAND TOWNS (\u00a7 24.2-222.1)\n\nA. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-222, and notwithstanding any\ncontrary provisions of a city or town charter, the council of a city or town may\nprovide by ordinance that the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by\ncharter, and council shall be elected at the November general election date of\nany cycle as designated in the ordinance, for terms to commence January 1. No\nsuch ordinance shall be adopted between January 1 and the May general election\ndate of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be\nheld therein.\n\nB. Alternatively, the registered voters of a city or town may file a petition\nwith the circuit court of the city or of the county within which the town is\nlocated asking that a referendum be held on the question of whether the city or\ntown should elect the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and\ncouncil members at the November general election date of any cycle as designated\nin the petition. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in\nnumber to at least ten percent of the number registered in the city or town on\nthe January 1 preceding the filing.\n\t\t\tThe court, pursuant to § 24.2-684, shall order the election officials on\na day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the question, provided that\nno such referendum shall be scheduled between January 1 and the May general\nelection date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are\nscheduled to be held therein. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the\nreferendum once a week for the three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum\nin a newspaper having general circulation in the city or town, and shall post a\ncopy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the city or county within\nwhich the town is located. The question on the ballot shall be:\n\t\t\t“Shall the (city or town) change the election date of the mayor (if so\nprovided by charter) and members of council from the May general election to the\nNovember general election (in even-numbered or odd-numbered years or as\notherwise designated in the petition)?”\n\t\t\tIf members of the school board in the city or town are elected by the voters,\nthe ballot question also shall state that the change in election date applies to\nthe election of school board members.\n\t\t\tThe referendum shall be held and the results certified as provided in §\n24.2-684. If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum vote in favor of\nthe change, the mayor and council thereafter shall be elected at the November\ngeneral election date for terms to commence January 1.\n\nC. Except as provided in subsection D, no term of a mayor or member of council\nshall be shortened in implementing the change to the November election date.\nMayors and members of council who were elected at a May general election and\nwhose terms are to expire as of June 30 shall continue in office until their\nsuccessors have been elected at the November general election and have been\nqualified to serve.\n\nD. In any city or town that elects its council biennially or quadrennially and\nthat changes to the November general election date in odd-numbered years from\nthe May general election date in even-numbered years, mayors and members of\ncouncil who were elected at a May general election shall have their term of\noffice shortened by six months but shall continue in office until their\nsuccessors have been elected at the November general election and have been\nqualified to serve.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, c. 1045; 2002, c. 30; 2016, c. 402.","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}}