{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-649.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-649.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-649.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-649.1.html"}],"law_id":54944,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54944,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-649.1","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters outside of the polling place","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 163; 2024, cc. 191, 515.","full_text":"A\n\nAny qualified voter who is a person with a disability or who is age 65 or older shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place in accordance with the provisions of this section. However, during a declared state of emergency related to a communicable disease of public health threat, any voter, regardless of age or disability, shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place in accordance with the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section, a disability shall include a permanent or temporary disability, or an injury.B\n\nThe area designated for voting outside of the polling place shall be within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling place. This area shall be clearly marked, and instructions on how to notify an officer of election of the voter’s request to vote outside of the polling place shall be prominently displayed. The Department shall prescribe the form and content of such instructions, but in no case shall the voter be required to enter the polling place to provide such notice.C\n\nA voter eligible pursuant to subsection A shall be handed a printed ballot by an officer of election. He shall mark the ballot in the officer’s presence but in a secret manner and, obscuring his vote, shall return the ballot to the officer. The officer shall immediately return to the polling place and shall deposit a paper ballot in the ballot container in accordance with § 24.2-646 or a machine-readable ballot in the ballot scanner machine in accordance with the instructions of the State Board.D\n\nAny county or city that has acquired an electronic voting machine that is so constructed as to be easily portable may use the voting machine in lieu of a printed ballot for voting outside of the polling place, so long as: (i) the voting machine remains in the plain view of two officers of election representing two political parties, or in a primary election, two officers of election representing the party conducting the primary, provided that if the use of two officers for this purpose would result in too few officers remaining in the polling place to meet legal requirements, the voting machine shall remain in plain view of one officer who shall be either the chief officer or the assistant chief officer and (ii) the voter casts his ballot in a secret manner unless the voter requests assistance pursuant to § 24.2-649.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has completed voting his ballot, the officer or officers shall immediately return the voting machine to its assigned location inside the polling place and shall record (a) the machine number, (b) the time that the machine was removed and the time that it was returned, (c) the number on the machine’s public counter before the machine was removed and the number on the same counter when it was returned, and (d) the name or names of the officer or officers who accompanied the machine on the statement of results. The names of the voters who used the machine while it was removed shall also be recorded, provided that secrecy of the ballot is maintained in accordance with guidance from the State Board. If a polling place fails to record the information required in clause (a), (b), (c), or (d), or it is later proven that the information recorded was intentionally falsified, the local electoral board or general registrar shall dismiss at a minimum the chief officer or the assistant chief officer, or both, as appropriate, and shall dismiss any other officer of election who is shown to have caused the failure to record the required information intentionally or by gross negligence or to have intentionally falsified the information. The dismissed officers shall not be allowed thereafter to serve as an officer or other election official anywhere in the Commonwealth.E\n\nTraining on providing assistance for voters outside of the polling place pursuant to this section shall be provided to all officers of election as part of the training required by subsection A of § 24.2-115.2.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":201587,"text":"Any qualified voter who is a person with a disability or who is age 65 or older shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place in accordance with the provisions of this section. However, during a declared state of emergency related to a communicable disease of public health threat, any voter, regardless of age or disability, shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place in accordance with the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section, a disability shall include a permanent or temporary disability, or an injury.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":201588,"text":"The area designated for voting outside of the polling place shall be within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling place. This area shall be clearly marked, and instructions on how to notify an officer of election of the voter’s request to vote outside of the polling place shall be prominently displayed. The Department shall prescribe the form and content of such instructions, but in no case shall the voter be required to enter the polling place to provide such notice.