{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-671.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-671.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-671.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-671.html"}],"law_id":63223,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63223,"structure_id":13023,"section_number":"24.2-671","catch_line":"Electoral board to meet and ascertain results; conclusiveness of results","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-271, 24-272; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-146; 1973, c. 30; 1981, c. 425; 1991, c. 388; 1992, c. 329; 1993, c. 641; 1996, cc. 8, 223; 2003, c. 1015; 2005, c. 824; 2006, c. 689; 2014, c. 486; 2018, c. 536; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 459; 2022, cc. 443, 444; 2024, c. 738.","full_text":"A\n\nEach electoral board shall meet at the clerk’s or general registrar’s office of the county or city for which they are appointed at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election. The board may adjourn to another room of sufficient size in a public building to ascertain the results, and may adjourn as needed, not to exceed 10 calendar days from the date of the election unless an extension has been granted to accommodate a risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to § 24.2-671.2. Written directions to the location of any room other than the clerk’s or general registrar’s office where the board will meet shall be posted at the doors of the clerk’s and general registrar’s offices prior to the beginning of the meeting.\n\t\t\tIf the electoral board has exercised the option provided by § 24.2-668 for delivery of the election materials to the office of the general registrar on the night of the election, the electoral board shall meet at the office of the general registrar at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election.B\n\nThe board shall open the returns delivered by the officers and ascertain from the returns the total votes in the county or city, or town in a town election, for each candidate and for and against each question and complete the abstract of votes cast at such election, as provided for in § 24.2-675. For any office in which no person was elected by write-in votes, and for which the total number of write-in votes for that office is less than (i) 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office and (ii) the total number of votes cast for the candidate receiving the most votes, the electoral board shall ascertain the total votes for each write-in candidate for the office within one week following the election. For offices for which the electoral board issues the certificate of election, the result so ascertained, signed and attested, shall be conclusive and shall not thereafter be subject to challenge except as specifically provided in Chapter 8 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.).\n\t\t\tOnce the result is so ascertained, the secretary of the electoral board shall deliver one copy of each statement of results to the general registrar to be available for inspection when his office is open for business. The secretary shall then return all pollbooks, any printed inspection and return sheets, and one copy of each statement of results to the clerk.C\n\nA report of any changes made by the local electoral board to the unofficial results ascertained by the officers of election or any subsequent change to the official abstract of votes made by the local electoral board shall be forwarded to the State Board of Elections and the explanation of such change shall be posted on the State Board website.D\n\nEach political party and each independent candidate on the ballot, or each primary candidate, shall be entitled to have representatives present when the local electoral board meets to ascertain the results of the election. Each such party and candidate shall be entitled to have at least as many representatives present as there are teams of officials working to ascertain the results, and the room in which the local electoral board meets shall be of sufficient size and configuration to allow the representatives reasonable access and proximity to view the ballots as the teams of officials work to ascertain the results. The representatives and observers lawfully present shall be prohibited from interfering with the officials in any way. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess any firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election, unless such person is (a) any law-enforcement officer or any retired law-enforcement officer qualified pursuant to subsection C of § 18.2-308.016; (b) occupying his own private property that falls within 40 feet of a polling place; or (c) an armed security officer, licensed pursuant to Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, whose employment or performance of his duties occurs within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":230498,"text":"Each electoral board shall meet at the clerk’s or general registrar’s office of the county or city for which they are appointed at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election. The board may adjourn to another room of sufficient size in a public building to ascertain the results, and may adjourn as needed, not to exceed 10 calendar days from the date of the election unless an extension has been granted to accommodate a risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to § 24.2-671.2. Written directions to the location of any room other than the clerk’s or general registrar’s office where the board will meet shall be posted at the doors of the clerk’s and general registrar’s offices prior to the beginning of the meeting.