{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-701.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-701.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-701.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-701.2.html"}],"law_id":84700,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84700,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-701.2","catch_line":"Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices","history":"2020, cc. 856, 1149, 1151, 1201; 2025, c. 584.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of any county or city may establish, by ordinance, voter satellite offices to be used in the locality for absentee voting in person. The governing body may establish as many offices as it deems necessary. No change in, including the creation or abolishment of, any voter satellite office shall be enacted within 60 days next preceding any general election. Notice shall be published prior to enactment in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality once a week for two successive weeks.B\n\nAny voter satellite office shall be in a public building owned or leased by the county, city, or town within the county and may be in a facility that is owned or leased by the Commonwealth and used as a location for Department of Motor Vehicles facilities or as an office of the general registrar. Such location shall be deemed the equivalent of the office of the general registrar for the purposes of completing the application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to §§ 24.2-701 and 24.2-706. Any such location shall have adequate facilities for the protection of all elections materials produced in the process of absentee voting in person, the voted and unvoted absentee ballots, and any voting systems in use at the location.C\n\nVoter satellite offices shall be accessible to qualified voters as required by the provisions of the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1 et seq.), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to public services (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.). The State Board shall provide instructions to the local electoral boards and general registrars to assist the localities in complying with the requirements of the acts.D\n\nThe governing body of each county, city, and town shall provide funds to enable the general registrar to provide adequate facilities at each voter satellite office for the conduct of elections.E\n\nNot later than 55 days prior to any election, the general registrar shall post notice of all voter satellite office locations in the locality and the dates and hours of operation of each location in the office of the general registrar and on the official website for the county or city. Such notice shall remain in the office of the general registrar and on the official website for the county or city for the duration of the period during which absentee voting in person is available. If the county or city does not have an official website, such notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city at least once prior to the election but not later than 55 days prior to such election.F\n\nIf an emergency makes a voter satellite office unusable or inaccessible, the electoral board or the general registrar shall provide an alternative voter satellite office, subject to the approval of the State Board, and shall give notice of the change in the location of the voter satellite office. The general registrar shall provide notice to the voters appropriate to the circumstances of the emergency. For the purposes of this subsection, “emergency” means a rare and unforeseen combination of circumstances, or the resulting state, that calls for immediate action.G\n\nThe provisions of subsection E of § 24.2-310 providing certain limited circumstances in which a local electoral board may approve an exception to the prohibition on the distribution of campaign or referendum materials inside the prohibited area outside of a polling place shall apply to voter satellite offices and the building in which such offices may be located.H\n\nA voter satellite office established pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be the equivalent of an office of the general registrar for purposes of completing an application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to §§ 24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, and 24.2-706.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":303561,"text":"The governing body of any county or city may establish, by ordinance, voter satellite offices to be used in the locality for absentee voting in person. The governing body may establish as many offices as it deems necessary. No change in, including the creation or abolishment of, any voter satellite office shall be enacted within 60 days next preceding any general election. Notice shall be published prior to enactment in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality once a week for two successive weeks.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":303562,"text":"Any voter satellite office shall be in a public building owned or leased by the county, city, or town within the county and may be in a facility that is owned or leased by the Commonwealth and used as a location for Department of Motor Vehicles facilities or as an office of the general registrar. Such location shall be deemed the equivalent of the office of the general registrar for the purposes of completing the application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to §§ 24.2-701 and 24.2-706. Any such location shall have adequate facilities for the protection of all elections materials produced in the process of absentee voting in person, the voted and unvoted absentee ballots, and any voting systems in use at the location.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":303563,"text":"Voter satellite offices shall be accessible to qualified voters as required by the provisions of the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1 et seq.), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to public services (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.). The State Board shall provide instructions to the local electoral boards and general registrars to assist the localities in complying with the requirements of the acts.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":303564,"text":"The governing body of each county, city, and town shall provide funds to enable the general registrar to provide adequate facilities at each voter satellite office for the conduct of elections.