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":201589,"text":"A voter eligible pursuant to subsection A shall be handed a printed ballot by an officer of election. He shall mark the ballot in the officer’s presence but in a secret manner and, obscuring his vote, shall return the ballot to the officer. The officer shall immediately return to the polling place and shall deposit a paper ballot in the ballot container in accordance with § 24.2-646 or a machine-readable ballot in the ballot scanner machine in accordance with the instructions of the State Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":201590,"text":"Any county or city that has acquired an electronic voting machine that is so constructed as to be easily portable may use the voting machine in lieu of a printed ballot for voting outside of the polling place, so long as: (i) the voting machine remains in the plain view of two officers of election representing two political parties, or in a primary election, two officers of election representing the party conducting the primary, provided that if the use of two officers for this purpose would result in too few officers remaining in the polling place to meet legal requirements, the voting machine shall remain in plain view of one officer who shall be either the chief officer or the assistant chief officer and (ii) the voter casts his ballot in a secret manner unless the voter requests assistance pursuant to § 24.2-649.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has completed voting his ballot, the officer or officers shall immediately return the voting machine to its assigned location inside the polling place and shall record (a) the machine number, (b) the time that the machine was removed and the time that it was returned, (c) the number on the machine’s public counter before the machine was removed and the number on the same counter when it was returned, and (d) the name or names of the officer or officers who accompanied the machine on the statement of results. The names of the voters who used the machine while it was removed shall also be recorded, provided that secrecy of the ballot is maintained in accordance with guidance from the State Board. If a polling place fails to record the information required in clause (a), (b), (c), or (d), or it is later proven that the information recorded was intentionally falsified, the local electoral board or general registrar shall dismiss at a minimum the chief officer or the assistant chief officer, or both, as appropriate, and shall dismiss any other officer of election who is shown to have caused the failure to record the required information intentionally or by gross negligence or to have intentionally falsified the information. The dismissed officers shall not be allowed thereafter to serve as an officer or other election official anywhere in the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":201591,"text":"Training on providing assistance for voters outside of the polling place pursuant to this section shall be provided to all officers of election as part of the training required by subsection A of § 24.2-115.2.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13023,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conduct of Election; Election Results","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","permalink":{"id":188623,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13023,"identifier":"4","token":"24.2\/6\/4","url":"\/24.2\/6\/4\/","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":59861,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-643","catch_line":"Qualified voter permitted to vote; procedures at polling place; voter identification","url":"\/24.2-643\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-643","metadata":false},{"id":56984,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-644","catch_line":"Voting by paper ballot; voting for presidential electors; write-in votes","url":"\/24.2-644\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-644","metadata":false},{"id":70245,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-645","catch_line":"Defaced printed ballots","url":"\/24.2-645\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-645","metadata":false},{"id":62642,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-646","catch_line":"Voter folds paper ballot and hands same to officer who deposits it unopened in ballot container","url":"\/24.2-646\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-646","metadata":false},{"id":74662,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-646.1","catch_line":"Permitted use of paper ballots","url":"\/24.2-646.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-646.1","metadata":false},{"id":61641,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-647","catch_line":"Voting systems; demonstration on election day","url":"\/24.2-647\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-647","metadata":false},{"id":81756,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-648","catch_line":"Write-in votes on voting equipment","url":"\/24.2-648\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-648","metadata":false},{"id":77348,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-649","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties","url":"\/24.2-649\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649","metadata":false},{"id":54944,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-649.1","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters outside of the polling place","url":"\/24.2-649.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649.1","metadata":false},{"id":77674,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-650","catch_line":"Officers to sign only official papers, etc","url":"\/24.2-650\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-650","metadata":false},{"id":85350,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-651","catch_line":"Voter who is challenged; how challenge tried","url":"\/24.2-651\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-651","metadata":false},{"id":77395,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-651.1","catch_line":"Voter who is shown as having already voted; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-651.