                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POLLING PLACES; PRESENCE OF ADDITIONAL PERSONS AUTHORIZED (§ 24.2-604.5)

A. A local electoral board or general registrar may authorize in writing the
presence in the polling place of additional neutral observers as may be deemed
appropriate, except as otherwise prohibited or limited by the provisions of
&#xA7; 24.2-604. Such observers shall comply with the restrictions in
subsections A and C of &#xA7; 24.2-604 and shall not be allowed in any case to
provide assistance to any voter as permitted under &#xA7; 24.2-649 or to wear
any indication that they are authorized to assist voters either inside the
polling place or within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place. The
officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the
officers present to be in violation of this subsection to remain outside of the
prohibited area.

B. The officers of election shall permit representatives of the news media to
visit and film or photograph inside the polling place for a reasonable and
limited period of time while the polls are open. However, the media (i) shall
comply with the restrictions in subsections A and C of &#xA7; 24.2-604; (ii)
shall not film or photograph any person who specifically asks the media
representative at that time that he not be filmed or photographed; (iii) shall
not film or photograph the voter or the ballot in such a way that divulges how
any individual voter is voting; and (iv) shall not film or photograph the voter
list or any other voter record or material at the precinct in such a way that it
divulges the name or other information concerning any individual voter. Any
interviews with voters, candidates, or other persons; live broadcasts; or taping
of reporters&#8217; remarks shall be conducted outside of the polling place and
the prohibited area. The officers of election may require any person who is
found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this
subsection to leave the polling place and the prohibited area.

HISTORY: 2020, c. 561.