{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-624.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-624.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-624.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-624.html"}],"law_id":65647,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65647,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-624","catch_line":"Opening and closing ballot containers; opening polls","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-242, 24-243; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-124; 1972, c. 620; 1993, c. 641; 2003, c. 1015.","full_text":"Immediately before the opening of the polls, an officer of election shall open the ballot containers in the presence of the political party or candidate representatives authorized to be present for the examination of voting equipment pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-639, if such representatives are available. The officers shall inspect the containers to ensure that they are empty, lock them, and deliver the key to one of the officers. One of the officers shall forthwith proclaim that the polls are open. The containers shall not be opened until the close of the polls and shall then be opened for the purpose of counting the ballots therein. The containers shall be kept in view of those voting within the polling place during the hours of the election.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":238595,"text":"Immediately before the opening of the polls, an officer of election shall open the ballot containers in the presence of the political party or candidate representatives authorized to be present for the examination of voting equipment pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-639, if such representatives are available. The officers shall inspect the containers to ensure that they are empty, lock them, and deliver the key to one of the officers. One of the officers shall forthwith proclaim that the polls are open. The containers shall not be opened until the close of the polls and shall then be opened for the purpose of counting the ballots therein. The containers shall be kept in view of those voting within the polling place during the hours of the election.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15200,"edition_id":1,"name":"Ballots","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:55","permalink":{"id":188475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15200,"identifier":"2","token":"24.2\/6\/2","url":"\/24.2\/6\/2\/","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":57868,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-612","catch_line":"List of offices and candidates filed with Department of Elections and checked for accuracy; when ballots printed; number required","url":"\/24.2-612\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-612","metadata":false},{"id":75431,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-612.1","catch_line":"Ballots; death, withdrawal, or disqualification of candidates","url":"\/24.2-612.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-612.1","metadata":false},{"id":63746,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-612.2","catch_line":"Notice of withdrawal of candidates","url":"\/24.2-612.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-612.2","metadata":false},{"id":74566,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-613","catch_line":"Form of ballot","url":"\/24.2-613\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-613","metadata":false},{"id":62602,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-614","catch_line":"Preparation and form of presidential election ballots","url":"\/24.2-614\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-614","metadata":false},{"id":78484,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-615","catch_line":"Separate questions for proposed constitutional amendments, etc.; uniform ballots","url":"\/24.2-615\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-615","metadata":false},{"id":73351,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-616","catch_line":"Duties of printer; statement; penalty","url":"\/24.2-616\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-616","metadata":false},{"id":69180,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-617","catch_line":"Representative of electoral board or general registrar to be present at printing; custody of ballots; electoral board or general registrar may disclose contents, style, and size","url":"\/24.2-617\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-617","metadata":false},{"id":68202,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-618","catch_line":"Delivery of ballots to electoral board or general registrar; checking and recording number","url":"\/24.2-618\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-618","metadata":false},{"id":69755,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-619","catch_line":"Sealing ballots","url":"\/24.2-619\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-619","metadata":false},{"id":79466,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-620","catch_line":"Dividing ballots into packages for each precinct; delivery of absentee ballots","url":"\/24.2-620\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-620","metadata":false},{"id":70445,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-621","catch_line":"Delivery of packages to officers; opening packages","url":"\/24.2-621\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-621","metadata":false},{"id":74211,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-622","catch_line":"Unofficial sample ballots","url":"\/24.2-622\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-622","metadata":false},{"id":83310,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-623","catch_line":"Ballot containers to be supplied by governing bodies; construction and custody","url":"\/24.2-623\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-623","metadata":false},{"id":65647,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-624","catch_line":"Opening and closing ballot containers; opening polls","url":"\/24.2-624\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-624","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83310,"structure_id":15200,"section_number":"24.2-623","catch_line":"Ballot containers to be supplied by governing bodies; construction and custody","url":"\/24.2-623\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-623","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-624\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 462; in 1972, chapter 620; in 1993, chapter 641; in 2003, chapter 1015<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":56688,"section_number":"24.2-639","catch_line":"Duties of officers of election","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-639\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188533,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65647,"identifier":"24.2-624","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-624","url":"\/24.2-624\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-624\/","token":"24.2\/6\/2\/24.2-624","dublin_core":{"Title":"Opening and closing ballot containers; opening polls","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-624","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Immediately before the opening of the polls, an officer of election<\/span> shall open the ballot containers in the presence of the political party<\/span> or candidate<\/span> representatives authorized to be present for the examination of voting equipment pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-639<\/a>, if such representatives are available. The officers shall inspect the containers to ensure that they are empty, lock them, and deliver the key to one of the officers. One of the officers shall forthwith proclaim that the polls are open. The containers shall not be opened until the close of the polls and shall then be opened for the purpose of counting the ballots therein. The containers shall be kept in view of those voting within the polling place<\/span> during the hours of the election.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOPENING AND CLOSING BALLOT CONTAINERS; OPENING POLLS (\u00a7 24.2-624)\n\nImmediately before the opening of the polls, an officer of election shall open\nthe ballot containers in the presence of the political party or candidate\nrepresentatives authorized to be present for the examination of voting equipment\npursuant to \u00a7 24.2-639, if such representatives are available. The officers\nshall inspect the containers to ensure that they are empty, lock them, and\ndeliver the key to one of the officers. One of the officers shall forthwith\nproclaim that the polls are open. The containers shall not be opened until the\nclose of the polls and shall then be opened for the purpose of counting the\nballots therein. The containers shall be kept in view of those voting within the\npolling place during the hours of the election.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-242, 24-243; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-124; 1972, c.\n620; 1993, c. 641; 2003, c. 1015.","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}}