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-651.1","metadata":false},{"id":71158,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-652","catch_line":"Voter whose name erroneously omitted from pollbook; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-652\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-652","metadata":false},{"id":78491,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-653","catch_line":"Provisional voting; procedures in polling place","url":"\/24.2-653\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653","metadata":false},{"id":56440,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-653.01","catch_line":"Provisional ballots; electoral boards to make determination as to validity","url":"\/24.2-653.01\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.01","metadata":false},{"id":67417,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-653.1","catch_line":"Voters who did not receive absentee ballots; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-653.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.1","metadata":false},{"id":82099,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-653.2","catch_line":"Ballots cast after normal close of polling hours due to court-ordered extension; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-653.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.2","metadata":false},{"id":86411,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-653.3","catch_line":"Voters assigned to split precinct; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-653.3\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.3","metadata":false},{"id":68454,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-654","catch_line":"Officers to lock and seal voting equipment and ascertain vote after polls closed; statement of results","url":"\/24.2-654\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-654","metadata":false},{"id":67381,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-655","catch_line":"Representatives of political parties and candidates to be present on request","url":"\/24.2-655\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-655","metadata":false},{"id":63563,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-656","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-656\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-656","metadata":false},{"id":85065,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-657","catch_line":"Determination of vote on voting systems","url":"\/24.2-657\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-657","metadata":false},{"id":77139,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-658","catch_line":"Machines with printed return sheets; disposition of sheets","url":"\/24.2-658\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-658","metadata":false},{"id":66445,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-659","catch_line":"Locking voting systems after election and delivering keys to clerk; printed returns as evidence","url":"\/24.2-659\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-659","metadata":false},{"id":71990,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-660","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-660\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-660","metadata":false},{"id":78732,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-661","catch_line":"Detection and setting aside of double ballots","url":"\/24.2-661\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-661","metadata":false},{"id":64866,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-662","catch_line":"Procedure when paper ballots exceed names on pollbooks","url":"\/24.2-662\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-662","metadata":false},{"id":74030,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-663","catch_line":"When ballot void","url":"\/24.2-663\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-663","metadata":false},{"id":83169,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-664","catch_line":"Reduction in number of ballots","url":"\/24.2-664\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-664","metadata":false},{"id":65211,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-665","catch_line":"How paper ballots counted","url":"\/24.2-665\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-665","metadata":false},{"id":87396,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-666","catch_line":"Procedures to account for paper ballots","url":"\/24.2-666\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-666","metadata":false},{"id":82269,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-667","catch_line":"Completion of statement of results","url":"\/24.2-667\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-667","metadata":false},{"id":73171,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-667.1","catch_line":"Reporting of results; absentee and provisional votes","url":"\/24.2-667.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-667.1","metadata":false},{"id":64679,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-668","catch_line":"Pollbooks, statements of results, and ballots to be sealed and delivered to clerk or general registrar","url":"\/24.2-668\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-668","metadata":false},{"id":54119,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-669","catch_line":"Clerk to keep ballots; inspection; destruction","url":"\/24.2-669\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-669","metadata":false},{"id":56072,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-670","catch_line":"Clerk to send for books and ballots if not delivered by officers","url":"\/24.2-670\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-670","metadata":false},{"id":63223,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-671","catch_line":"Electoral board to meet and ascertain results; conclusiveness of results","url":"\/24.2-671\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671","metadata":false},{"id":60484,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-671.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-671.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671.1","metadata":false},{"id":70965,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-671.2","catch_line":"Risk-limiting audits","url":"\/24.2-671.