{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-604.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-604.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-604.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-604.4.html"}],"law_id":68941,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68941,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.4","catch_line":"Polling places; authorized representatives of party or candidate; prohibited activities","history":"2020, c. 561.","full_text":"A\n\nThe officers of election shall permit one authorized representative of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or one authorized representative of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted at all times. A representative may serve part of the day and be replaced by successive representatives. The officers of election shall have discretion to permit up to three authorized representatives of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or up to three authorized representatives of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted. The officers shall permit one such representative for each pollbook station. However, no more than one such representative for each pollbook station or three representatives of any political party or independent candidate, whichever number is larger, shall be permitted in the room at any one time.B\n\nEach authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. No candidate whose name is printed on the ballot shall serve as a representative of a party or candidate for purposes of this section.\n\t\t\tEach representative shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate that is signed by the county or city chairman of his political party, the independent candidate, or the primary candidate, as appropriate. If the county or city chairman is unavailable to sign such a written designation, such a designation may be made by the state or district chairman of the political party. However, no written designation made by a state or district chairman shall take precedence over a written designation made by the county or city chairman. Such statement, bearing the chairman’s or candidate’s original signature, may be photocopied, and such photocopy shall be as valid as if the copy had been signed.C\n\nAuthorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling place or central absentee voter precinct, to be close enough to the voter check-in table to be able to hear and see what is occurring; however, such observation shall not violate the secret vote provision of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of Virginia or otherwise interfere with the orderly process of the election. Any representative who complains to the chief officer of election that he is unable to hear or see the process may accept the chief officer’s decision or, if dissatisfied, he may immediately appeal the decision to the local electoral board or general registrar.D\n\nAuthorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling place or central absentee voter precinct, to use a handheld wireless communications device but shall not be allowed to use such a device to capture a digital image inside the polling place or central absentee voter precinct. The officers of election may prohibit the use of cellular telephones or other handheld wireless communications devices if such use will result in a violation of subsection A or C of § 24.2-604 or § 24.2-607.E\n\nAuthorized representatives shall not be allowed in any case to provide assistance to any voter as permitted under § 24.2-649 or to wear any indication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the polling place or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place.F\n\nThe officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the prohibited area.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":249591,"text":"The officers of election shall permit one authorized representative of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or one authorized representative of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted at all times. A representative may serve part of the day and be replaced by successive representatives. The officers of election shall have discretion to permit up to three authorized representatives of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or up to three authorized representatives of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted. The officers shall permit one such representative for each pollbook station. However, no more than one such representative for each pollbook station or three representatives of any political party or independent candidate, whichever number is larger, shall be permitted in the room at any one time.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":249592,"text":"Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. No candidate whose name is printed on the ballot shall serve as a representative of a party or candidate for purposes of this section.\n\t\t\tEach representative shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate that is signed by the county or city chairman of his political party, the independent candidate, or the primary candidate, as appropriate. If the county or city chairman is unavailable to sign such a written designation, such a designation may be made by the state or district chairman of the political party. However, no written designation made by a state or district chairman shall take precedence over a written designation made by the county or city chairman. Such statement, bearing the chairman’s or candidate’s original signature, may be photocopied, and such photocopy shall be as valid as if the copy had been signed.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":249593,"text":"Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling place or central absentee voter precinct, to be close enough to the voter check-in table to be able to hear and see what is occurring; however, such observation shall not violate the secret vote provision of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of Virginia or otherwise interfere with the orderly process of the election. Any representative who complains to the chief officer of election that he is unable to hear or see the process may accept the chief officer’s decision or, if dissatisfied, he may immediately appeal the decision to the local electoral board or general registrar.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":249594,"text":"Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling place or central absentee voter precinct, to use a handheld wireless communications device but shall not be allowed to use such a device to capture a digital image inside the polling place or central absentee voter precinct. The officers of election may prohibit the use of cellular telephones or other handheld wireless communications devices if such use will result in a violation of subsection A or C of § 24.2-604 or § 24.2-607.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":249595,"text":"Authorized representatives shall not be allowed in any case to provide assistance to any voter as permitted under § 24.2-649 or to wear any indication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the polling place or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":249596,"text":"The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the prohibited area.