{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-685.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-685.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-685.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-685.html"}],"law_id":86439,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86439,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-685","catch_line":"Special elections; request for abolition of constitutional offices","history":"1985, c. 586, \u00a7 24.1-165.1; 1993, c. 641; 2011, c. 599.","full_text":"A\n\nThe provisions of this section shall be applicable to the holding of any referendum, elsewhere authorized by law, on the abolition of any constitutional office conducted prior to a request for a special act of the General Assembly to abolish such office.B\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of general law or any special act, no referendum subject to the provisions of this section shall be held unless:1\n\nPetitions are filed with the circuit court of the county or city requesting that a referendum be held to authorize a request for a special act on the abolition of the named office;2\n\nThe petitions are signed by qualified voters of the county or city equal in number to 20 percent of the total vote cast in the county or city for presidential electors in the last preceding presidential election; and3\n\nThe petitions are filed with the court within 90 days of the first signature on the petitions, and the petitions show the date each signature was affixed.C\n\nUpon filing of a valid petition, the court shall order the election and state the question to be placed on the ballot in its order. The court shall order the referendum to be held at the next general election for members of the governing body of the county or city held at least 81 days after the date of the order.D\n\nAfter a referendum is conducted pursuant to this section with respect to the abolition of a particular office, no other referendum with respect to the abolition of the same office shall be held in the same county or city pursuant to this section for a period of eight years.E\n\nNo special act authorizing the abolition of any such office shall be considered by the General Assembly without court certification that a referendum has been conducted pursuant to this section and that a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon have approved the request for a special act.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309604,"text":"The provisions of this section shall be applicable to the holding of any referendum, elsewhere authorized by law, on the abolition of any constitutional office conducted prior to a request for a special act of the General Assembly to abolish such office.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":309605,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of general law or any special act, no referendum subject to the provisions of this section shall be held unless:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":309606,"text":"Petitions are filed with the circuit court of the county or city requesting that a referendum be held to authorize a request for a special act on the abolition of the named office;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":309607,"text":"The petitions are signed by qualified voters of the county or city equal in number to 20 percent of the total vote cast in the county or city for presidential electors in the last preceding presidential election; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":309608,"text":"The petitions are filed with the court within 90 days of the first signature on the petitions, and the petitions show the date each signature was affixed.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":309609,"text":"Upon filing of a valid petition, the court shall order the election and state the question to be placed on the ballot in its order. The court shall order the referendum to be held at the next general election for members of the governing body of the county or city held at least 81 days after the date of the order.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":309610,"text":"After a referendum is conducted pursuant to this section with respect to the abolition of a particular office, no other referendum with respect to the abolition of the same office shall be held in the same county or city pursuant to this section for a period of eight years.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"7":{"id":309611,"text":"No special act authorizing the abolition of any such office shall be considered by the General Assembly without court certification that a referendum has been conducted pursuant to this section and that a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon have approved the request for a special act.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15255,"edition_id":1,"name":"Special Elections","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:23","permalink":{"id":188821,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15255,"identifier":"5","token":"24.2\/6\/5","url":"\/24.2\/6\/5\/","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":58078,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-681","catch_line":"How special elections superintended and determined","url":"\/24.2-681\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-681","metadata":false},{"id":77612,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-682","catch_line":"Times for special elections","url":"\/24.2-682\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-682","metadata":false},{"id":62176,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-683","catch_line":"Writ for special election to fill a vacancy","url":"\/24.2-683\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-683","metadata":false},{"id":82479,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-684","catch_line":"How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified","url":"\/24.2-684\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-684","metadata":false},{"id":61714,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-684.1","catch_line":"Requirements for voter petitions to call for referendum elections","url":"\/24.2-684.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-684.1","metadata":false},{"id":86439,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-685","catch_line":"Special elections; request for abolition of constitutional offices","url":"\/24.2-685\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-685","metadata":false},{"id":67928,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-686","catch_line":"Special elections; petition and referendum requirements; abolition of constitutional office by change in form of government","url":"\/24.2-686\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-686","metadata":false},{"id":73402,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-687","catch_line":"Authorization for distribution of information on referendum elections","url":"\/24.2-687\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-687","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61714,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-684.1","catch_line":"Requirements for voter petitions to call for referendum elections","url":"\/24.2-684.