{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-712.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-712.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-712.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-712.html"}],"law_id":59219,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59219,"structure_id":13627,"section_number":"24.2-712","catch_line":"Central absentee voter precincts; counting ballots","history":"1974, c. 428, \u00a7 24.1-233.1; 1978, c. 778; 1991, c. 3; 1993, c. 641; 1994, cc. 287, 742; 1998, cc. 549, 572; 2003, c. 1015; 2006, c. 297; 2008, c. 423; 2013, c. 501; 2014, cc. 540, 552, 576; 2015, cc. 313, 644, 645; 2016, cc. 18, 492; 2017, c. 711; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 471, 522.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing body of each county or city shall establish one or more central absentee voter precincts in the courthouse or other public buildings for the purpose of receiving, counting, and recording absentee ballots cast in the county or city. A central absentee voter precinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance; the ordinance shall state for which elections the precinct shall be used. The decision to abolish any absentee voter precinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance. Immediate notification of either decision shall be sent to the Department of Elections and the electoral board.B\n\nEach central absentee voter precinct shall have at least three officers of election as provided for other precincts. The number of officers shall be determined by the electoral board and general registrar.C\n\nIf any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the central absentee voter precinct on the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it. If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the general registrar on or before the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it, and his ballot shall be delivered to the absentee voter precinct.D\n\nAbsentee ballots shall be processed as required by § 24.2-709.1 by the officers of election at the central absentee voter precinct prior to the closing of the polls. In the case of machine-readable ballots, the ballot container shall be opened and the absentee ballots shall be inserted in the counting machines prior to the closing of the polls in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy, but no ballot count totals by the machines shall be transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tIn the case of absentee ballots that are counted by hand, the officers of election shall begin tallying such ballots at any time after noon on the day of the election in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy. No counts of such tallies shall be determined or transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tThe use of cellular telephones or other communication devices shall be prohibited in the central absentee voter precinct during such processing and tallying and until the closing of the polls. Any person present in the central absentee voter precinct shall sign a statement under oath that he will not transmit any counts prior to the closing of the polls. Any person who transmits any counts in violation of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.E\n\nAs soon as the polls are closed in the county or city, the officers of election at the central absentee voter precinct shall proceed promptly to ascertain and record the total vote given by all absentee ballots and report the results in the manner provided for counting and reporting ballots generally in Article 4 (§ 24.2-643 et seq.) of Chapter 6.F\n\nThe electoral board or general registrar may provide that the officers of election for a central absentee voter precinct may be assigned to work all or a portion of the time that the precinct is open on election day subject to the following conditions:1\n\nThe chief officer and the assistant chief officer, appointed pursuant to § 24.2-115 to represent the two political parties, are on duty at all times; and2\n\nNo officer, political party representative, or other candidate representative shall leave the precinct after any ballots have been counted until the polls are closed and the count for the precinct is completed and reported.G\n\nThe general registrar may provide that the central absentee voter precinct will open after 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election provided that the office of the general registrar will be open for the receipt of absentee ballots until the central absentee voter precinct is open and that the officers of election for the central absentee voter precinct obtain the absentee ballots returned to the general registrar’s office for the purpose of counting the absentee ballots at the central absentee voter precinct and provided further that the central absentee voter precinct is the same location as the office of the general registrar.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":217076,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing body of each county or city shall establish one or more central absentee voter precincts in the courthouse or other public buildings for the purpose of receiving, counting, and recording absentee ballots cast in the county or city. A central absentee voter precinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance; the ordinance shall state for which elections the precinct shall be used. The decision to abolish any absentee voter precinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance. Immediate notification of either decision shall be sent to the Department of Elections and the electoral board.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":217077,"text":"Each central absentee voter precinct shall have at least three officers of election as provided for other precincts. The number of officers shall be determined by the electoral board and general registrar.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":217078,"text":"If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the central absentee voter precinct on the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it. If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the general registrar on or before the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it, and his ballot shall be delivered to the absentee voter precinct.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":217079,"text":"Absentee ballots shall be processed as required by § 24.2-709.1 by the officers of election at the central absentee voter precinct prior to the closing of the polls. In the case of machine-readable ballots, the ballot container shall be opened and the absentee ballots shall be inserted in the counting machines prior to the closing of the polls in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy, but no ballot count totals by the machines shall be transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tIn the case of absentee ballots that are counted by hand, the officers of election shall begin tallying such ballots at any time after noon on the day of the election in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy. No counts of such tallies shall be determined or transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tThe use of cellular telephones or other communication devices shall be prohibited in the central absentee voter precinct during such processing and tallying and until the closing of the polls. Any person present in the central absentee voter precinct shall sign a statement under oath that he will not transmit any counts prior to the closing of the polls. Any person who transmits any counts in violation of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":217080,"text":"As soon as the polls are closed in the county or city, the officers of election at the central absentee voter precinct shall proceed promptly to ascertain and record the total vote given by all absentee ballots and report the results in the manner provided for counting and reporting ballots generally in Article 4 (§ 24.2-643 et seq.) of Chapter 6.