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13428,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions; Polling Places","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:52","permalink":{"id":188397,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13428,"identifier":"1","token":"24.2\/6\/1","url":"\/24.2\/6\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13022,"edition_id":1,"name":"The Election","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","permalink":{"id":188395,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13022,"identifier":"6","token":"24.2\/6","url":"\/24.2\/6\/","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":80383,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-600","catch_line":"Cost of elections","url":"\/24.2-600\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-600","metadata":false},{"id":87129,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-601","catch_line":"Town election process","url":"\/24.2-601\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-601","metadata":false},{"id":55607,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-602","catch_line":"Exemption for ballots and election materials from certain purchasing and procurement requirements","url":"\/24.2-602\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-602","metadata":false},{"id":54395,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-603","catch_line":"Hours polls to be open; closing the polls","url":"\/24.2-603\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-603","metadata":false},{"id":79039,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-603.1","catch_line":"Postponement of certain elections; state of emergency","url":"\/24.2-603.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-603.1","metadata":false},{"id":56096,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604","catch_line":"Polling places; prohibited activities; prohibited area; penalties","url":"\/24.2-604\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604","metadata":false},{"id":61571,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.1","catch_line":"Signs for special entrances to polling places","url":"\/24.2-604.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.1","metadata":false},{"id":59264,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.2","catch_line":"Polling places; prohibited area; emergency situations","url":"\/24.2-604.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.2","metadata":false},{"id":76766,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.3","catch_line":"Election day page program; high school students","url":"\/24.2-604.3\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.3","metadata":false},{"id":68941,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.4","catch_line":"Polling places; authorized representatives of party or candidate; prohibited activities","url":"\/24.2-604.4\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.4","metadata":false},{"id":74440,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.5","catch_line":"Polling places; presence of additional persons authorized","url":"\/24.2-604.5\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.5","metadata":false},{"id":66898,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.6","catch_line":"Polling places; simulated election activities","url":"\/24.2-604.6\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.6","metadata":false},{"id":67277,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-605","catch_line":"Loudspeakers prohibited at polls; penalty","url":"\/24.2-605\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-605","metadata":false},{"id":76559,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-606","catch_line":"Preservation of order at elections","url":"\/24.2-606\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-606","metadata":false},{"id":62119,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-607","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct; intimidation of voters; disturbance of election; how prevented; penalties","url":"\/24.2-607\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-607","metadata":false},{"id":79480,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-608","catch_line":"Officers to decide order of voting","url":"\/24.2-608\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-608","metadata":false},{"id":57464,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-609","catch_line":"Voting booths","url":"\/24.2-609\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-609","metadata":false},{"id":84879,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-610","catch_line":"Materials at polling places","url":"\/24.2-610\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-610","metadata":false},{"id":74260,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-611","catch_line":"Form and signing of pollbooks; records of persons voting; electronic pollbooks","url":"\/24.2-611\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-611","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":76766,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.3","catch_line":"Election day page program; high school students","url":"\/24.2-604.3\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.3","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74440,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.5","catch_line":"Polling places; presence of additional persons authorized","url":"\/24.2-604.5\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.5","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-604.4\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 561<\/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":56096,"section_number":"24.2-604","catch_line":"Polling places; prohibited activities; prohibited area; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-604\/"},{"id":77348,"section_number":"24.2-649","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-649\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":56096,"section_number":"24.2-604","catch_line":"Polling places; prohibited activities; prohibited area; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-604\/"},{"id":77348,"section_number":"24.2-649","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-649\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188435,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68941,"identifier":"24.2-604.4","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.4","url":"\/24.2-604.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-604.4\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Polling places; authorized representatives of party or candidate; prohibited activities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-604.