\n\t\t\tIf the electoral board has exercised the option provided by § 24.2-668 for delivery of the election materials to the office of the general registrar on the night of the election, the electoral board shall meet at the office of the general registrar at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":230499,"text":"The board shall open the returns delivered by the officers and ascertain from the returns the total votes in the county or city, or town in a town election, for each candidate and for and against each question and complete the abstract of votes cast at such election, as provided for in § 24.2-675. For any office in which no person was elected by write-in votes, and for which the total number of write-in votes for that office is less than (i) 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office and (ii) the total number of votes cast for the candidate receiving the most votes, the electoral board shall ascertain the total votes for each write-in candidate for the office within one week following the election. For offices for which the electoral board issues the certificate of election, the result so ascertained, signed and attested, shall be conclusive and shall not thereafter be subject to challenge except as specifically provided in Chapter 8 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.).\n\t\t\tOnce the result is so ascertained, the secretary of the electoral board shall deliver one copy of each statement of results to the general registrar to be available for inspection when his office is open for business. The secretary shall then return all pollbooks, any printed inspection and return sheets, and one copy of each statement of results to the clerk.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":230500,"text":"A report of any changes made by the local electoral board to the unofficial results ascertained by the officers of election or any subsequent change to the official abstract of votes made by the local electoral board shall be forwarded to the State Board of Elections and the explanation of such change shall be posted on the State Board website.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":230501,"text":"Each political party and each independent candidate on the ballot, or each primary candidate, shall be entitled to have representatives present when the local electoral board meets to ascertain the results of the election. Each such party and candidate shall be entitled to have at least as many representatives present as there are teams of officials working to ascertain the results, and the room in which the local electoral board meets shall be of sufficient size and configuration to allow the representatives reasonable access and proximity to view the ballots as the teams of officials work to ascertain the results. The representatives and observers lawfully present shall be prohibited from interfering with the officials in any way. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess any firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election, unless such person is (a) any law-enforcement officer or any retired law-enforcement officer qualified pursuant to subsection C of § 18.2-308.016; (b) occupying his own private property that falls within 40 feet of a polling place; or (c) an armed security officer, licensed pursuant to Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, whose employment or performance of his duties occurs within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-671\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 14 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 1973, chapter 30; in 1981, chapter 425; in 1991, chapter 388; in 1992, chapter 329; in 1993, chapter 641; in 1996, chapters 8<\/a> and 223<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 1015<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 824<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 689<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 486<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 536<\/a>; in 2022, chapters 443<\/a> and 444<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 738<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77290,"section_number":"10.1-525","catch_line":"Canvassing returns","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-525\/"},{"id":77598,"section_number":"24.2-119.1","catch_line":"Prohibition on discrimination in employment; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-119.1\/"},{"id":87129,"section_number":"24.2-601","catch_line":"Town election process","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-601\/"},{"id":56440,"section_number":"24.2-653.01","catch_line":"Provisional ballots; electoral boards to make determination as to validity","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-653.01\/"},{"id":70965,"section_number":"24.2-671.2","catch_line":"Risk-limiting audits","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-671.2\/"},{"id":84940,"section_number":"24.2-711","catch_line":"Duties of electoral board, general registrar, and officers of election","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-711\/"},{"id":56470,"section_number":"24.2-801","catch_line":"Petition for recount; recount court","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-801\/"},{"id":86202,"section_number":"8.01-341.1","catch_line":"Exemptions from jury service upon request","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-341.