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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56695</law_id><section_number>24.2-452</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>24.2-1004</reference><reference>24.2-419</reference><reference>24.2-456</reference><reference>24.2-509</reference><reference>24.2-612</reference><reference>24.2-701</reference><reference>24.2-702.1</reference><reference>24.2-703</reference><reference>24.2-706</reference><reference>24.2-709</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="4.1">Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;Covered voter&#x201D; means:
			a. A <span class="dictionary">uniformed-service voter</span> or an <span class="dictionary">overseas voter</span> who is registered to vote in this <span class="dictionary">state</span>;
			b. A <span class="dictionary">uniformed-service voter</span> defined in subdivision 9 a whose voting <span class="dictionary">residence</span> is in this <span class="dictionary">state</span> and who otherwise satisfies this <span class="dictionary">state</span>&#x2019;s voter eligibility requirements;
			c. An <span class="dictionary">overseas voter</span> who, before leaving the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, was last eligible to vote in this <span class="dictionary">state</span> and, except for a <span class="dictionary">state</span> residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this <span class="dictionary">state</span>&#x2019;s voter eligibility requirements;
			d. An <span class="dictionary">overseas voter</span> who, before leaving the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, would have been last eligible to vote in this <span class="dictionary">state</span> had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a <span class="dictionary">state</span> residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this <span class="dictionary">state</span>&#x2019;s voter eligibility requirements; or
			e. An <span class="dictionary">overseas voter</span> who was born outside the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, is not described in subdivision c or d, and, except for a <span class="dictionary">state</span> residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this <span class="dictionary">state</span>&#x2019;s voter eligibility requirements, if: <a id="paragraph-207454" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter was, or under this chapter would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> is within this <span class="dictionary">state</span>; and <a id="paragraph-207455" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The voter has not previously registered to vote in any other <span class="dictionary">state</span>. <a id="paragraph-207456" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dependent</span>&#x201D; means an individual recognized as a <span class="dictionary">dependent</span> by a uniformed service. <a id="paragraph-207457" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federal postcard application</span>&#x201D; means the application prescribed under &#xA7; 101(b)(2) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. &#xA7; 20301(b)(2). <a id="paragraph-207458" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federal write-in absentee ballot</span>&#x201D; means the ballot described in &#xA7; 103 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. &#xA7; 20303, that may be used in all <span class="dictionary">elections</span> in which the voter is eligible to vote as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Federal write-in absentee ballots" href="/24.2-702.1/">24.2-702.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-207459" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> &#x201C;Military-overseas ballot&#x201D; means:
			a. A <span class="dictionary">federal write-in absentee ballot</span>;
			b. A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this title; or
			c. A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this title. <a id="paragraph-207460" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Overseas voter</span>&#x201D; means a United <span class="dictionary">States</span> citizen who is outside the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>. <a id="paragraph-207461" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">State</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">state</span> of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular <span class="dictionary">possession</span> subject to the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>. <a id="paragraph-207462" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> &#x201C;Uniformed service&#x201D; means:
			a. Active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>;
			b. The Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>; or
			c. The Virginia National Guard. <a id="paragraph-207463" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Uniformed-service voter</span>&#x201D; means an individual who is qualified to vote and is:
			a. A member of the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> who is on active duty;
			b. A member of the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>;
			c. A member on activated status of the National Guard; or
			d. A spouse or <span class="dictionary">dependent</span> of a member referred to in this definition. <a id="paragraph-207464" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> &#x201C;United <span class="dictionary">States</span>,&#x201D; used in the territorial sense, means the several <span class="dictionary">states</span>, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Virgin Islands, and any territory or insular <span class="dictionary">possession</span> subject to the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>. <a id="paragraph-207465" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-452/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2012, c. 353; 2015, c. 313; 2019, cc. 668, 669; 2020, cc. 1149, 1151, 1201; 2024, c. 817.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
