{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-467.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-467.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-467.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-467.html"}],"law_id":67023,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67023,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-467","catch_line":"Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements","history":"2012, c. 353.","full_text":"A\n\nIf a voter&#8217;s mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this chapter does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted under this chapter. In a federal write-in absentee ballot authorized by this chapter, if the intention of the voter is discernible under this state&#8217;s uniform definition of what constitutes a vote, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must be accepted as a valid vote.B\n\nNotarization is not required for the execution of a document under this chapter. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in &#xA7; 24.2-463 or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document under this chapter. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242924,"text":"If a voter&#8217;s mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this chapter does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted under this chapter. In a federal write-in absentee ballot authorized by this chapter, if the intention of the voter is discernible under this state&#8217;s uniform definition of what constitutes a vote, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must be accepted as a valid vote.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242925,"text":"Notarization is not required for the execution of a document under this chapter. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in &#xA7; 24.2-463 or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document under this chapter. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12938,"edition_id":1,"name":"Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act","identifier":"4.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":188105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12938,"identifier":"4.1","token":"24.2\/4.1","url":"\/24.2\/4.1\/","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":80607,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-451","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/24.2-451\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-451","metadata":false},{"id":56695,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-452","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/24.2-452\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-452","metadata":false},{"id":81040,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-453","catch_line":"Restriction of ballot eligibility","url":"\/24.2-453\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-453","metadata":false},{"id":60434,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-454","catch_line":"Elections covered","url":"\/24.2-454\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-454","metadata":false},{"id":81673,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-455","catch_line":"Role of Commissioner of Elections","url":"\/24.2-455\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-455","metadata":false},{"id":56611,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-456","catch_line":"Overseas voter's registration address","url":"\/24.2-456\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-456","metadata":false},{"id":68227,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-457","catch_line":"Methods of registering to vote","url":"\/24.2-457\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-457","metadata":false},{"id":78431,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-458","catch_line":"Methods of applying for military-overseas ballot","url":"\/24.2-458\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-458","metadata":false},{"id":80839,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-459","catch_line":"Timeliness and scope of application for military-overseas ballot","url":"\/24.2-459\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-459","metadata":false},{"id":71326,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-460","catch_line":"Transmission of unvoted ballots","url":"\/24.2-460\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-460","metadata":false},{"id":56227,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-461","catch_line":"Federal write-in absentee ballot","url":"\/24.2-461\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-461","metadata":false},{"id":59764,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-462","catch_line":"Receipt of voted ballot","url":"\/24.2-462\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-462","metadata":false},{"id":76827,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-463","catch_line":"Declaration","url":"\/24.2-463\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-463","metadata":false},{"id":62258,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-464","catch_line":"Confirmation of receipt of application and voted ballot","url":"\/24.2-464\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-464","metadata":false},{"id":83407,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-465","catch_line":"Publication of election notice","url":"\/24.2-465\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-465","metadata":false},{"id":73923,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-466","catch_line":"Sending and updating notices","url":"\/24.2-466\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-466","metadata":false},{"id":67023,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-467","catch_line":"Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements","url":"\/24.2-467\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-467","metadata":false},{"id":79773,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-468","catch_line":"Equitable relief","url":"\/24.2-468\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-468","metadata":false},{"id":54041,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-469","catch_line":"Uniformity of application and constructions","url":"\/24.2-469\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-469","metadata":false},{"id":60833,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-470","catch_line":"Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act","url":"\/24.2-470\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-470","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73923,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-466","catch_line":"Sending and updating notices","url":"\/24.2-466\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-466","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79773,"structure_id":12938,"section_number":"24.2-468","catch_line":"Equitable relief","url":"\/24.2-468\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-468","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-467\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2012. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0353\">353<\/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":76827,"section_number":"24.2-463","catch_line":"Declaration","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-463\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188171,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67023,"identifier":"24.2-467","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-467","url":"\/24.2-467\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-467\/","token":"24.2\/4.1\/24.2-467","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-467","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> If a voter&#8217;s mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this chapter does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted under this chapter. In a <span class=\"dictionary\">federal write-in absentee ballot<\/span> authorized by this chapter, if the intention of the voter is discernible under this <span class=\"dictionary\">state<\/span>&#8217;s uniform definition of what constitutes a vote, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other <span class=\"dictionary\">minor<\/span> variation in the form of the name of a <span class=\"dictionary\">candidate<\/span> or a <span class=\"dictionary\">political party<\/span> must be accepted as a valid vote. <a id=\"paragraph-242924\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/24.2-467\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Notarization is not required for the execution of a document under this chapter. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Declaration\" href=\"\/24.2-463\/\">24.2-463<\/a> or the declaration on the <span class=\"dictionary\">federal postcard application<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">federal write-in absentee ballot<\/span>, is not required for execution of a document under this chapter. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document. <a id=\"paragraph-242925\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/24.2-467\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITION OF NONSUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS (\u00a7 24.2-467)\n\nA. If a voter&#8217;s mistake or omission in the completion of a document under\nthis chapter does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to\nvote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to\nsatisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a\nspecified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted under this\nchapter. In a federal write-in absentee ballot authorized by this chapter, if\nthe intention of the voter is discernible under this state&#8217;s uniform\ndefinition of what constitutes a vote, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other\nminor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must\nbe accepted as a valid vote.\n\nB. Notarization is not required for the execution of a document under this\nchapter. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in &#xA7;\n24.2-463 or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal\nwrite-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document under this\nchapter. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared\nwith information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.\n\nHISTORY: 2012, c. 353.","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}}