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-684.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67928,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-686","catch_line":"Special elections; petition and referendum requirements; abolition of constitutional office by change in form of government","url":"\/24.2-686\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-686","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-685\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1985. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 586 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1985 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1993, chapter 641; in 2011, chapter 599<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58349,"section_number":"15.2-206","catch_line":"Special elections; request for abolition of certain local constitutional offices","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-206\/"},{"id":67928,"section_number":"24.2-686","catch_line":"Special elections; petition and referendum requirements; abolition of constitutional office by change in form of government","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-686\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":188843,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86439,"identifier":"24.2-685","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-685","url":"\/24.2-685\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-685\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-685","dublin_core":{"Title":"Special elections; request for abolition of constitutional offices","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-685","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall be applicable to the holding of any referendum<\/span>, elsewhere authorized by law<\/span>, on the abolition of any constitutional office<\/span> conducted prior to a request for a special act of the General Assembly to abolish such office. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of general law<\/span> or any special act, no referendum<\/span> subject to the provisions of this section shall be held unless: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Petitions<\/span> are filed with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county or city requesting that a referendum<\/span> be held to authorize a request for a special act on the abolition of the named office; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The petitions<\/span> are signed by qualified voters<\/span> of the county or city equal in number to 20 percent of the total vote cast in the county or city for presidential electors in the last preceding presidential election<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The petitions<\/span> are filed with the court<\/span> within 90 days of the first signature on the petitions<\/span>, and the petitions<\/span> show the date each signature was affixed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Upon filing of a valid petition<\/span>, the court<\/span> shall order<\/span> the election and state the question to be placed on the ballot in its order<\/span>. The court<\/span> shall order<\/span> the referendum<\/span> to be held at the next general election<\/span> for members of the governing body of the county or city held at least 81 days after the date of the order<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> After a referendum<\/span> is conducted pursuant to this section with respect to the abolition of a particular office, no other referendum<\/span> with respect to the abolition of the same office shall be held in the same county or city pursuant to this section for a period of eight years. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> No special act authorizing the abolition of any such office shall be considered by the General Assembly without court<\/span> certification that a referendum<\/span> has been conducted pursuant to this section and that a majority of the qualified voters<\/span> voting thereon have approved the request for a special act. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSPECIAL ELECTIONS; REQUEST FOR ABOLITION OF CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES (\u00a7 24.2-685)\n\nA. The provisions of this section shall be applicable to the holding of any\nreferendum, elsewhere authorized by law, on the abolition of any constitutional\noffice conducted prior to a request for a special act of the General Assembly to\nabolish such office.\n\nB. Notwithstanding any other provision of general law or any special act, no\nreferendum subject to the provisions of this section shall be held unless:\n\n 1. Petitions are filed with the circuit court of the county or city requesting\n that a referendum be held to authorize a request for a special act on the\n abolition of the named office;\n\n 2. The petitions are signed by qualified voters of the county or city equal in\n number to 20 percent of the total vote cast in the county or city for\n presidential electors in the last preceding presidential election; and\n\n 3. The petitions are filed with the court within 90 days of the first\n signature on the petitions, and the petitions show the date each signature was\n affixed.\n\nC. Upon filing of a valid petition, the court shall order the election and state\nthe question to be placed on the ballot in its order. The court shall order the\nreferendum to be held at the next general election for members of the governing\nbody of the county or city held at least 81 days after the date of the order.\n\nD. After a referendum is conducted pursuant to this section with respect to the\nabolition of a particular office, no other referendum with respect to the\nabolition of the same office shall be held in the same county or city pursuant\nto this section for a period of eight years.\n\nE. No special act authorizing the abolition of any such office shall be\nconsidered by the General Assembly without court certification that a referendum\nhas been conducted pursuant to this section and that a majority of the qualified\nvoters voting thereon have approved the request for a special act.\n\nHISTORY: 1985, c. 586, \u00a7 24.1-165.1; 1993, c. 641; 2011, c. 599.","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}}