{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-242.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-242.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-242.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-242.html"}],"law_id":55695,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55695,"structure_id":14371,"section_number":"24.2-242","catch_line":"How other groups may submit names of electors; oaths of electors","history":"2024, c. 801.","full_text":"A\n\nA group of qualified voters, not constituting a political party as defined in § 24.2-101, may have the names of nominated electors selected by them, which shall include one elector residing in each congressional district and two from the Commonwealth at large, printed upon the official ballot to be used in the election of electors for President and Vice President by filing a petition pursuant to this section.B\n\nThe petition shall have printed on the front of each page the names of the individuals nominated to be electors by the petitioners, the party name under which they desire to be nominated electors to be listed on the ballot, and the names of the candidates for President and Vice President for whom the nominated electors are required to vote in the Electoral College.\n\t\t\tThe petition shall be signed by at least 5,000 qualified voters and include signatures of at least 200 qualified voters from each congressional district. The petition shall be signed by petitioners on and after January 1 of the year of the presidential election and contain the residence address of each petitioner. The signature of each petitioner shall be witnessed either by an individual who is a constitutionally qualified candidate for President, who may witness his own petition, or by an individual who is not a minor or a felon whose voting rights have not been restored and whose affidavit to that effect appears on each page of the petition. Each individual circulating a petition who is not a legal resident of the Commonwealth shall sign a statement on the affidavit that he consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Virginia in resolving any disputes concerning the circulation of petitions, or signatures contained therein, by that individual. The signatures of qualified voters collected by a nonresident petition circulator who fails to sign such statement, or who later fails to appear or produce documents when properly served with a subpoena to do so, shall not be counted toward the minimum number of signatures required pursuant to this subsection.C\n\nThe petition shall be filed with the State Board by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election. The individuals filing the petition shall file with a copy of a subscribed and notarized oath by each nominated elector pursuant to § 24.2-240. In order to utilize a selected party name on the ballot, the petitioners shall have had, for at least six months prior to filing the petition, a state central committee composed of registered voters from each congressional district of the Commonwealth, a party plan and bylaws, and a duly designated chairman and secretary in existence and holding office. The State Board may require proof that the petitioners meet these requirements before permitting use of a party name on the ballot. The party name shall not be identical or substantially similar to the name of any political party qualifying under § 24.2-101 and then in existence.D\n\nIn the event that a group of qualified voters meets the requirements set forth in this section except that they cannot utilize a party name, the nominated electors and the candidates for President and Vice President shall be identified and designated as “Independent” on the ballot. Substitution of a different candidate for Vice President may be made by the candidate for President before the State Board certifies to the county and city electoral boards the form of the official ballot.E\n\nIn the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of a candidate for President or Vice President qualified to appear on the ballot pursuant to this section, the petitioner may substitute the name of a different candidate before the State Board certifies to the county and city electoral boards the form of the official ballots.\n\t\t\tIn the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of any individual listed as a nominated elector for candidates for President and Vice President on a petition filed pursuant to this section, the petitioners or candidate for President, as applicable, may substitute the name of a different nominated elector. Such substitution shall not invalidate any petition of qualified voters circulated with the name of the deceased, withdrawn, or disqualified nominated elector provided that notice of the substitution is filed with the State Board by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election.\n\t\t\tNotice of the substitution and the name of any substitute candidate or nominated elector shall be submitted on a form prepared by the State Board.F\n\nIf the State Board determines that a candidate for President does not qualify to have his name appear on the ballot pursuant to this section by reason of the group of qualified voters’ filed petition not containing the minimum number of signatures of qualified voters for the office sought, the candidate may appeal the determination to the State Board within seven calendar days of the issuance of the notice of disqualification. The notice of disqualification shall be sent by email or regular mail to the address on file for the candidate, and such notice shall be deemed sufficient. The State Board shall hear the appeal within three business days of the filing of the appeal.