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":217081,"text":"The electoral board or general registrar may provide that the officers of election for a central absentee voter precinct may be assigned to work all or a portion of the time that the precinct is open on election day subject to the following conditions:","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"F1"},"6":{"id":217082,"text":"The chief officer and the assistant chief officer, appointed pursuant to § 24.2-115 to represent the two political parties, are on duty at all times; and","type":"section","prefixes":["F","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"F1","prefix_anchor":"F1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"F2"},"7":{"id":217083,"text":"No officer, political party representative, or other candidate representative shall leave the precinct after any ballots have been counted until the polls are closed and the count for the precinct is completed and reported.","type":"section","prefixes":["F","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"F2","prefix_anchor":"F2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"F1","next_prefix":"G"},"8":{"id":217084,"text":"The general registrar may provide that the central absentee voter precinct will open after 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election provided that the office of the general registrar will be open for the receipt of absentee ballots until the central absentee voter precinct is open and that the officers of election for the central absentee voter precinct obtain the absentee ballots returned to the general registrar’s office for the purpose of counting the absentee ballots at the central absentee voter precinct and provided further that the central absentee voter precinct is the same location as the office of the general registrar.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F2"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-712\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 428 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 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 13 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 1978, chapter 778; in 1991, chapter 3; in 1993, chapter 641; in 1994, chapters 287<\/a> and 742<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 549<\/a> and 572<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 1015<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 297<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 423<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 501<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 540<\/a>, 552<\/a>, and 576<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 313<\/a>, 644<\/a>, and 645<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 18<\/a> and 492<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 711<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61543,"section_number":"24.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-101\/"},{"id":54395,"section_number":"24.2-603","catch_line":"Hours polls to be open; closing the polls","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-603\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":57939,"section_number":"24.2-115","catch_line":"Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-115\/"},{"id":59861,"section_number":"24.2-643","catch_line":"Qualified voter permitted to vote; procedures at polling place; voter identification","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-643\/"},{"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\/"}],"permalink":{"id":188945,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59219,"identifier":"24.2-712","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-712","url":"\/24.2-712\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-712\/","token":"24.2\/7\/24.2-712","dublin_core":{"Title":"Central absentee voter precincts; counting ballots","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-712","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, the governing body of each county or city shall establish one or more central absentee voter precincts<\/span> in the courthouse or other public buildings for the purpose of receiving, counting, and recording absentee ballots cast in the county or city. A central absentee voter precinct<\/span> shall be made by the governing body by ordinance<\/span>; the ordinance<\/span> shall state for which elections the precinct shall be used. The decision to abolish any absentee voter precinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance<\/span>. Immediate notification of either decision shall be sent to the Department of Elections<\/span> and the electoral board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each central absentee voter precinct<\/span> shall have at least three officers of election<\/span> as provided for other precincts. The number of officers shall be determined by the electoral board<\/span> and general registrar<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> on the day of the election<\/span>, he shall be allowed to vote it. If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the general registrar<\/span> on or before the day of the election<\/span>, he shall be allowed to vote it, and his ballot shall be delivered to the absentee voter precinct. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Absentee ballots shall be processed as required by § 24.2-709.1<\/a> by the officers of election<\/span> at the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> prior to the closing of the polls. In the case of machine-readable ballots<\/span>, the ballot container shall be opened and the absentee ballots shall be inserted in the counting machines prior to the closing of the polls in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections<\/span>, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy, but no ballot count totals by the machines shall be transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tIn the case of absentee ballots that are counted by hand, the officers of election<\/span> shall begin tallying such ballots at any time after noon on the day of the election<\/span> in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections<\/span>, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy. No counts of such tallies shall be determined or transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tThe use of cellular telephones or other communication devices shall be prohibited in the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> during such processing and tallying and until the closing of the polls. Any person present in the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> shall sign a statement under oath<\/span> that he will not transmit any counts prior to the closing of the polls. Any person who transmits any counts in violation of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> As soon as the polls are closed in the county or city, the officers of election<\/span> at the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> shall proceed promptly to ascertain and record the total vote given by all absentee ballots and report the results in the manner provided for counting and reporting ballots generally in Article 4 (§ 24.2-643<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 6. