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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73402</law_id><section_number>24.2-687</section_number><catch_line>Authorization for distribution of information on referendum elections</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>24.2-684</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="6">The Election</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Special Elections</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The governing body of any county, city or town may provide for the preparation and printing of an explanation for each <span class="dictionary">referendum</span> question to be submitted to the voters of the county, city or town to be distributed at the <span class="dictionary">polling places</span> on the day of the <span class="dictionary">referendum</span> <span class="dictionary">election</span>. The governing body may have the explanation published by paid advertisement in a newspaper with general circulation in the county, city or town one or more times preceding the <span class="dictionary">referendum</span>.
			The explanation shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in <span class="dictionary">plain English</span>, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county, city or town or, if there is no county, city or town attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Plain English</span>&#x201D; means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.
			If the <span class="dictionary">referendum</span> question involves the issuance of <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> by a locality, the locality shall provide for such printed explanation. The explanation shall (i) state the estimated maximum amount of the <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> proposed to be issued, and (ii) state the proposed use of the <span class="dictionary">bond</span> proceeds, and if there is more than one use, state the proposed uses for which more than 10 percent of the total <span class="dictionary">bond</span> proceeds is expected to be used. <a id="paragraph-264135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-687/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a county, city or town from disseminating other neutral <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or advertisements concerning <span class="dictionary">issues</span> of public concern that are the subject of a <span class="dictionary">referendum</span>; however, the <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or advertisements shall not advocate the passage or defeat of the <span class="dictionary">referendum</span> question. <a id="paragraph-264136" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-687/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> This section shall not be applicable to statewide referenda. <a id="paragraph-264137" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-687/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of the <span class="dictionary">referendum</span>. <a id="paragraph-264138" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/24.2-687/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, c. 297; 2004, cc. 21, 399; 2006, c. 302; 2011, c. 590.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