\n\t\t\tThe State Board shall develop procedures for the conduct of such an appeal. The consideration on appeal shall be limited to whether the signatures on the petitions that were filed were reasonably rejected according to the requirements of this title and the rules and procedures adopted by the State Board for checking petitions. Immediately after the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the State Board shall notify the candidate of its decision in writing. The decision on appeal shall be final and not subject to further appeal.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":204154,"text":"A group of qualified voters, not constituting a political party as defined in § 24.2-101, may have the names of nominated electors selected by them, which shall include one elector residing in each congressional district and two from the Commonwealth at large, printed upon the official ballot to be used in the election of electors for President and Vice President by filing a petition pursuant to this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":204155,"text":"The petition shall have printed on the front of each page the names of the individuals nominated to be electors by the petitioners, the party name under which they desire to be nominated electors to be listed on the ballot, and the names of the candidates for President and Vice President for whom the nominated electors are required to vote in the Electoral College.\n\t\t\tThe petition shall be signed by at least 5,000 qualified voters and include signatures of at least 200 qualified voters from each congressional district. The petition shall be signed by petitioners on and after January 1 of the year of the presidential election and contain the residence address of each petitioner. The signature of each petitioner shall be witnessed either by an individual who is a constitutionally qualified candidate for President, who may witness his own petition, or by an individual who is not a minor or a felon whose voting rights have not been restored and whose affidavit to that effect appears on each page of the petition. Each individual circulating a petition who is not a legal resident of the Commonwealth shall sign a statement on the affidavit that he consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Virginia in resolving any disputes concerning the circulation of petitions, or signatures contained therein, by that individual. The signatures of qualified voters collected by a nonresident petition circulator who fails to sign such statement, or who later fails to appear or produce documents when properly served with a subpoena to do so, shall not be counted toward the minimum number of signatures required pursuant to this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":204156,"text":"The petition shall be filed with the State Board by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election. The individuals filing the petition shall file with a copy of a subscribed and notarized oath by each nominated elector pursuant to § 24.2-240. In order to utilize a selected party name on the ballot, the petitioners shall have had, for at least six months prior to filing the petition, a state central committee composed of registered voters from each congressional district of the Commonwealth, a party plan and bylaws, and a duly designated chairman and secretary in existence and holding office. The State Board may require proof that the petitioners meet these requirements before permitting use of a party name on the ballot. The party name shall not be identical or substantially similar to the name of any political party qualifying under § 24.2-101 and then in existence.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":204157,"text":"In the event that a group of qualified voters meets the requirements set forth in this section except that they cannot utilize a party name, the nominated electors and the candidates for President and Vice President shall be identified and designated as “Independent” on the ballot. Substitution of a different candidate for Vice President may be made by the candidate for President before the State Board certifies to the county and city electoral boards the form of the official ballot.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":204158,"text":"In the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of a candidate for President or Vice President qualified to appear on the ballot pursuant to this section, the petitioner may substitute the name of a different candidate before the State Board certifies to the county and city electoral boards the form of the official ballots.\n\t\t\tIn the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of any individual listed as a nominated elector for candidates for President and Vice President on a petition filed pursuant to this section, the petitioners or candidate for President, as applicable, may substitute the name of a different nominated elector. Such substitution shall not invalidate any petition of qualified voters circulated with the name of the deceased, withdrawn, or disqualified nominated elector provided that notice of the substitution is filed with the State Board by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election.