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":77788,"section_number":"18.2-308.016","catch_line":"Retired law-enforcement officers; carrying a concealed handgun","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.016\/"},{"id":80010,"section_number":"18.2-308.2:2","catch_line":"Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.2_2\/"},{"id":64679,"section_number":"24.2-668","catch_line":"Pollbooks, statements of results, and ballots to be sealed and delivered to clerk or general registrar","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-668\/"},{"id":70965,"section_number":"24.2-671.2","catch_line":"Risk-limiting audits","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-671.2\/"},{"id":54091,"section_number":"24.2-675","catch_line":"Abstracts of votes to be made by secretary and forwarded to State Board and to clerks","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-675\/"},{"id":81202,"section_number":"24.2-800","catch_line":"Recounts in all elections","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-800\/"},{"id":69682,"section_number":"9.1-138","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-138\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188769,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63223,"identifier":"24.2-671","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671","url":"\/24.2-671\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-671\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671","dublin_core":{"Title":"Electoral board to meet and ascertain results; conclusiveness of results","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-671","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each electoral board<\/span> shall meet at the clerk’s or general registrar<\/span>’s office of the county or city for which they are appointed at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election<\/span>. The board may adjourn to another room of sufficient size in a public building to ascertain the results, and may adjourn as needed, not to exceed 10 calendar days from the date of the election<\/span> unless an extension has been granted to accommodate a risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to § 24.2-671.2<\/a>. Written directions to the location of any room other than the clerk’s or general registrar<\/span>’s office where the board will meet shall be posted at the doors of the clerk’s and general registrar<\/span>’s offices prior to the beginning of the meeting.\n\t\t\tIf the electoral board<\/span> has exercised the option provided by § 24.2-668<\/a> for delivery of the election<\/span> materials<\/span> to the office of the general registrar<\/span> on the night of the election<\/span>, the electoral board<\/span> shall meet at the office of the general registrar<\/span> at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The board shall open the returns delivered by the officers and ascertain from the returns the total votes in the county or city, or town in a town election<\/span>, for each candidate<\/span> and for and against each question and complete the abstract of votes cast at such election<\/span>, as provided for in § 24.2-675<\/a>. For any office in which no person was elected by write-in votes, and for which the total number of write-in votes for that office is less than (i) 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office and (ii) the total number of votes cast for the candidate<\/span> receiving the most votes, the electoral board<\/span> shall ascertain the total votes for each write-in candidate<\/span> for the office within one week following the election<\/span>. For offices for which the electoral board<\/span> issues<\/span> the certificate of election<\/span>, the result so ascertained, signed and attested, shall be conclusive and shall not thereafter be subject to challenge except as specifically provided in Chapter 8 (§ 24.2-800<\/a> et seq.).\n\t\t\tOnce the result is so ascertained, the secretary of the electoral board<\/span> shall deliver one copy of each statement of results to the general registrar<\/span> to be available for inspection when his office is open for business. The secretary shall then return all pollbooks, any printed inspection and return sheets, and one copy of each statement of results to the clerk. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A report of any changes made by the local electoral board<\/span> to the unofficial results ascertained by the officers of election<\/span> or any subsequent change to the official abstract of votes made by the local electoral board<\/span> shall be forwarded to the State Board<\/span> of Elections<\/span> and the explanation of such change shall be posted on the State Board<\/span> website. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Each political party<\/span> and each independent candidate<\/span> on the ballot, or each primary<\/span> candidate<\/span>, shall be entitled to have representatives present when the local electoral board<\/span> meets to ascertain the results of the election<\/span>. Each such party and candidate<\/span> shall be entitled to have at least as many representatives present as there are teams of officials working to ascertain the results, and the room in which the local electoral board<\/span> meets shall be of sufficient size and configuration to allow the representatives reasonable access and proximity to view the ballots as the teams of officials work to ascertain the results. The representatives and observers lawfully present shall be prohibited from interfering with the officials in any way. