{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-687.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-687.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-687.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-687.html"}],"law_id":73402,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73402,"structure_id":15255,"section_number":"24.2-687","catch_line":"Authorization for distribution of information on referendum elections","history":"1996, c. 297; 2004, cc. 21, 399; 2006, c. 302; 2011, c. 590.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of any county, city or town may provide for the preparation and printing of an explanation for each referendum question to be submitted to the voters of the county, city or town to be distributed at the polling places on the day of the referendum election. The governing body may have the explanation published by paid advertisement in a newspaper with general circulation in the county, city or town one or more times preceding the referendum.\n\t\t\tThe explanation shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county, city or town or, if there is no county, city or town attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain English” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.\n\t\t\tIf the referendum question involves the issuance of bonds by a locality, the locality shall provide for such printed explanation. The explanation shall (i) state the estimated maximum amount of the bonds proposed to be issued, and (ii) state the proposed use of the bond proceeds, and if there is more than one use, state the proposed uses for which more than 10 percent of the total bond proceeds is expected to be used.B\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to limit a county, city or town from disseminating other neutral materials or advertisements concerning issues of public concern that are the subject of a referendum; however, the materials or advertisements shall not advocate the passage or defeat of the referendum question.C\n\nThis section shall not be applicable to statewide referenda.D\n\nAny failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of the referendum.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":264135,"text":"The governing body of any county, city or town may provide for the preparation and printing of an explanation for each referendum question to be submitted to the voters of the county, city or town to be distributed at the polling places on the day of the referendum election. The governing body may have the explanation published by paid advertisement in a newspaper with general circulation in the county, city or town one or more times preceding the referendum.\n\t\t\tThe explanation shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county, city or town or, if there is no county, city or town attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain English” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.\n\t\t\tIf the referendum question involves the issuance of bonds by a locality, the locality shall provide for such printed explanation. The explanation shall (i) state the estimated maximum amount of the bonds proposed to be issued, and (ii) state the proposed use of the bond proceeds, and if there is more than one use, state the proposed uses for which more than 10 percent of the total bond proceeds is expected to be used.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":264136,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a county, city or town from disseminating other neutral materials or advertisements concerning issues of public concern that are the subject of a referendum; however, the materials or advertisements shall not advocate the passage or defeat of the referendum question.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":264137,"text":"This section shall not be applicable to statewide referenda.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":264138,"text":"Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of the referendum.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"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":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\/24.2-687\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 297<\/a> 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. It has been modified 3 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 2004, chapters 21<\/a> and 399<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 302<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 590<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82479,"section_number":"24.2-684","catch_line":"How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-684\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":188851,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73402,"identifier":"24.2-687","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-687","url":"\/24.2-687\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-687\/","token":"24.2\/6\/5\/24.2-687","dublin_core":{"Title":"Authorization for distribution of information on referendum elections","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-687","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body of any county, city or town may provide for the preparation and printing of an explanation for each referendum<\/span> question to be submitted to the voters of the county, city or town to be distributed at the polling places<\/span> on the day of the referendum<\/span> election<\/span>. The governing body may have the explanation published by paid advertisement in a newspaper with general circulation in the county, city or town one or more times preceding the referendum<\/span>.\n\t\t\tThe explanation shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English<\/span>, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county, city or town or, if there is no county, city or town attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain English<\/span>” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.\n\t\t\tIf the referendum<\/span> question involves the issuance of bonds<\/span> by a locality, the locality shall provide for such printed explanation. The explanation shall (i) state the estimated maximum amount of the bonds<\/span> proposed to be issued, and (ii) state the proposed use of the bond<\/span> proceeds, and if there is more than one use, state the proposed uses for which more than 10 percent of the total bond<\/span> proceeds is expected to be used. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a county, city or town from disseminating other neutral materials<\/span> or advertisements concerning issues<\/span> of public concern that are the subject of a referendum<\/span>; however, the materials<\/span> or advertisements shall not advocate the passage or defeat of the referendum<\/span> question. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> This section shall not be applicable to statewide referenda. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of the referendum<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTHORIZATION FOR DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION ON REFERENDUM ELECTIONS (\u00a7\n24.2-687)\n\nA. The governing body of any county, city or town may provide for the\npreparation and printing of an explanation for each referendum question to be\nsubmitted to the voters of the county, city or town to be distributed at the\npolling places on the day of the referendum election. The governing body may\nhave the explanation published by paid advertisement in a newspaper with general\ncirculation in the county, city or town one or more times preceding the\nreferendum.\n\t\t\tThe explanation shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more\nthan 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in\nplain English, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present\narguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for\nthe county, city or town or, if there is no county, city or town attorney, the\nattorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain\nEnglish” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language\nusing words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or\nother terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited\nto a particular field or profession.\n\t\t\tIf the referendum question involves the issuance of bonds by a locality, the\nlocality shall provide for such printed explanation. The explanation shall (i)\nstate the estimated maximum amount of the bonds proposed to be issued, and (ii)\nstate the proposed use of the bond proceeds, and if there is more than one use,\nstate the proposed uses for which more than 10 percent of the total bond\nproceeds is expected to be used.\n\nB. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a county, city or town\nfrom disseminating other neutral materials or advertisements concerning issues\nof public concern that are the subject of a referendum; however, the materials\nor advertisements shall not advocate the passage or defeat of the referendum\nquestion.\n\nC. This section shall not be applicable to statewide referenda.\n\nD. Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affect\nthe validity of the referendum.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, c. 297; 2004, cc. 21, 399; 2006, c. 302; 2011, c. 590.","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}}