{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-313.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-313.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-313.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-313.html"}],"law_id":54362,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54362,"structure_id":13390,"section_number":"24.2-313","catch_line":"Rescheduling of certain local elections following the decennial redistricting of districts for the governing body","history":"2002, c. 189.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, elections for members of the governing body or school board of any county, city, or town that would be held on a regularly scheduled date for a general election, but are delayed because the decennial redistricting plan of such county, city, or town is not precleared by the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to § 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act at least thirty days prior to the general election, shall be held as provided in this section, unless otherwise provided by a court of competent jurisdiction. In the event the Attorney General grants preclearance at least thirty days prior to the general election, the election shall be held as scheduled and shall be conducted from the newly established districts. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any county, city, or town election scheduled to be held entirely on an at-large basis.B\n\nIn each such county, city, or town, such election shall be held on the first Tuesday (i) that is more than sixty days after the Attorney General of the United States issues a letter stating that he interposes no objection to a decennial redistricting plan approved and submitted by the county, city, or town; (ii) that is not the scheduled date of a primary election; and (iii) that is not within the sixty days before or the thirty-five days after a primary or general election.C\n\nIndependent candidates for such rescheduled elections shall qualify in the manner provided by §§ 24.2-505 and 24.2-506, and party nominees shall be nominated and certified at least thirty days before the new election date.D\n\nAll candidates shall file the statements required by §§ 24.2-501 and 24.2-502 at least thirty days before the new election date.E\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of subsections C and D, any candidate who qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the original election date, pursuant to § 24.2-504, shall be automatically qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the delayed election date and shall not have to refile the required documents, provided that the boundaries of the district in which he is seeking office are the same as when he was originally qualified. In any district in which the boundaries have been changed, candidates shall requalify for the ballot; however, at the request of any candidate who filed as an independent, his original petitions shall be reviewed by the registrar, previously verified signatures of voters who reside in the new district shall be counted toward the number needed to qualify to run in the new district, and the candidate may supplement such petitions when he refiles under § 24.2-505.F\n\nNotwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the term of members of any governing body or school board elected under the provisions of this act shall commence on the first day of the second month following the election and shall terminate on the day on which the term would have expired had the general election been held on its regularly scheduled day.G\n\nThe term of members of any governing body affected by this act that would otherwise expire prior to the commencement of the term of their successors elected pursuant to this section shall be extended until the date that the term of members elected pursuant to this section commences, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":199604,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, elections for members of the governing body or school board of any county, city, or town that would be held on a regularly scheduled date for a general election, but are delayed because the decennial redistricting plan of such county, city, or town is not precleared by the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to § 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act at least thirty days prior to the general election, shall be held as provided in this section, unless otherwise provided by a court of competent jurisdiction. In the event the Attorney General grants preclearance at least thirty days prior to the general election, the election shall be held as scheduled and shall be conducted from the newly established districts. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any county, city, or town election scheduled to be held entirely on an at-large basis.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":199605,"text":"In each such county, city, or town, such election shall be held on the first Tuesday (i) that is more than sixty days after the Attorney General of the United States issues a letter stating that he interposes no objection to a decennial redistricting plan approved and submitted by the county, city, or town; (ii) that is not the scheduled date of a primary election; and (iii) that is not within the sixty days before or the thirty-five days after a primary or general election.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":199606,"text":"Independent candidates for such rescheduled elections shall qualify in the manner provided by §§ 24.2-505 and 24.2-506, and party nominees shall be nominated and certified at least thirty days before the new election date.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":199607,"text":"All candidates shall file the statements required by §§ 24.2-501 and 24.2-502 at least thirty days before the new election date.