\n\t\t\tNotice of the substitution and the name of any substitute candidate or nominated elector shall be submitted on a form prepared by the State Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":204159,"text":"If the State Board determines that a candidate for President does not qualify to have his name appear on the ballot pursuant to this section by reason of the group of qualified voters’ filed petition not containing the minimum number of signatures of qualified voters for the office sought, the candidate may appeal the determination to the State Board within seven calendar days of the issuance of the notice of disqualification. The notice of disqualification shall be sent by email or regular mail to the address on file for the candidate, and such notice shall be deemed sufficient. The State Board shall hear the appeal within three business days of the filing of the appeal.\n\t\t\tThe State Board shall develop procedures for the conduct of such an appeal. The consideration on appeal shall be limited to whether the signatures on the petitions that were filed were reasonably rejected according to the requirements of this title and the rules and procedures adopted by the State Board for checking petitions. Immediately after the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the State Board shall notify the candidate of its decision in writing. The decision on appeal shall be final and not subject to further appeal.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14371,"edition_id":1,"name":"Nomination of Electors","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14370,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:54","permalink":{"id":187635,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14371,"identifier":"1","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1","url":"\/24.2\/2.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14370,"edition_id":1,"name":"Presidential Electors","identifier":"2.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:54","permalink":{"id":187633,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14370,"identifier":"2.1","token":"24.2\/2.1","url":"\/24.2\/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":63639,"structure_id":14371,"section_number":"24.2-240","catch_line":"Qualifications of electors; oath","url":"\/24.2-240\/","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1\/24.2-240","metadata":false},{"id":69078,"structure_id":14371,"section_number":"24.2-241","catch_line":"State Board to be furnished names of nominated electors selected by political parties; certain national conventions; vacancies","url":"\/24.2-241\/","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1\/24.2-241","metadata":false},{"id":55695,"structure_id":14371,"section_number":"24.2-242","catch_line":"How other groups may submit names of electors; oaths of electors","url":"\/24.2-242\/","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1\/24.2-242","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69078,"structure_id":14371,"section_number":"24.2-241","catch_line":"State Board to be furnished names of nominated electors selected by political parties; certain national conventions; vacancies","url":"\/24.2-241\/","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1\/24.2-241","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-242\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2024. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 801<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63639,"section_number":"24.2-240","catch_line":"Qualifications of electors; oath","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-240\/"},{"id":76076,"section_number":"24.2-244","catch_line":"Convening of electors; filling vacancies; how electors required to vote","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-244\/"},{"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\/"},{"id":62602,"section_number":"24.2-614","catch_line":"Preparation and form of presidential election ballots","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-614\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61543,"section_number":"24.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-101\/"},{"id":63639,"section_number":"24.2-240","catch_line":"Qualifications of electors; oath","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-240\/"}],"permalink":{"id":187645,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55695,"identifier":"24.2-242","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1\/24.2-242","url":"\/24.2-242\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-242\/","token":"24.2\/2.1\/1\/24.2-242","dublin_core":{"Title":"How other groups may submit names of electors; oaths of electors","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-242","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A group of qualified voters<\/span>, not constituting a political party<\/span> as defined in § 24.2-101<\/a>, may have the names of nominated electors selected by them, which shall include one elector residing in each congressional district and two from the Commonwealth at large, printed upon the official ballot to be used in the election<\/span> of electors for President and Vice President by filing a petition<\/span> pursuant to this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The petition<\/span> shall have printed on the front of each page the names of the individuals nominated to be electors by the petitioners, the party name under which they desire to be nominated electors to be listed on the ballot, and the names of the candidates<\/span> for President and Vice President for whom the nominated electors are required to vote in the Electoral College.