{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-707.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-707.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-707.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-707.html"}],"law_id":70050,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70050,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-707","catch_line":"How ballots marked and returned","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-334, 24-337; 1956, c. 525; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-232; 1972, c. 620; 1973, c. 30; 1974, c. 428; 1975, c. 515; 1978, c. 778; 1981, c. 425; 1993, c. 641; 1996, c. 393; 1997, cc. 429, 450; 2001, cc. 617, 624; 2002, cc. 785, 819; 2003, cc. 478, 1015; 2006, c. 438; 2014, cc. 453, 574, 575; 2015, cc. 313, 644, 645; 2019, cc. 668, 669; 2020, c. 289; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 235, 471, 522; 2023, c. 785.","full_text":"A\n\nOn receipt of a mailed absentee ballot, the voter shall (i) open the sealed envelope marked “ballot within” and (ii) mark and refold the ballot, as provided in §§ 24.2-644 and 24.2-646 without assistance and without making known how he marked the ballot, except as provided by § 24.2-704.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has marked his absentee ballot, he shall (a) enclose the ballot in the envelope provided for that purpose, (b) seal the envelope, (c) fill in and sign the statement printed on the back of the envelope, (d) enclose the ballot envelope and any required assistance form within the envelope directed to the general registrar, and (e) seal that envelope. A voter’s failure to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full middle name or his middle initial shall not be a material omission, rendering his ballot void, unless the voter failed to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full first and last name. A voter’s failure to provide the date, or any part of the date, including the year, on which he signed the statement printed on the back of the envelope shall not be considered a material omission and shall not render his ballot void.B\n\nA mailed absentee ballot shall be returned (i) by mail to the office of the general registrar, (ii) by the voter in person to the general registrar, or (iii) to a drop-off location established pursuant to § 24.2-707.1. For purposes of this subsection, “mail” includes a delivery by a commercial delivery service but does not include delivery by a personal courier service or other individual except as provided by §§ 24.2-703.2 and 24.2-705.C\n\nFailure to follow the procedures set forth in this section shall render the applicant’s ballot void.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":253031,"text":"On receipt of a mailed absentee ballot, the voter shall (i) open the sealed envelope marked “ballot within” and (ii) mark and refold the ballot, as provided in §§ 24.2-644 and 24.2-646 without assistance and without making known how he marked the ballot, except as provided by § 24.2-704.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has marked his absentee ballot, he shall (a) enclose the ballot in the envelope provided for that purpose, (b) seal the envelope, (c) fill in and sign the statement printed on the back of the envelope, (d) enclose the ballot envelope and any required assistance form within the envelope directed to the general registrar, and (e) seal that envelope. A voter’s failure to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full middle name or his middle initial shall not be a material omission, rendering his ballot void, unless the voter failed to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full first and last name. A voter’s failure to provide the date, or any part of the date, including the year, on which he signed the statement printed on the back of the envelope shall not be considered a material omission and shall not render his ballot void.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":253032,"text":"A mailed absentee ballot shall be returned (i) by mail to the office of the general registrar, (ii) by the voter in person to the general registrar, or (iii) to a drop-off location established pursuant to § 24.2-707.1. For purposes of this subsection, “mail” includes a delivery by a commercial delivery service but does not include delivery by a personal courier service or other individual except as provided by §§ 24.2-703.2 and 24.2-705.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":253033,"text":"Failure to follow the procedures set forth in this section shall render the applicant’s ballot void.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-707\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 20 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 1956, chapter 525; in 1970, chapter 462; in 1972, chapter 620; in 1973, chapter 30; in 1974, chapter 428; in 1975, chapter 515; in 1978, chapter 778; in 1981, chapter 425; in 1993, chapter 641; in 1996, chapter 393<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 429<\/a> and 450<\/a>; in 2001, chapters 617<\/a> and 624<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 785<\/a> and 819<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 478<\/a> and 1015<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 438<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 453<\/a>, 574<\/a>, and 575<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 313<\/a>, 644<\/a>, and 645<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 668<\/a> and 669<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 289<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 785<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57665,"section_number":"24.2-709","catch_line":"Ballot to be returned in manner prescribed by law","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-709\/"},{"id":60441,"section_number":"24.2-709.1","catch_line":"Processing returned absentee ballots before election day; cure process","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-709.