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess any firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2<\/a> within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board<\/span> while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election<\/span>, unless such person is (a) any law<\/span>-enforcement officer or any retired law<\/span>-enforcement officer qualified pursuant to subsection C of § 18.2-308.016<\/a>; (b) occupying his own private property that falls within 40 feet of a polling place<\/span>; or (c) an armed security officer, licensed pursuant to Article 4 (§ 9.1-138<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, whose employment or performance of his duties occurs within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board<\/span> while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nELECTORAL BOARD TO MEET AND ASCERTAIN RESULTS; CONCLUSIVENESS OF RESULTS (\u00a7\n24.2-671)\n\nA. Each electoral board shall meet at the clerk’s or general\nregistrar’s office of the county or city for which they are appointed at\nor before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election. The board may adjourn to\nanother room of sufficient size in a public building to ascertain the results,\nand may adjourn as needed, not to exceed 10 calendar days from the date of the\nelection unless an extension has been granted to accommodate a risk-limiting\naudit conducted pursuant to § 24.2-671.2. Written directions to the\nlocation of any room other than the clerk’s or general registrar’s\noffice where the board will meet shall be posted at the doors of the\nclerk’s and general registrar’s offices prior to the beginning of\nthe meeting.\n\t\t\tIf the electoral board has exercised the option provided by § 24.2-668\nfor delivery of the election materials to the office of the general registrar on\nthe night of the election, the electoral board shall meet at the office of the\ngeneral registrar at or before 5:00 p.m. on the day after any election.\n\nB. The board shall open the returns delivered by the officers and ascertain from\nthe returns the total votes in the county or city, or town in a town election,\nfor each candidate and for and against each question and complete the abstract\nof votes cast at such election, as provided for in § 24.2-675. For any\noffice in which no person was elected by write-in votes, and for which the total\nnumber of write-in votes for that office is less than (i) 10 percent of the\ntotal number of votes cast for that office and (ii) the total number of votes\ncast for the candidate receiving the most votes, the electoral board shall\nascertain the total votes for each write-in candidate for the office within one\nweek following the election. For offices for which the electoral board issues\nthe certificate of election, the result so ascertained, signed and attested,\nshall be conclusive and shall not thereafter be subject to challenge except as\nspecifically provided in Chapter 8 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.).\n\t\t\tOnce the result is so ascertained, the secretary of the electoral board shall\ndeliver one copy of each statement of results to the general registrar to be\navailable for inspection when his office is open for business. The secretary\nshall then return all pollbooks, any printed inspection and return sheets, and\none copy of each statement of results to the clerk.\n\nC. A report of any changes made by the local electoral board to the unofficial\nresults ascertained by the officers of election or any subsequent change to the\nofficial abstract of votes made by the local electoral board shall be forwarded\nto the State Board of Elections and the explanation of such change shall be\nposted on the State Board website.\n\nD. Each political party and each independent candidate on the ballot, or each\nprimary candidate, shall be entitled to have representatives present when the\nlocal electoral board meets to ascertain the results of the election. Each such\nparty and candidate shall be entitled to have at least as many representatives\npresent as there are teams of officials working to ascertain the results, and\nthe room in which the local electoral board meets shall be of sufficient size\nand configuration to allow the representatives reasonable access and proximity\nto view the ballots as the teams of officials work to ascertain the results. The\nrepresentatives and observers lawfully present shall be prohibited from\ninterfering with the officials in any way. It is unlawful for any person to\nknowingly possess any firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 within 40 feet\nof any building, or part thereof, used as a meeting place for the local\nelectoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an\nelection, unless such person is (a) any law-enforcement officer or any retired\nlaw-enforcement officer qualified pursuant to subsection C of §\n18.2-308.016; (b) occupying his own private property that falls within 40 feet\nof a polling place; or (c) an armed security officer, licensed pursuant to\nArticle 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, whose employment\nor performance of his duties occurs within 40 feet of any building, or part\nthereof, used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the\nelectoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-271, 24-272; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-146; 1973, c. 30;\n1981, c. 425; 1991, c. 388; 1992, c. 329; 1993, c. 641; 1996, cc. 8, 223; 2003,\nc. 1015; 2005, c. 824; 2006, c. 689; 2014, c. 486; 2018, c. 536; 2021, Sp. Sess.\nI, c. 459; 2022, cc. 443, 444; 2024, c. 738.","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}}