\n\t\t\tThe petition<\/span> shall be signed by at least 5,000 qualified voters<\/span> and include signatures of at least 200 qualified voters<\/span> from each congressional district. The petition<\/span> shall be signed by petitioners on and after January 1 of the year of the presidential election<\/span> and contain the residence<\/span> address of each petitioner. The signature of each petitioner shall be witnessed either by an individual who is a constitutionally qualified candidate<\/span> for President, who may witness<\/span> his own petition<\/span>, or by an individual who is not a minor<\/span> or a felon whose voting rights have not been restored and whose affidavit<\/span> to that effect appears on each page of the petition<\/span>. Each individual circulating a petition<\/span> who is not a legal resident of the Commonwealth shall sign a statement on the affidavit<\/span> that he consents to the jurisdiction<\/span> of the courts<\/span> of Virginia in resolving any disputes concerning the circulation of petitions<\/span>, or signatures contained therein, by that individual. The signatures of qualified voters<\/span> collected by a nonresident petition<\/span> circulator who fails to sign such statement, or who later fails to appear or produce documents when properly served with a subpoena<\/span> to do so, shall not be counted toward the minimum number of signatures required pursuant to this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The petition<\/span> shall be filed with the State Board<\/span> by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election<\/span>. The individuals filing the petition<\/span> shall file with a copy of a subscribed and notarized oath<\/span> by each nominated elector pursuant to § 24.2-240<\/a>. In order<\/span> to utilize a selected party name on the ballot, the petitioners shall have had, for at least six months prior to filing the petition<\/span>, a state central committee composed of registered voters<\/span> from each congressional district of the Commonwealth, a party plan and bylaws, and a duly designated chairman and secretary in existence and holding office. The State Board<\/span> may require proof that the petitioners meet these requirements before permitting use of a party name on the ballot. The party name shall not be identical or substantially similar to the name of any political party<\/span> qualifying under § 24.2-101<\/a> and then in existence. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In the event that a group of qualified voters<\/span> meets the requirements set forth in this section except that they cannot utilize a party name, the nominated electors and the candidates<\/span> for President and Vice President shall be identified and designated as “Independent” on the ballot. Substitution of a different candidate<\/span> for Vice President may be made by the candidate<\/span> for President before the State Board<\/span> certifies to the county and city electoral boards<\/span> the form of the official ballot. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> In the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of a candidate<\/span> for President or Vice President qualified to appear on the ballot pursuant to this section, the petitioner may substitute the name of a different candidate<\/span> before the State Board<\/span> certifies to the county and city electoral boards<\/span> the form of the official ballots.\n\t\t\tIn the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of any individual listed as a nominated elector for candidates<\/span> for President and Vice President on a petition<\/span> filed pursuant to this section, the petitioners or candidate<\/span> for President, as applicable, may substitute the name of a different nominated elector. Such substitution shall not invalidate any petition<\/span> of qualified voters<\/span> circulated with the name of the deceased, withdrawn, or disqualified nominated elector provided that notice of the substitution is filed with the State Board<\/span> by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election<\/span>.\n\t\t\tNotice of the substitution and the name of any substitute candidate<\/span> or nominated elector shall be submitted on a form prepared by the State Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> If the State Board<\/span> determines that a candidate<\/span> for President does not qualify to have his name appear on the ballot pursuant to this section by reason of the group of qualified voters<\/span>’ filed petition<\/span> not containing the minimum number of signatures of qualified voters<\/span> for the office sought, the candidate<\/span> may appeal<\/span> the determination to the State Board<\/span> within seven calendar days of the issuance of the notice of disqualification. The notice of disqualification shall be sent by email or regular mail to the address on file for the candidate<\/span>, and such notice shall be deemed sufficient. The State Board<\/span> shall hear the appeal<\/span> within three business days of the filing of the appeal<\/span>.\n\t\t\tThe State Board<\/span> shall develop procedures for the conduct of such an appeal<\/span>. The consideration on appeal<\/span> shall be limited to whether the signatures on the petitions<\/span> that were filed were reasonably rejected according to the requirements of this title and the rules and procedures adopted by the State Board<\/span> for checking petitions<\/span>. Immediately after the conclusion of the appeal<\/span> hearing<\/span>, the State Board<\/span> shall notify the candidate<\/span> of its decision in writing. The decision on appeal<\/span> shall be final and not subject to further appeal<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHOW OTHER GROUPS MAY SUBMIT NAMES OF ELECTORS; OATHS OF ELECTORS (\u00a7 24.2-242)\n\nA. A group of qualified voters, not constituting a political party as defined in\n§ 24.2-101, may have the names of nominated electors selected by them,\nwhich shall include one elector residing in each congressional district and two\nfrom the Commonwealth at large, printed upon the official ballot to be used in\nthe election of electors for President and Vice President by filing a petition\npursuant to this section.