                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POLLING PLACES; PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES; PROHIBITED AREA; PENALTIES (§ 24.2-604)

A. During the times the polls are open and ballots are being counted, or within
one hour of opening or after closing, it is unlawful for any person (i) to
loiter or congregate within 40 feet of any entrance of any polling place; (ii)
within such distance to give, tender, or exhibit any ballot, ticket, or other
campaign or referendum material to any person or to solicit or in any manner
attempt to influence any person in casting his vote; (iii) to hinder or delay a
qualified voter in entering or leaving a polling place; or (iv) to knowingly
possess any firearm as defined in &#xA7; 18.2-308.2:2 within 40 feet of any
building, or part thereof, used as a polling place.

B. Prior to opening the polls, the officers of election shall post, in the area
within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place, sufficient notices that
state &#8220;Prohibited Area&#8221; in two-inch type. The notices shall also
state the provisions of this section in not less than 24-point type. The
officers of election shall post the notices within the prohibited area to be
visible to voters and the public.

C. It is unlawful for any authorized representative permitted in the polling
place pursuant to &#xA7; 24.2-604.4, any voter, or any other person in the room
to (i) hinder or delay a qualified voter; (ii) give, tender, or exhibit any
ballot, ticket, or other campaign or referendum material to any person; (iii)
solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote;
(iv) hinder or delay any officer of election; (v) be in a position to see the
marked ballot of any other voter; or (vi) otherwise impede the orderly conduct
of the election.

D. The provisions of subsections A and C shall not be construed to prohibit a
person who approaches or enters the polling place for the purpose of voting from
wearing a shirt, hat, or other apparel on which a candidate&#8217;s name or a
political slogan appears or from having a sticker or button attached to his
apparel on which a candidate&#8217;s name or a political slogan appears. This
exemption shall not apply to candidates, representatives of candidates, or any
other person who approaches or enters the polling place for any purpose other
than voting.

E. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a candidate from entering any
polling place on the day of the election to vote, or to visit a polling place
for no longer than 10 minutes per polling place per election day, provided that
he complies with the restrictions stated in subsections A, C, and D.

F. The provisions of clause (iv) of subsection A shall not apply to (i) any
law-enforcement officer or any retired law-enforcement officer qualified
pursuant to subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-308.016; (ii) any person occupying his
own private property that falls within 40 feet of a polling place; or (iii) an
armed security officer, licensed pursuant to Article 4 (&#xA7; 9.1-138 et seq.)
of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, whose employment or performance of his duties occurs
within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a polling place.

G. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of
the officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the
prohibited area. Any person violating subsection A or C is guilty of a Class 1
misdemeanor.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 24-186, 24-188; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-101; 1971, Ex.
Sess., c. 119; 1973, c. 30; 1974, c. 428; 1975, c. 515; 1984, c. 480; 1993, cc.
413, 641; 1997, c. 328; 2000, cc. 215, 268; 2003, c. 1015; 2007, c. 672; 2009,
cc. 396, 494, 865, 870, 874; 2010, cc. 448, 707; 2012, cc. 754, 826; 2015, cc.
133, 575; 2016, cc. 15, 18, 491, 492; 2018, c. 700; 2020, c. 561; 2021, Sp.
Sess. I, c. 459; 2025, c. 584.