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":303565,"text":"Not later than 55 days prior to any election, the general registrar shall post notice of all voter satellite office locations in the locality and the dates and hours of operation of each location in the office of the general registrar and on the official website for the county or city. Such notice shall remain in the office of the general registrar and on the official website for the county or city for the duration of the period during which absentee voting in person is available. If the county or city does not have an official website, such notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city at least once prior to the election but not later than 55 days prior to such election.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":303566,"text":"If an emergency makes a voter satellite office unusable or inaccessible, the electoral board or the general registrar shall provide an alternative voter satellite office, subject to the approval of the State Board, and shall give notice of the change in the location of the voter satellite office. The general registrar shall provide notice to the voters appropriate to the circumstances of the emergency. For the purposes of this subsection, “emergency” means a rare and unforeseen combination of circumstances, or the resulting state, that calls for immediate action.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":303567,"text":"The provisions of subsection E of § 24.2-310 providing certain limited circumstances in which a local electoral board may approve an exception to the prohibition on the distribution of campaign or referendum materials inside the prohibited area outside of a polling place shall apply to voter satellite offices and the building in which such offices may be located.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":303568,"text":"A voter satellite office established pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be the equivalent of an office of the general registrar for purposes of completing an application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to §§ 24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, and 24.2-706.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13627,"edition_id":1,"name":"Absentee Voting","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:25","permalink":{"id":188855,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13627,"identifier":"7","token":"24.2\/7","url":"\/24.2\/7\/","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":69610,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-700","catch_line":"Persons entitled to vote by absentee ballot","url":"\/24.2-700\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-700","metadata":false},{"id":84793,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-700.1","catch_line":"Persons entitled to vote by absentee ballot; persons confined awaiting trial or for conviction of a misdemeanor","url":"\/24.2-700.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-700.1","metadata":false},{"id":60154,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-701","catch_line":"Application for absentee ballot","url":"\/24.2-701\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-701","metadata":false},{"id":85860,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-701.1","catch_line":"Absentee voting in person","url":"\/24.2-701.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-701.1","metadata":false},{"id":84700,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-701.2","catch_line":"Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices","url":"\/24.2-701.2\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-701.2","metadata":false},{"id":54857,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-702","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-702\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-702","metadata":false},{"id":86385,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-702.1","catch_line":"Federal write-in absentee ballots","url":"\/24.2-702.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-702.1","metadata":false},{"id":70207,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-703","catch_line":"Application for absentee ballots for multiple elections for uniformed and overseas voters","url":"\/24.2-703\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-703","metadata":false},{"id":56138,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-703.1","catch_line":"Permanent absentee voter list","url":"\/24.2-703.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-703.1","metadata":false},{"id":65968,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-703.2","catch_line":"Replacement absentee ballots for certain disabled or ill voters; penalty","url":"\/24.2-703.2\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-703.2","metadata":false},{"id":79861,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-704","catch_line":"Applications and ballots for persons requiring assistance in voting; penalty","url":"\/24.2-704\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-704","metadata":false},{"id":61415,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-705","catch_line":"Emergency applications and absentee ballots for individual emergencies","url":"\/24.2-705\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-705","metadata":false},{"id":55549,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-705.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-705.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-705.1","metadata":false},{"id":60228,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-706","catch_line":"Duty of general registrar on receipt of application; statement of voter","url":"\/24.2-706\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-706","metadata":false},{"id":70050,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-707","catch_line":"How ballots marked and returned","url":"\/24.2-707\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-707","metadata":false},{"id":55257,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-707.1","catch_line":"Drop-off locations for return of absentee ballots","url":"\/24.2-707.