\n\nB. The petition shall have printed on the front of each page the names of the\nindividuals nominated to be electors by the petitioners, the party name under\nwhich they desire to be nominated electors to be listed on the ballot, and the\nnames of the candidates for President and Vice President for whom the nominated\nelectors are required to vote in the Electoral College.\n\t\t\tThe petition shall be signed by at least 5,000 qualified voters and include\nsignatures of at least 200 qualified voters from each congressional district.\nThe petition shall be signed by petitioners on and after January 1 of the year\nof the presidential election and contain the residence address of each\npetitioner. The signature of each petitioner shall be witnessed either by an\nindividual who is a constitutionally qualified candidate for President, who may\nwitness his own petition, or by an individual who is not a minor or a felon\nwhose voting rights have not been restored and whose affidavit to that effect\nappears on each page of the petition. Each individual circulating a petition who\nis not a legal resident of the Commonwealth shall sign a statement on the\naffidavit that he consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Virginia in\nresolving any disputes concerning the circulation of petitions, or signatures\ncontained therein, by that individual. The signatures of qualified voters\ncollected by a nonresident petition circulator who fails to sign such statement,\nor who later fails to appear or produce documents when properly served with a\nsubpoena to do so, shall not be counted toward the minimum number of signatures\nrequired pursuant to this subsection.\n\nC. The petition shall be filed with the State Board by noon of the\nseventy-fourth day before the presidential election. The individuals filing the\npetition shall file with a copy of a subscribed and notarized oath by each\nnominated elector pursuant to § 24.2-240. In order to utilize a selected\nparty name on the ballot, the petitioners shall have had, for at least six\nmonths prior to filing the petition, a state central committee composed of\nregistered voters from each congressional district of the Commonwealth, a party\nplan and bylaws, and a duly designated chairman and secretary in existence and\nholding office. The State Board may require proof that the petitioners meet\nthese requirements before permitting use of a party name on the ballot. The\nparty name shall not be identical or substantially similar to the name of any\npolitical party qualifying under § 24.2-101 and then in existence.\n\nD. In the event that a group of qualified voters meets the requirements set\nforth in this section except that they cannot utilize a party name, the\nnominated electors and the candidates for President and Vice President shall be\nidentified and designated as “Independent” on the ballot.\nSubstitution of a different candidate for Vice President may be made by the\ncandidate for President before the State Board certifies to the county and city\nelectoral boards the form of the official ballot.\n\nE. In the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of a candidate for\nPresident or Vice President qualified to appear on the ballot pursuant to this\nsection, the petitioner may substitute the name of a different candidate before\nthe State Board certifies to the county and city electoral boards the form of\nthe official ballots.\n\t\t\tIn the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of any individual\nlisted as a nominated elector for candidates for President and Vice President on\na petition filed pursuant to this section, the petitioners or candidate for\nPresident, as applicable, may substitute the name of a different nominated\nelector. Such substitution shall not invalidate any petition of qualified voters\ncirculated with the name of the deceased, withdrawn, or disqualified nominated\nelector provided that notice of the substitution is filed with the State Board\nby noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election.\n\t\t\tNotice of the substitution and the name of any substitute candidate or\nnominated elector shall be submitted on a form prepared by the State Board.\n\nF. If the State Board determines that a candidate for President does not qualify\nto have his name appear on the ballot pursuant to this section by reason of the\ngroup of qualified voters’ filed petition not containing the minimum\nnumber of signatures of qualified voters for the office sought, the candidate\nmay appeal the determination to the State Board within seven calendar days of\nthe issuance of the notice of disqualification. The notice of disqualification\nshall be sent by email or regular mail to the address on file for the candidate,\nand such notice shall be deemed sufficient. The State Board shall hear the\nappeal within three business days of the filing of the appeal.\n\t\t\tThe State Board shall develop procedures for the conduct of such an appeal.\nThe consideration on appeal shall be limited to whether the signatures on the\npetitions that were filed were reasonably rejected according to the requirements\nof this title and the rules and procedures adopted by the State Board for\nchecking petitions. Immediately after the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the\nState Board shall notify the candidate of its decision in writing. The decision\non appeal shall be final and not subject to further appeal.\n\nHISTORY: 2024, c. 801.","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}}