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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64832</law_id><section_number>24.2-104</section_number><catch_line>Requesting assistance for attorney for the Commonwealth; investigative committees</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-511</reference><reference>24.2-953.5</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="24.2">Elections</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions and Administration</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">State Board of Elections</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the <span class="dictionary">election</span> <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> violations thereof. The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> a violation, assure the enforcement of the <span class="dictionary">elections</span> <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, and report the results of the investigation to the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-235937" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-104/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> is of the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> that the public interest will be served, it may request the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, or other attorney designated by the Governor for such purpose, to assist the attorney for the Commonwealth of any <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in which <span class="dictionary">election</span> <span class="dictionary">laws</span> have been violated. When the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> makes its request pursuant to a unanimous vote of all members, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, or other attorney designated by the Governor, shall exercise the authority granted by this section to conduct an investigation, <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> a violation, assure the enforcement of the <span class="dictionary">election</span> <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, and report the results of the investigation to the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, or the other attorney designated by the Governor, shall have full authority to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to enforce the <span class="dictionary">election</span> <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> violations thereof. <a id="paragraph-235938" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-104/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The attorney for the Commonwealth or a member of the <span class="dictionary">electoral board</span> of any county or city may make a request, in writing, that the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> appoint a committee to make an immediate investigation of the <span class="dictionary">election</span> practices in that city or county, accompanied by a statement under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> that substantial violations of this title have allegedly occurred which may alter or have altered the outcome of an <span class="dictionary">election</span>. On receipt of the request and statement, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall forthwith appoint a committee of two or more persons qualified to make the investigation. Members, officers, and employees of the Board, <span class="dictionary">local electoral boards</span>, and registrars&#x2019; offices shall not serve on the committee but may provide assistance to the committee.
			The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall direct the committee to observe, investigate or supervise the <span class="dictionary">election</span> if supervision appears necessary. The committee shall make a preliminary report to the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> within five days of its appointment. If its report shows that violations of this title have occurred, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may, notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, authorize the <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> of those responsible for the violations. <a id="paragraph-235939" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-104/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 24-27; 1970, c. 462, &#xA7; 24.1-21; 1989, c. 111; 1993, c. 641; 2002, cc. 785, 819; 2013, c. 768.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