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":56984,"section_number":"24.2-644","catch_line":"Voting by paper ballot; voting for presidential electors; write-in votes","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-644\/"},{"id":62642,"section_number":"24.2-646","catch_line":"Voter folds paper ballot and hands same to officer who deposits it unopened in ballot container","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-646\/"},{"id":65968,"section_number":"24.2-703.2","catch_line":"Replacement absentee ballots for certain disabled or ill voters; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-703.2\/"},{"id":79861,"section_number":"24.2-704","catch_line":"Applications and ballots for persons requiring assistance in voting; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-704\/"},{"id":55257,"section_number":"24.2-707.1","catch_line":"Drop-off locations for return of absentee ballots","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-707.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188913,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70050,"identifier":"24.2-707","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-707","url":"\/24.2-707\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-707\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-707","dublin_core":{"Title":"How ballots marked and returned","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-707","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> On receipt of a mailed absentee ballot, the voter shall (i) open the sealed<\/span> envelope marked “ballot within” and (ii) mark and refold the ballot, as provided in §§ 24.2-644<\/a> and 24.2-646<\/a> without assistance and without making known how he marked the ballot, except as provided by § 24.2-704<\/a>.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has marked his absentee ballot, he shall (a) enclose the ballot in the envelope provided for that purpose, (b) seal the envelope, (c) fill in and sign the statement printed on the back of the envelope, (d) enclose the ballot envelope and any required assistance form within the envelope directed to the general registrar<\/span>, and (e) seal that envelope. A voter’s failure to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full middle name or his middle initial shall not be a material<\/span> omission, rendering his ballot void, unless the voter failed to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full first and last name. A voter’s failure to provide the date, or any part of the date, including the year, on which he signed the statement printed on the back of the envelope shall not be considered a material<\/span> omission and shall not render his ballot void. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A mailed absentee ballot shall be returned (i) by mail<\/span> to the office of the general registrar<\/span>, (ii) by the voter in person to the general registrar<\/span>, or (iii) to a drop-off location established pursuant to § 24.2-707.1<\/a>. For purposes of this subsection, “mail<\/span>” includes a delivery by a commercial delivery service but does not include delivery by a personal courier service or other individual except as provided by §§ 24.2-703.2<\/a> and 24.2-705<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Failure to follow the procedures set forth in this section shall render the applicant’s ballot void. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHOW BALLOTS MARKED AND RETURNED (\u00a7 24.2-707)\n\nA. On receipt of a mailed absentee ballot, the voter shall (i) open the sealed\nenvelope marked “ballot within” and (ii) mark and refold the ballot,\nas provided in §§ 24.2-644 and 24.2-646 without assistance and without\nmaking known how he marked the ballot, except as provided by § 24.2-704.\n\t\t\tAfter the voter has marked his absentee ballot, he shall (a) enclose the\nballot in the envelope provided for that purpose, (b) seal the envelope, (c)\nfill in and sign the statement printed on the back of the envelope, (d) enclose\nthe ballot envelope and any required assistance form within the envelope\ndirected to the general registrar, and (e) seal that envelope. A voter’s\nfailure to provide in the statement on the back of the envelope his full middle\nname or his middle initial shall not be a material omission, rendering his\nballot void, unless the voter failed to provide in the statement on the back of\nthe envelope his full first and last name. A voter’s failure to provide\nthe date, or any part of the date, including the year, on which he signed the\nstatement printed on the back of the envelope shall not be considered a material\nomission and shall not render his ballot void.\n\nB. A mailed absentee ballot shall be returned (i) by mail to the office of the\ngeneral registrar, (ii) by the voter in person to the general registrar, or\n(iii) to a drop-off location established pursuant to § 24.2-707.1. For\npurposes of this subsection, “mail” includes a delivery by a\ncommercial delivery service but does not include delivery by a personal courier\nservice or other individual except as provided by §§ 24.2-703.2 and\n24.2-705.\n\nC. Failure to follow the procedures set forth in this section shall render the\napplicant’s ballot void.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 24-334, 24-337; 1956, c. 525; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7\n24.1-232; 1972, c. 620; 1973, c. 30; 1974, c. 428; 1975, c. 515; 1978, c. 778;\n1981, c. 425; 1993, c. 641; 1996, c. 393; 1997, cc. 429, 450; 2001, cc. 617,\n624; 2002, cc. 785, 819; 2003, cc. 478, 1015; 2006, c. 438; 2014, cc. 453, 574,\n575; 2015, cc. 313, 644, 645; 2019, cc. 668, 669; 2020, c. 289; 2021, Sp. Sess.\nI, cc. 235, 471, 522; 2023, c. 785.","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}}