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":199608,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections C and D, any candidate who qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the original election date, pursuant to § 24.2-504, shall be automatically qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the delayed election date and shall not have to refile the required documents, provided that the boundaries of the district in which he is seeking office are the same as when he was originally qualified. In any district in which the boundaries have been changed, candidates shall requalify for the ballot; however, at the request of any candidate who filed as an independent, his original petitions shall be reviewed by the registrar, previously verified signatures of voters who reside in the new district shall be counted toward the number needed to qualify to run in the new district, and the candidate may supplement such petitions when he refiles under § 24.2-505.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":199609,"text":"Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the term of members of any governing body or school board elected under the provisions of this act shall commence on the first day of the second month following the election and shall terminate on the day on which the term would have expired had the general election been held on its regularly scheduled day.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":199610,"text":"The term of members of any governing body affected by this act that would otherwise expire prior to the commencement of the term of their successors elected pursuant to this section shall be extended until the date that the term of members elected pursuant to this section commences, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13390,"edition_id":1,"name":"Effective Dates of Redistricting Measures","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13389,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","permalink":{"id":187785,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13390,"identifier":"4","token":"24.2\/3\/4","url":"\/24.2\/3\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13389,"edition_id":1,"name":"Election Districts, Precincts, and Polling Places","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","permalink":{"id":187667,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13389,"identifier":"3","token":"24.2\/3","url":"\/24.2\/3\/","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":76285,"structure_id":13390,"section_number":"24.2-311","catch_line":"Effective date of decennial redistricting measures; elections following decennial redistricting","url":"\/24.2-311\/","token":"24.2\/3\/4\/24.2-311","metadata":false},{"id":55880,"structure_id":13390,"section_number":"24.2-312","catch_line":"Effective date of other redistricting measures; elections following annexation","url":"\/24.2-312\/","token":"24.2\/3\/4\/24.2-312","metadata":false},{"id":54362,"structure_id":13390,"section_number":"24.2-313","catch_line":"Rescheduling of certain local elections following the decennial redistricting of districts for the governing body","url":"\/24.2-313\/","token":"24.2\/3\/4\/24.2-313","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55880,"structure_id":13390,"section_number":"24.2-312","catch_line":"Effective date of other redistricting measures; elections following annexation","url":"\/24.2-312\/","token":"24.2\/3\/4\/24.2-312","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-313\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 189<\/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":false,"refers_to":[{"id":65999,"section_number":"24.2-501","catch_line":"Statement of qualification as requirement of candidacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-501\/"},{"id":78966,"section_number":"24.2-502","catch_line":"Statement of economic interests as requirement of candidacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-502\/"},{"id":62614,"section_number":"24.2-504","catch_line":"Persons entitled to have name printed on ballot","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-504\/"},{"id":56801,"section_number":"24.2-505","catch_line":"Declaration of candidacy required of independent candidates","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-505\/"},{"id":77384,"section_number":"24.2-506","catch_line":"Petition of qualified voters required; number of signatures required; certain towns excepted","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-506\/"}],"permalink":{"id":187795,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54362,"identifier":"24.2-313","token":"24.2\/3\/4\/24.2-313","url":"\/24.2-313\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-313\/","token":"24.2\/3\/4\/24.2-313","dublin_core":{"Title":"Rescheduling of certain local elections following the decennial redistricting of districts for the governing body","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-313","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span> to the contrary, elections<\/span> for members of the governing body or school board<\/span> of any county, city, or town that would be held on a regularly scheduled date for a general election<\/span>, but are delayed because the decennial redistricting plan of such county, city, or town is not precleared by the Attorney General<\/span> of the United States pursuant to § 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act at least thirty days prior to the general election<\/span>, shall be held as provided in this section, unless otherwise provided by a court<\/span> of competent jurisdiction<\/span>. In the event the Attorney General<\/span> grants preclearance at least thirty days prior to the general election<\/span>, the election shall be held as scheduled and shall be conducted from the newly established districts. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any county, city, or town election scheduled to be held entirely on an at-large basis. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In each such county, city, or town, such election shall be held on the first Tuesday (i) that is more than sixty days after the Attorney General<\/span> of the United States issues<\/span> a letter stating that he interposes no objection to a decennial redistricting plan approved and submitted by the county, city, or town; (ii) that is not the scheduled date of a primary election<\/span>; and (iii) that is not within the sixty days before or the thirty-five days after a primary or general election<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Independent candidates<\/span> for such rescheduled elections<\/span> shall qualify in the manner provided by §§ 24.2-505<\/a> and 24.2-506<\/a>, and party<\/span> nominees shall be nominated and certified at least thirty days before the new election date. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> All candidates<\/span> shall file the statements required by §§ 24.2-501<\/a> and 24.2-502<\/a> at least thirty days before the new election date. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections C and D, any candidate<\/span> who qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the original election date, pursuant to § 24.2-504<\/a>, shall be automatically qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the delayed election date and shall not have to refile the required documents, provided that the boundaries of the district in which he is seeking office are the same as when he was originally qualified. In any district in which the boundaries have been changed, candidates<\/span> shall requalify for the ballot; however, at the request of any candidate<\/span> who filed as an independent, his original petitions<\/span> shall be reviewed by the registrar, previously verified signatures of voters who reside in the new district shall be counted toward the number needed to qualify to run in the new district, and the candidate<\/span> may supplement such petitions<\/span> when he refiles under § 24.2-505<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Notwithstanding any provision of law<\/span> to the contrary, the term of members of any governing body or school board<\/span> elected under the provisions of this act shall commence on the first day of the second month following the election and shall terminate on the day on which the term would have expired had the general election<\/span> been held on its regularly scheduled day. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The term of members of any governing body affected by this act that would otherwise expire prior to the commencement of the term of their successors elected pursuant to this section shall be extended until the date that the term of members elected pursuant to this section commences, notwithstanding any provision of law<\/span> to the contrary. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRESCHEDULING OF CERTAIN LOCAL ELECTIONS FOLLOWING THE DECENNIAL REDISTRICTING OF\nDISTRICTS FOR THE GOVERNING BODY (\u00a7 24.2-313)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, elections for\nmembers of the governing body or school board of any county, city, or town that\nwould be held on a regularly scheduled date for a general election, but are\ndelayed because the decennial redistricting plan of such county, city, or town\nis not precleared by the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to\n§ 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act at least thirty days prior to the\ngeneral election, shall be held as provided in this section, unless otherwise\nprovided by a court of competent jurisdiction. In the event the Attorney General\ngrants preclearance at least thirty days prior to the general election, the\nelection shall be held as scheduled and shall be conducted from the newly\nestablished districts. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any\ncounty, city, or town election scheduled to be held entirely on an at-large\nbasis.\n\nB. In each such county, city, or town, such election shall be held on the first\nTuesday (i) that is more than sixty days after the Attorney General of the\nUnited States issues a letter stating that he interposes no objection to a\ndecennial redistricting plan approved and submitted by the county, city, or\ntown; (ii) that is not the scheduled date of a primary election; and (iii) that\nis not within the sixty days before or the thirty-five days after a primary or\ngeneral election.\n\nC. Independent candidates for such rescheduled elections shall qualify in the\nmanner provided by §§ 24.2-505 and 24.2-506, and party nominees shall\nbe nominated and certified at least thirty days before the new election date.\n\nD. All candidates shall file the statements required by §§ 24.2-501\nand 24.2-502 at least thirty days before the new election date.\n\nE. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections C and D, any candidate who\nqualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the original election date,\npursuant to § 24.2-504, shall be automatically qualified to have his name\nprinted on the ballot for the delayed election date and shall not have to refile\nthe required documents, provided that the boundaries of the district in which he\nis seeking office are the same as when he was originally qualified. In any\ndistrict in which the boundaries have been changed, candidates shall requalify\nfor the ballot; however, at the request of any candidate who filed as an\nindependent, his original petitions shall be reviewed by the registrar,\npreviously verified signatures of voters who reside in the new district shall be\ncounted toward the number needed to qualify to run in the new district, and the\ncandidate may supplement such petitions when he refiles under § 24.2-505.\n\nF. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the term of members of\nany governing body or school board elected under the provisions of this act\nshall commence on the first day of the second month following the election and\nshall terminate on the day on which the term would have expired had the general\nelection been held on its regularly scheduled day.\n\nG. The term of members of any governing body affected by this act that would\notherwise expire prior to the commencement of the term of their successors\nelected pursuant to this section shall be extended until the date that the term\nof members elected pursuant to this section commences, notwithstanding any\nprovision of law to the contrary.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, c. 189.","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}}