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The officers of election shall permit one authorized representative of each political party<\/span> or independent candidate<\/span> in a general or special election<\/span>, or one authorized representative of each candidate<\/span> in a primary election<\/span>, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted at all times. A representative may serve part of the day and be replaced by successive representatives. The officers of election shall have discretion to permit up to three authorized representatives of each political party<\/span> or independent candidate<\/span> in a general or special election<\/span>, or up to three authorized representatives of each candidate<\/span> in a primary election<\/span>, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted. The officers shall permit one such representative for each pollbook station. However, no more than one such representative for each pollbook station or three representatives of any political party<\/span> or independent candidate<\/span>, whichever number is larger, shall be permitted in the room at any one time. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter<\/span> of any jurisdiction<\/span> of the Commonwealth. No candidate<\/span> whose name is printed on the ballot shall serve as a representative of a party or candidate<\/span> for purposes of this section.\n\t\t\tEach representative shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate<\/span> that is signed by the county or city chairman of his political party<\/span>, the independent candidate<\/span>, or the primary candidate<\/span>, as appropriate. If the county or city chairman is unavailable to sign such a written designation, such a designation may be made by the state or district chairman of the political party<\/span>. However, no written designation made by a state or district chairman shall take precedence over a written designation made by the county or city chairman. Such statement, bearing the chairman’s or candidate<\/span>’s original signature, may be photocopied, and such photocopy shall be as valid as if the copy had been signed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling place<\/span> or central absentee voter precinct<\/span>, to be close enough to the voter check-in table to be able to hear and see what is occurring; however, such observation shall not violate the secret vote provision of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of Virginia or otherwise interfere with the orderly process of the election. Any representative who complains to the chief officer of election<\/span> that he is unable to hear or see the process may accept the chief officer’s decision or, if dissatisfied, he may immediately appeal<\/span> the decision to the local electoral board<\/span> or general registrar<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling place<\/span> or central absentee voter precinct<\/span>, to use a handheld wireless communications device but shall not be allowed to use such a device to capture a digital image inside the polling place<\/span> or central absentee voter precinct<\/span>. The officers of election may prohibit the use of cellular telephones or other handheld wireless communications devices if such use will result in a violation of subsection A or C of § 24.2-604<\/a> or § 24.2-607<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Authorized representatives shall not be allowed in any case to provide assistance to any voter as permitted under § 24.2-649<\/a> or to wear any indication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the polling place<\/span> or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the prohibited area. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOLLING PLACES; AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES OF PARTY OR CANDIDATE; PROHIBITED\nACTIVITIES (\u00a7 24.2-604.4)\n\nA. The officers of election shall permit one authorized representative of each\npolitical party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or\none authorized representative of each candidate in a primary election, to remain\nin the room in which the election is being conducted at all times. A\nrepresentative may serve part of the day and be replaced by successive\nrepresentatives. The officers of election shall have discretion to permit up to\nthree authorized representatives of each political party or independent\ncandidate in a general or special election, or up to three authorized\nrepresentatives of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room\nin which the election is being conducted. The officers shall permit one such\nrepresentative for each pollbook station. However, no more than one such\nrepresentative for each pollbook station or three representatives of any\npolitical party or independent candidate, whichever number is larger, shall be\npermitted in the room at any one time.\n\nB. Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction\nof the Commonwealth. No candidate whose name is printed on the ballot shall\nserve as a representative of a party or candidate for purposes of this section.\n\t\t\tEach representative shall present to the officers of election a written\nstatement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate that\nis signed by the county or city chairman of his political party, the independent\ncandidate, or the primary candidate, as appropriate. If the county or city\nchairman is unavailable to sign such a written designation, such a designation\nmay be made by the state or district chairman of the political party. However,\nno written designation made by a state or district chairman shall take\nprecedence over a written designation made by the county or city chairman. Such\nstatement, bearing the chairman’s or candidate’s original signature,\nmay be photocopied, and such photocopy shall be as valid as if the copy had been\nsigned.\n\nC. Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling\nplace or central absentee voter precinct, to be close enough to the voter\ncheck-in table to be able to hear and see what is occurring; however, such\nobservation shall not violate the secret vote provision of Article II, Section 3\nof the Constitution of Virginia or otherwise interfere with the orderly process\nof the election. Any representative who complains to the chief officer of\nelection that he is unable to hear or see the process may accept the chief\nofficer’s decision or, if dissatisfied, he may immediately appeal the\ndecision to the local electoral board or general registrar.\n\nD. Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a regular polling\nplace or central absentee voter precinct, to use a handheld wireless\ncommunications device but shall not be allowed to use such a device to capture a\ndigital image inside the polling place or central absentee voter precinct. The\nofficers of election may prohibit the use of cellular telephones or other\nhandheld wireless communications devices if such use will result in a violation\nof subsection A or C of § 24.2-604 or § 24.2-607.\n\nE. Authorized representatives shall not be allowed in any case to provide\nassistance to any voter as permitted under § 24.2-649 or to wear any\nindication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the polling\nplace or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place.\n\nF. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of\nthe officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the\nprohibited area.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 561.","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}}