{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-639.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-639.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-639.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-639.html"}],"law_id":56688,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56688,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-639","catch_line":"Duties of officers of election","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 24-306; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-216; 1972, c. 620; 1985, c. 458; 1993, c. 641; 1998, c. 264; 2003, c. 1015; 2004, cc. 993, 1010; 2010, c. 448; 2014, cc. 540, 576; 2015, c. 133; 2016, cc. 18, 464, 492.","full_text":"The officers of election of each precinct at which voting systems are used shall meet at the polling place by 5:15 a.m. on the day of the election and arrange the equipment, furniture, and other materials for the conduct of the election. The officers of election shall verify that all required equipment, ballots, and other materials have been delivered to them for the election. The officers shall post at least two instruction cards for direct recording electronic machines conspicuously within the polling place.\n\t\tThe keys to the equipment and any electronic activation devices that are required for the operation of electronic voting equipment shall be delivered, prior to the opening of the polls, to the officer of election designated by the electoral board or general registrar in a sealed envelope on which has been written or printed the name of the precinct for which it is intended. The envelope containing the keys and any electronic activation devices shall not be opened until all of the officers of election for the precinct are present at the polling place and have examined the envelope to see that it has not been opened. The equipment shall remain locked against voting until the polls are formally opened and shall not be operated except by voters in voting.\n\t\tBefore opening the polls, each officer shall examine the equipment and see that no vote has been cast and that the counters register zero. The officers shall conduct their examination in the presence of the following party and candidate representatives: 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, if such representatives are available. Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. Each representative, who is not himself a candidate or party chairman, shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate and 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.\n\t\tIf any counter, other than a protective or private counter, on a ballot scanner is found not to register zero, the officers of election shall immediately notify the general registrar, who shall, if possible, substitute a machine in good working order, that has been prepared and tested pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-634. No ballot scanner shall be used if any counter, other than a protective or private counter, is found not to register zero.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":207439,"text":"The officers of election of each precinct at which voting systems are used shall meet at the polling place by 5:15 a.m. on the day of the election and arrange the equipment, furniture, and other materials for the conduct of the election. The officers of election shall verify that all required equipment, ballots, and other materials have been delivered to them for the election. The officers shall post at least two instruction cards for direct recording electronic machines conspicuously within the polling place.\n\t\tThe keys to the equipment and any electronic activation devices that are required for the operation of electronic voting equipment shall be delivered, prior to the opening of the polls, to the officer of election designated by the electoral board or general registrar in a sealed envelope on which has been written or printed the name of the precinct for which it is intended. The envelope containing the keys and any electronic activation devices shall not be opened until all of the officers of election for the precinct are present at the polling place and have examined the envelope to see that it has not been opened. The equipment shall remain locked against voting until the polls are formally opened and shall not be operated except by voters in voting.\n\t\tBefore opening the polls, each officer shall examine the equipment and see that no vote has been cast and that the counters register zero. The officers shall conduct their examination in the presence of the following party and candidate representatives: 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, if such representatives are available. Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. Each representative, who is not himself a candidate or party chairman, shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate and 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.\n\t\tIf any counter, other than a protective or private counter, on a ballot scanner is found not to register zero, the officers of election shall immediately notify the general registrar, who shall, if possible, substitute a machine in good working order, that has been prepared and tested pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-634. No ballot scanner shall be used if any counter, other than a protective or private counter, is found not to register zero.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14748,"edition_id":1,"name":"Voting Equipment and Systems","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:42","permalink":{"id":188537,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14748,"identifier":"3","token":"24.2\/6\/3","url":"\/24.2\/6\/3\/","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":81594,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-625","catch_line":"Application of Title 24.2 and general law","url":"\/24.2-625\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-625","metadata":false},{"id":64556,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-625.1","catch_line":"Voting equipment security","url":"\/24.2-625.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-625.1","metadata":false},{"id":75404,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-625.2","catch_line":"Wireless communications at polling places","url":"\/24.2-625.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-625.2","metadata":false},{"id":56486,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-626","catch_line":"Governing bodies shall acquire electronic voting systems","url":"\/24.2-626\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-626","metadata":false},{"id":75102,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-626.1","catch_line":"Acquisition and use of accessible voting devices","url":"\/24.2-626.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-626.1","metadata":false},{"id":71016,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-627","catch_line":"Electronic voting systems; number required","url":"\/24.2-627\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-627","metadata":false},{"id":69036,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-628","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-628\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-628","metadata":false},{"id":83263,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-629","catch_line":"State Board approval process of electronic voting systems","url":"\/24.2-629\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-629","metadata":false},{"id":85534,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-630","catch_line":"Experimental use of approved systems","url":"\/24.2-630\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-630","metadata":false},{"id":69604,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-631","catch_line":"Experimental use of voting systems and ballots prior to approval of the system","url":"\/24.2-631\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-631","metadata":false},{"id":63370,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-632","catch_line":"Voting equipment custodians","url":"\/24.2-632\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-632","metadata":false},{"id":67570,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-633","catch_line":"Notice of final testing of voting system; sealing equipment","url":"\/24.2-633\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-633","metadata":false},{"id":70313,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-634","catch_line":"Locking and securing after preparation","url":"\/24.2-634\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-634","metadata":false},{"id":65283,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-635","catch_line":"Demonstration of equipment","url":"\/24.2-635\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-635","metadata":false},{"id":82884,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-636","catch_line":"Instruction as to use of equipment","url":"\/24.2-636\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-636","metadata":false},{"id":59705,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-637","catch_line":"Furniture