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671.2","metadata":false},{"id":76981,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-672","catch_line":"Electoral board to correct irregularities in returns of officers of election","url":"\/24.2-672\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-672","metadata":false},{"id":65316,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-673","catch_line":"Candidates having highest number of votes to receive certificate of election","url":"\/24.2-673\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-673","metadata":false},{"id":86287,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-673.1","catch_line":"(Expires July 1, 2031) Ranked choice voting","url":"\/24.2-673.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-673.1","metadata":false},{"id":80865,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-674","catch_line":"Determination by lot in case of tie","url":"\/24.2-674\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-674","metadata":false},{"id":54091,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-675","catch_line":"Abstracts of votes to be made by secretary and forwarded to State Board and to clerks","url":"\/24.2-675\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-675","metadata":false},{"id":57620,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-676","catch_line":"Secretary to make out and deliver certificate of election","url":"\/24.2-676\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-676","metadata":false},{"id":56641,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-677","catch_line":"State Board to open and record returns; application of Freedom of Information Act","url":"\/24.2-677\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-677","metadata":false},{"id":56927,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-678","catch_line":"Law-enforcement officer to be sent for abstracts not forwarded","url":"\/24.2-678\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-678","metadata":false},{"id":81617,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-679","catch_line":"State Board to meet and make statement as to number of votes","url":"\/24.2-679\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-679","metadata":false},{"id":71192,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-680","catch_line":"Certificates of election","url":"\/24.2-680\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-680","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":77348,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-649","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties","url":"\/24.2-649\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":77674,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-650","catch_line":"Officers to sign only official papers, etc","url":"\/24.2-650\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-650","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-649.1\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2024, chapters 191<\/a> and 515<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60602,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-638\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72523,"section_number":"24.2-115.2","catch_line":"Officers of election; required training","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-115.2\/"},{"id":62642,"section_number":"24.2-646","catch_line":"Voter folds paper ballot and hands same to officer who deposits it unopened in ballot container","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-646\/"},{"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":188657,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54944,"identifier":"24.2-649.1","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649.1","url":"\/24.2-649.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-649.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Assistance for certain voters outside of the polling place","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-649.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any qualified voter<\/span> who is a person with a disability<\/span> or who is age 65 or older shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place<\/span> in accordance with the provisions of this section. However, during a declared state of emergency related to a communicable disease of public health threat, any voter, regardless of age or disability, shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place<\/span> in accordance with the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section, a disability shall include a permanent or temporary disability, or an injury. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The area designated for voting outside of the polling place<\/span> shall be within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling place<\/span>. This area shall be clearly marked, and instructions on how to notify an officer of election<\/span> of the voter’s request to vote outside of the polling place<\/span> shall be prominently displayed. The Department<\/span> shall prescribe the form and content of such instructions, but in no case shall the voter be required to enter the polling place<\/span> to provide such notice. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A voter eligible pursuant to subsection A shall be handed a printed ballot<\/span> by an officer of election<\/span>. He shall mark the ballot in the officer’s presence but in a secret manner and, obscuring his vote, shall return the ballot to the officer. The officer shall immediately return to the polling place<\/span> and shall deposit a paper ballot<\/span> in the ballot container in accordance with § 24.2-646<\/a> or a machine-readable ballot<\/span> in the ballot scanner machine<\/span> in accordance with the instructions of the State Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any county or city that has acquired an electronic voting machine that is so constructed as to be easily portable may use the voting machine in lieu of a printed ballot<\/span> for voting outside of the polling place<\/span>, so long as: (i) the voting machine remains in the plain view of two officers of election representing two political parties, or in a primary election<\/span>, two officers of election representing the party<\/span> conducting the primary, provided that if the use of two officers for this purpose would result in too few officers remaining in the polling place<\/span> to meet legal requirements, the voting machine shall remain in plain view of one officer who shall be either the chief officer or the assistant chief officer and (ii) the voter casts his ballot in a secret manner unless the voter requests assistance pursuant to § 24.2-649<\/a>.