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-707.1","metadata":false},{"id":54596,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-708","catch_line":"Return of unused ballots; voting by applicant who did not receive or lost ballot; defaced ballots","url":"\/24.2-708\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-708","metadata":false},{"id":57665,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-709","catch_line":"Ballot to be returned in manner prescribed by law","url":"\/24.2-709\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-709","metadata":false},{"id":60441,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-709.1","catch_line":"Processing returned absentee ballots before election day; cure process","url":"\/24.2-709.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-709.1","metadata":false},{"id":63927,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-710","catch_line":"Absentee voter applicant lists","url":"\/24.2-710\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-710","metadata":false},{"id":84940,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-711","catch_line":"Duties of electoral board, general registrar, and officers of election","url":"\/24.2-711\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-711","metadata":false},{"id":76028,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-711.1","catch_line":"Absentee ballots; confirmation of receipt; notice of reason for rejection","url":"\/24.2-711.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-711.1","metadata":false},{"id":59219,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-712","catch_line":"Central absentee voter precincts; counting ballots","url":"\/24.2-712\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-712","metadata":false},{"id":60075,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-713","catch_line":"Emergency authority of the Commissioner of Elections","url":"\/24.2-713\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-713","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85860,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-701.1","catch_line":"Absentee voting in person","url":"\/24.2-701.1\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-701.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":54857,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-702","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-702\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-702","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-701.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 856<\/a>, 1149<\/a>, 1151<\/a>, and 1201<\/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 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 2025, chapter 584<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71441,"section_number":"24.2-124.1","catch_line":"Acceptance of certain gifts and funding prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-124.1\/"},{"id":84793,"section_number":"24.2-700.1","catch_line":"Persons entitled to vote by absentee ballot; persons confined awaiting trial or for conviction of a misdemeanor","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-700.1\/"},{"id":85860,"section_number":"24.2-701.1","catch_line":"Absentee voting in person","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-701.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66699,"section_number":"24.2-310","catch_line":"Requirements for polling places","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-310\/"},{"id":60154,"section_number":"24.2-701","catch_line":"Application for absentee ballot","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-701\/"},{"id":85860,"section_number":"24.2-701.1","catch_line":"Absentee voting in person","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-701.1\/"},{"id":60228,"section_number":"24.2-706","catch_line":"Duty of general registrar on receipt of application; statement of voter","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-706\/"},{"id":82514,"section_number":"51.5-1","catch_line":"Declaration of policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188873,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84700,"identifier":"24.2-701.2","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-701.2","url":"\/24.2-701.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-701.2\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-701.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-701.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body of any county or city may establish, by ordinance<\/span>, voter satellite offices to be used in the locality for absentee voting in person. The governing body may establish as many offices as it deems necessary. No change in, including the creation or abolishment of, any voter satellite office shall be enacted within 60 days next preceding any general election<\/span>. Notice shall be published prior to enactment in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality once a week for two successive weeks. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any voter satellite office shall be in a public building owned or leased by the county, city, or town within the county and may be in a facility that is owned or leased by the Commonwealth and used as a location for Department<\/span> of Motor Vehicles facilities or as an office of the general registrar<\/span>. Such location shall be deemed the equivalent of the office of the general registrar<\/span> for the purposes of completing the application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to §§ 24.2-701<\/a> and 24.2-706<\/a>. Any such location shall have adequate facilities for the protection of all elections<\/span> materials<\/span> produced in the process of absentee voting in person, the voted and unvoted absentee ballots, and any voting systems<\/span> in use at the location. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Voter satellite offices shall be accessible to qualified voters<\/span> as required by the provisions of the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1<\/a> et seq.), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to public services (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.). The State Board<\/span> shall provide instructions to the local electoral boards<\/span> and general registrars<\/span> to assist the localities in complying with the requirements of the acts. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The governing body of each county, city, and town shall provide funds to enable the general registrar<\/span> to provide adequate facilities at each voter satellite office for the conduct of elections<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Not later than 55 days prior to any election, the general registrar<\/span> shall post notice of all voter satellite office locations in the locality and the dates and hours of operation of each location in the office of the general registrar<\/span> and on the official website for the county or city. Such notice shall remain in the office of the general registrar<\/span> and on the official website for the county or city for the duration of the period during which absentee voting in person is available. If the county or city does not have an official website, such notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city at least once prior to the election but not later than 55 days prior to such election. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> If an emergency<\/span> makes a voter satellite office unusable or inaccessible, the electoral board<\/span> or the general registrar<\/span> shall provide an alternative voter satellite office, subject to the approval of the State Board<\/span>, and shall give notice of the change in the location of the voter satellite office. The general registrar<\/span> shall provide notice to the voters appropriate to the circumstances of the emergency<\/span>. For the purposes of this subsection, “emergency<\/span>” means a rare and unforeseen combination of circumstances, or the resulting state, that calls for immediate action. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The provisions of subsection E of § 24.2-310<\/a> providing certain limited circumstances in which a local electoral board<\/span> may approve an exception to the prohibition on the distribution of campaign or referendum<\/span> materials<\/span> inside the prohibited area outside of a polling place<\/span> shall apply to voter satellite offices and the building in which such offices may be located. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> A voter satellite office established pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be the equivalent of an office of the general registrar<\/span> for purposes of completing an application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to §§ 24.2-701<\/a>, 24.2-701.1<\/a>, and 24.2-706<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON; VOTER SATELLITE OFFICES (\u00a7 24.2-701.2)\n\nA. The governing body of any county or city may establish, by ordinance, voter\nsatellite offices to be used in the locality for absentee voting in person. The\ngoverning body may establish as many offices as it deems necessary. No change\nin, including the creation or abolishment of, any voter satellite office shall\nbe enacted within 60 days next preceding any general election. Notice shall be\npublished prior to enactment in a newspaper having general circulation in the\nlocality once a week for two successive weeks.\n\nB. Any voter satellite office shall be in a public building owned or leased by\nthe county, city, or town within the county and may be in a facility that is\nowned or leased by the Commonwealth and used as a location for Department of\nMotor Vehicles facilities or as an office of the general registrar. Such\nlocation shall be deemed the equivalent of the office of the general registrar\nfor the purposes of completing the application for an absentee ballot in person\npursuant to §§ 24.2-701 and 24.2-706. Any such location shall have\nadequate facilities for the protection of all elections materials produced in\nthe process of absentee voting in person, the voted and unvoted absentee\nballots, and any voting systems in use at the location.\n\nC. Voter satellite offices shall be accessible to qualified voters as required\nby the provisions of the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1 et\nseq.), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C.\n§ 20101 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to\npublic services (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.). The State Board shall provide\ninstructions to the local electoral boards and general registrars to assist the\nlocalities in complying with the requirements of the acts.\n\nD. The governing body of each county, city, and town shall provide funds to\nenable the general registrar to provide adequate facilities at each voter\nsatellite office for the conduct of elections.\n\nE. Not later than 55 days prior to any election, the general registrar shall\npost notice of all voter satellite office locations in the locality and the\ndates and hours of operation of each location in the office of the general\nregistrar and on the official website for the county or city. Such notice shall\nremain in the office of the general registrar and on the official website for\nthe county or city for the duration of the period during which absentee voting\nin person is available. If the county or city does not have an official website,\nsuch notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the\ncounty or city at least once prior to the election but not later than 55 days\nprior to such election.\n\nF. If an emergency makes a voter satellite office unusable or inaccessible, the\nelectoral board or the general registrar shall provide an alternative voter\nsatellite office, subject to the approval of the State Board, and shall give\nnotice of the change in the location of the voter satellite office. The general\nregistrar shall provide notice to the voters appropriate to the circumstances of\nthe emergency. For the purposes of this subsection, “emergency”\nmeans a rare and unforeseen combination of circumstances, or the resulting\nstate, that calls for immediate action.\n\nG. The provisions of subsection E of § 24.2-310 providing certain limited\ncircumstances in which a local electoral board may approve an exception to the\nprohibition on the distribution of campaign or referendum materials inside the\nprohibited area outside of a polling place shall apply to voter satellite\noffices and the building in which such offices may be located.\n\nH. A voter satellite office established pursuant to this section shall be deemed\nto be the equivalent of an office of the general registrar for purposes of\ncompleting an application for an absentee ballot in person pursuant to\n§§ 24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, and 24.2-706.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, cc. 856, 1149, 1151, 1201; 2025, c. 584.","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}}