{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-604.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-604.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-604.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-604.5.html"}],"law_id":74440,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74440,"structure_id":13428,"section_number":"24.2-604.5","catch_line":"Polling places; presence of additional persons authorized","history":"2020, c. 561.","full_text":"A\n\nA local electoral board or general registrar may authorize in writing the presence in the polling place of additional neutral observers as may be deemed appropriate, except as otherwise prohibited or limited by the provisions of § 24.2-604. Such observers shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604 and 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. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to remain outside of the prohibited area.B\n\nThe officers of election shall permit representatives of the news media to visit and film or photograph inside the polling place for a reasonable and limited period of time while the polls are open. However, the media (i) shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604; (ii) shall not film or photograph any person who specifically asks the media representative at that time that he not be filmed or photographed; (iii) shall not film or photograph the voter or the ballot in such a way that divulges how any individual voter is voting; and (iv) shall not film or photograph the voter list or any other voter record or material at the precinct in such a way that it divulges the name or other information concerning any individual voter. Any interviews with voters, candidates, or other persons; live broadcasts; or taping of reporters’ remarks shall be conducted outside of the polling place and the prohibited area. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to leave the polling place and the prohibited area.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267553,"text":"A local electoral board or general registrar may authorize in writing the presence in the polling place of additional neutral observers as may be deemed appropriate, except as otherwise prohibited or limited by the provisions of § 24.2-604. Such observers shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604 and 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. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to remain outside of the prohibited area.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":267554,"text":"The officers of election shall permit representatives of the news media to visit and film or photograph inside the polling place for a reasonable and limited period of time while the polls are open. However, the media (i) shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604; (ii) shall not film or photograph any person who specifically asks the media representative at that time that he not be filmed or photographed; (iii) shall not film or photograph the voter or the ballot in such a way that divulges how any individual voter is voting; and (iv) shall not film or photograph the voter list or any other voter record or material at the precinct in such a way that it divulges the name or other information concerning any individual voter. Any interviews with voters, candidates, or other persons; live broadcasts; or taping of reporters’ remarks shall be conducted outside of the polling place and the prohibited area. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to leave the polling place and the prohibited area.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-604.5\/","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":false,"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":188439,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74440,"identifier":"24.2-604.5","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.5","url":"\/24.2-604.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-604.5\/","token":"24.2\/6\/1\/24.2-604.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Polling places; presence of additional persons authorized","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-604.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A local electoral board<\/span> or general registrar<\/span> may authorize in writing the presence in the polling place<\/span> of additional neutral observers as may be deemed appropriate, except as otherwise prohibited or limited by the provisions of § 24.2-604<\/a>. Such observers shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604<\/a> and 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>. The officers of election<\/span> may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to remain outside of the prohibited area. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The officers of election<\/span> shall permit representatives of the news media to visit and film or photograph inside the polling place<\/span> for a reasonable and limited period of time while the polls are open. However, the media (i) shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604<\/a>; (ii) shall not film or photograph any person who specifically asks the media representative at that time that he not be filmed or photographed; (iii) shall not film or photograph the voter or the ballot in such a way that divulges how any individual voter is voting; and (iv) shall not film or photograph the voter list or any other voter record or material<\/span> at the precinct<\/span> in such a way that it divulges the name or other information concerning any individual voter. Any interviews with voters, candidates<\/span>, or other persons; live broadcasts; or taping of reporters’ remarks shall be conducted outside of the polling place<\/span> and the prohibited area. The officers of election<\/span> may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this subsection to leave the polling place<\/span> and the prohibited area. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOLLING PLACES; PRESENCE OF ADDITIONAL PERSONS AUTHORIZED (\u00a7 24.2-604.5)\n\nA. A local electoral board or general registrar may authorize in writing the\npresence in the polling place of additional neutral observers as may be deemed\nappropriate, except as otherwise prohibited or limited by the provisions of\n§ 24.2-604. Such observers shall comply with the restrictions in\nsubsections A and C of § 24.2-604 and shall not be allowed in any case to\nprovide assistance to any voter as permitted under § 24.2-649 or to wear\nany indication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the\npolling place or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place. The\nofficers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the\nofficers present to be in violation of this subsection to remain outside of the\nprohibited area.\n\nB. The officers of election shall permit representatives of the news media to\nvisit and film or photograph inside the polling place for a reasonable and\nlimited period of time while the polls are open. However, the media (i) shall\ncomply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of § 24.2-604; (ii)\nshall not film or photograph any person who specifically asks the media\nrepresentative at that time that he not be filmed or photographed; (iii) shall\nnot film or photograph the voter or the ballot in such a way that divulges how\nany individual voter is voting; and (iv) shall not film or photograph the voter\nlist or any other voter record or material at the precinct in such a way that it\ndivulges the name or other information concerning any individual voter. Any\ninterviews with voters, candidates, or other persons; live broadcasts; or taping\nof reporters’ remarks shall be conducted outside of the polling place and\nthe prohibited area. The officers of election may require any person who is\nfound by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this\nsubsection to leave the polling place and the prohibited 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}}