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has completed voting his ballot, the officer or officers shall immediately return the voting machine to its assigned location inside the polling place<\/span> and shall record (a) the machine number, (b) the time that the machine was removed and the time that it was returned, (c) the number on the machine’s public counter before the machine was removed and the number on the same counter when it was returned, and (d) the name or names of the officer or officers who accompanied the machine on the statement of results. The names of the voters who used the machine while it was removed shall also be recorded, provided that secrecy of the ballot is maintained in accordance with guidance from the State Board<\/span>. If a polling place<\/span> fails to record the information required in clause (a), (b), (c), or (d), or it is later proven that the information recorded was intentionally falsified, the local electoral board<\/span> or general registrar<\/span> shall dismiss at a minimum the chief officer or the assistant chief officer, or both, as appropriate, and shall dismiss any other officer of election<\/span> who is shown to have caused the failure to record the required information intentionally or by gross negligence<\/span> or to have intentionally falsified the information. The dismissed officers shall not be allowed thereafter to serve as an officer or other election official anywhere in the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Training on providing assistance for voters outside of the polling place<\/span> pursuant to this section shall be provided to all officers of election as part of the training required by subsection A of § 24.2-115.2<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VOTERS OUTSIDE OF THE POLLING PLACE (\u00a7 24.2-649.1)\n\nA. Any qualified voter who is a person with a disability or who is age 65 or\nolder shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place in accordance with\nthe provisions of this section. However, during a declared state of emergency\nrelated to a communicable disease of public health threat, any voter, regardless\nof age or disability, shall be entitled to vote outside of the polling place in\naccordance with the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section, a\ndisability shall include a permanent or temporary disability, or an injury.\n\nB. The area designated for voting outside of the polling place shall be within\n150 feet of the entrance to the polling place. This area shall be clearly\nmarked, and instructions on how to notify an officer of election of the\nvoter’s request to vote outside of the polling place shall be prominently\ndisplayed. The Department shall prescribe the form and content of such\ninstructions, but in no case shall the voter be required to enter the polling\nplace to provide such notice.\n\nC. A voter eligible pursuant to subsection A shall be handed a printed ballot by\nan officer of election. He shall mark the ballot in the officer’s presence\nbut in a secret manner and, obscuring his vote, shall return the ballot to the\nofficer. The officer shall immediately return to the polling place and shall\ndeposit a paper ballot in the ballot container in accordance with §\n24.2-646 or a machine-readable ballot in the ballot scanner machine in\naccordance with the instructions of the State Board.\n\nD. Any county or city that has acquired an electronic voting machine that is so\nconstructed as to be easily portable may use the voting machine in lieu of a\nprinted ballot for voting outside of the polling place, so long as: (i) the\nvoting machine remains in the plain view of two officers of election\nrepresenting two political parties, or in a primary election, two officers of\nelection representing the party conducting the primary, provided that if the use\nof two officers for this purpose would result in too few officers remaining in\nthe polling place to meet legal requirements, the voting machine shall remain in\nplain view of one officer who shall be either the chief officer or the assistant\nchief officer and (ii) the voter casts his ballot in a secret manner unless the\nvoter requests assistance pursuant to § 24.2-649.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has completed voting his ballot, the officer or officers\nshall immediately return the voting machine to its assigned location inside the\npolling place and shall record (a) the machine number, (b) the time that the\nmachine was removed and the time that it was returned, (c) the number on the\nmachine’s public counter before the machine was removed and the number on\nthe same counter when it was returned, and (d) the name or names of the officer\nor officers who accompanied the machine on the statement of results. The names\nof the voters who used the machine while it was removed shall also be recorded,\nprovided that secrecy of the ballot is maintained in accordance with guidance\nfrom the State Board. If a polling place fails to record the information\nrequired in clause (a), (b), (c), or (d), or it is later proven that the\ninformation recorded was intentionally falsified, the local electoral board or\ngeneral registrar shall dismiss at a minimum the chief officer or the assistant\nchief officer, or both, as appropriate, and shall dismiss any other officer of\nelection who is shown to have caused the failure to record the required\ninformation intentionally or by gross negligence or to have intentionally\nfalsified the information. The dismissed officers shall not be allowed\nthereafter to serve as an officer or other election official anywhere in the\nCommonwealth.\n\nE. Training on providing assistance for voters outside of the polling place\npursuant to this section shall be provided to all officers of election as part\nof the training required by subsection A of § 24.2-115.2.\n\nHISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 163; 2024, cc. 191, 515.","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}}