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The electoral board<\/span> or general registrar<\/span> may provide that the officers of election<\/span> for a central absentee voter precinct<\/span> may be assigned to work all or a portion of the time that the precinct is open on election<\/span> day subject to the following conditions: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The chief officer and the assistant chief officer, appointed pursuant to § 24.2-115<\/a> to represent the two political parties, are on duty at all times; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> No officer, political party<\/span> representative, or other candidate<\/span> representative shall leave the precinct after any ballots have been counted until the polls are closed and the count for the precinct is completed and reported. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The general registrar<\/span> may provide that the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> will open after 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election<\/span> provided that the office of the general registrar<\/span> will be open for the receipt of absentee ballots until the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> is open and that the officers of election<\/span> for the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> obtain the absentee ballots returned to the general registrar<\/span>’s office for the purpose of counting the absentee ballots at the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> and provided further that the central absentee voter precinct<\/span> is the same location as the office of the general registrar<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCENTRAL ABSENTEE VOTER PRECINCTS; COUNTING BALLOTS (\u00a7 24.2-712)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing body of each county\nor city shall establish one or more central absentee voter precincts in the\ncourthouse or other public buildings for the purpose of receiving, counting, and\nrecording absentee ballots cast in the county or city. A central absentee voter\nprecinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance; the ordinance shall\nstate for which elections the precinct shall be used. The decision to abolish\nany absentee voter precinct shall be made by the governing body by ordinance.\nImmediate notification of either decision shall be sent to the Department of\nElections and the electoral board.\n\nB. Each central absentee voter precinct shall have at least three officers of\nelection as provided for other precincts. The number of officers shall be\ndetermined by the electoral board and general registrar.\n\nC. If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the central absentee voter precinct\non the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it. If any voter brings\nan unmarked ballot to the general registrar on or before the day of the\nelection, he shall be allowed to vote it, and his ballot shall be delivered to\nthe absentee voter precinct.\n\nD. Absentee ballots shall be processed as required by § 24.2-709.1 by the\nofficers of election at the central absentee voter precinct prior to the closing\nof the polls. In the case of machine-readable ballots, the ballot container\nshall be opened and the absentee ballots shall be inserted in the counting\nmachines prior to the closing of the polls in accordance with procedures\nprescribed by the Department of Elections, including procedures to preserve\nballot secrecy, but no ballot count totals by the machines shall be transmitted\noutside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the\npolls.\n\t\t\tIn the case of absentee ballots that are counted by hand, the officers of\nelection shall begin tallying such ballots at any time after noon on the day of\nthe election in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Department of\nElections, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy. No counts of such\ntallies shall be determined or transmitted outside of the central absentee voter\nprecinct until after the closing of the polls.\n\t\t\tThe use of cellular telephones or other communication devices shall be\nprohibited in the central absentee voter precinct during such processing and\ntallying and until the closing of the polls. Any person present in the central\nabsentee voter precinct shall sign a statement under oath that he will not\ntransmit any counts prior to the closing of the polls. Any person who transmits\nany counts in violation of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nE. As soon as the polls are closed in the county or city, the officers of\nelection at the central absentee voter precinct shall proceed promptly to\nascertain and record the total vote given by all absentee ballots and report the\nresults in the manner provided for counting and reporting ballots generally in\nArticle 4 (§ 24.2-643 et seq.) of Chapter 6.\n\nF. The electoral board or general registrar may provide that the officers of\nelection for a central absentee voter precinct may be assigned to work all or a\nportion of the time that the precinct is open on election day subject to the\nfollowing conditions:\n\n 1. The chief officer and the assistant chief officer, appointed pursuant to\n § 24.2-115 to represent the two political parties, are on duty at all\n times; and\n\n 2. No officer, political party representative, or other candidate\n representative shall leave the precinct after any ballots have been counted\n until the polls are closed and the count for the precinct is completed and\n reported.\n\nG. The general registrar may provide that the central absentee voter precinct\nwill open after 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election provided that the office of\nthe general registrar will be open for the receipt of absentee ballots until the\ncentral absentee voter precinct is open and that the officers of election for\nthe central absentee voter precinct obtain the absentee ballots returned to the\ngeneral registrar’s office for the purpose of counting the absentee\nballots at the central absentee voter precinct and provided further that the\ncentral absentee voter precinct is the same location as the office of the\ngeneral registrar.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 428, \u00a7 24.1-233.1; 1978, c. 778; 1991, c. 3; 1993, c. 641;\n1994, cc. 287, 742; 1998, cc. 549, 572; 2003, c. 1015; 2006, c. 297; 2008, c.\n423; 2013, c. 501; 2014, cc. 540, 552, 576; 2015, cc. 313, 644, 645; 2016, cc.\n18, 492; 2017, c. 711; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 471, 522.","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}}