and equipment to be at polling places","url":"\/24.2-637\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-637","metadata":false},{"id":60602,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-638","catch_line":"Voting equipment to be in plain view; officers and others not permitted to see actual voting; unlocking counter compartment of equipment, etc","url":"\/24.2-638\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-638","metadata":false},{"id":56688,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-639","catch_line":"Duties of officers of election","url":"\/24.2-639\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-639","metadata":false},{"id":69224,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-640","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-640\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-640","metadata":false},{"id":82022,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-641","catch_line":"Sample ballot","url":"\/24.2-641\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-641","metadata":false},{"id":80339,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-642","catch_line":"Inoperative equipment","url":"\/24.2-642\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-642","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60602,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-638","catch_line":"Voting equipment to be in plain view; officers and others not permitted to see actual voting; unlocking counter compartment of equipment, etc","url":"\/24.2-638\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-638","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69224,"structure_id":14748,"section_number":"24.2-640","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-640\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-640","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-639\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 11 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 1985, chapter 458; in 1993, chapter 641; in 1998, chapter 264<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 1015<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 993<\/a> and 1010<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 448<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 540<\/a> and 576<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 133<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 18<\/a>, 464<\/a>, and 492<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":65647,"section_number":"24.2-624","catch_line":"Opening and closing ballot containers; opening polls","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-624\/"},{"id":70313,"section_number":"24.2-634","catch_line":"Locking and securing after preparation","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-634\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70313,"section_number":"24.2-634","catch_line":"Locking and securing after preparation","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-634\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188607,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56688,"identifier":"24.2-639","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-639","url":"\/24.2-639\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-639\/","token":"24.2\/6\/3\/24.2-639","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duties of officers of election","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-639","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The officers of election of each precinct<\/span> at which voting systems<\/span> are used shall meet at the polling place<\/span> by 5:15 a.m. on the day of the election and arrange the equipment, furniture, and other materials<\/span> for the conduct of the election. The officers of election shall verify that all required equipment, ballots, and other materials<\/span> have been delivered to them for the election. The officers shall post at least two instruction cards for direct recording electronic machines<\/span> conspicuously within the polling place<\/span>.\n\t\tThe keys to the equipment and any electronic activation devices that are required for the operation of electronic voting equipment shall be delivered, prior to the opening of the polls, to the officer of election<\/span> designated by the electoral board<\/span> or general registrar<\/span> in a sealed<\/span> envelope on which has been written or printed the name of the precinct<\/span> for which it is intended. The envelope containing the keys and any electronic activation devices shall not be opened until all of the officers of election for the precinct<\/span> are present at the polling place<\/span> and have examined the envelope to see that it has not been opened. The equipment shall remain locked against voting until the polls are formally opened and shall not be operated except by voters in voting.\n\t\tBefore opening the polls, each officer shall examine the equipment and see that no vote has been cast and that the counters register zero. The officers shall conduct their examination in the presence of the following party and candidate<\/span> representatives: 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>, if such representatives are available. Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter<\/span> of any jurisdiction<\/span> of the Commonwealth. Each representative, who is not himself a candidate<\/span> or party chairman, shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate<\/span> and 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.\n\t\tIf any counter, other than a protective or private counter, on a ballot scanner is found not to register zero, the officers of election shall immediately notify the general registrar<\/span>, who shall, if possible, substitute a machine in good working order<\/span>, that has been prepared and tested pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-634<\/a>. No ballot scanner shall be used if any counter, other than a protective or private counter, is found not to register zero.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTIES OF OFFICERS OF ELECTION (\u00a7 24.2-639)\n\nThe officers of election of each precinct at which voting systems are used shall\nmeet at the polling place by 5:15 a.m. on the day of the election and arrange\nthe equipment, furniture, and other materials for the conduct of the election.\nThe officers of election shall verify that all required equipment, ballots, and\nother materials have been delivered to them for the election. The officers shall\npost at least two instruction cards for direct recording electronic machines\nconspicuously within the polling place.\n\t\tThe keys to the equipment and any electronic activation devices that are\nrequired for the operation of electronic voting equipment shall be delivered,\nprior to the opening of the polls, to the officer of election designated by the\nelectoral board or general registrar in a sealed envelope on which has been\nwritten or printed the name of the precinct for which it is intended. The\nenvelope containing the keys and any electronic activation devices shall not be\nopened until all of the officers of election for the precinct are present at the\npolling place and have examined the envelope to see that it has not been opened.\nThe equipment shall remain locked against voting until the polls are formally\nopened and shall not be operated except by voters in voting.\n\t\tBefore opening the polls, each officer shall examine the equipment and see\nthat no vote has been cast and that the counters register zero. The officers\nshall conduct their examination in the presence of the following party and\ncandidate representatives: one authorized representative of each political party\nor independent candidate in a general or special election, or one authorized\nrepresentative of each candidate in a primary election, if such representatives\nare available. Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any\njurisdiction of the Commonwealth. Each representative, who is not himself a\ncandidate or party chairman, shall present to the officers of election a written\nstatement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate and\nsigned 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\t\tIf any counter, other than a protective or private counter, on a ballot\nscanner is found not to register zero, the officers of election shall\nimmediately notify the general registrar, who shall, if possible, substitute a\nmachine in good working order, that has been prepared and tested pursuant to \u00a7\n24.2-634. No ballot scanner shall be used if any counter, other than a\nprotective or private counter, is found not to register zero.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 24-306; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-216; 1972, c. 620; 1985, c.\n458; 1993, c. 641; 1998, c. 264; 2003, c. 1015; 2004, cc. 993, 1010; 2010, c.\n448; 2014, cc. 540, 576; 2015, c. 133; 2016, cc. 18, 464, 492.","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}}