HB632: Elections; substitution of officers of election.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 24.2-115 and 24.2-117 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 24.2-115. Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election.
Each electoral board at its regular meeting in the first week of February of the year in which the terms of officers of election are scheduled to expire shall appoint officers of election. Their terms of office shall begin on March 1 following their appointment and continue, at the discretion of the electoral board, for a term not to exceed three years or until their successors are appointed.
Not less than three competent citizens shall be appointed for each precinct and, insofar as practicable, each officer shall be a qualified voter of the precinct he is appointed to serve, but in any case a qualified voter of the Commonwealth. In appointing the officers of election, representation shall be given to each of the two political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. The representation of the two parties shall be equal at each precinct having an equal number of officers and shall vary by no more than one at each precinct having an odd number of officers. If practicable, officers shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board at least 10 days before February 1 each year. The electoral board may appoint additional citizens who do not represent any political party to serve as officers but not as the chief officer or the assistant chief officer. If practicable, no more than one-third of the total number of officers appointed for each precinct may be citizens who do not represent any political party.
Officers of election shall serve for all elections held in their respective precincts during their terms of office unless a substitute is required to be appointed pursuant to § 24.2-117 or the electoral board decides that fewer officers are needed for a particular election, in which case party representation shall be maintained as provided above. For a primary election involving only one political party, persons representing the political party holding the primary shall serve as the officers of election if possible.
The electoral board shall designate one officer as the chief officer of election and one officer as the assistant for each precinct. The officer designated as the assistant for a precinct, whenever practicable, shall not represent the same political party as the chief officer for the precinct. The electoral board may also appoint at least one officer of election who reports to the precinct at least one hour prior to the closing of the precinct and whose primary responsibility is to assist with closing the precinct and reporting the results of the votes at the precinct.
The electoral board shall instruct each chief officer and assistant in his duties not less than three nor more than 30 days before each election. Each electoral board may instruct each officer of election in his duties at an appropriate time or times before each November general election, and shall conduct training of the officers of election consistent with the standards set by the State Board pursuant to subsection B of § 24.2-103. Each electoral board shall certify to the State Board that such training has been conducted every four years.
If Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-117, if an
officer of election is unable to serve at any election during his term of
office, the electoral board may at any time appoint a substitute who shall hold
office and serve for the unexpired term.
Additional officers shall be appointed in accordance with this section at any time that the electoral board determines that they are needed.
If practicable, substitute officers or additional officers appointed after the electoral board's regular meeting in the first week of February shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The electoral board shall inform the political parties of its decision to make such appointments and the party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board within five business days.
The secretary of the electoral board shall prepare a list of the officers of election that shall be available for inspection and posted in the general registrar's office prior to March 1 each year. Whenever substitute or additional officers are appointed, the secretary shall promptly add the names of the appointees to the public list. Upon request and at a reasonable charge not to exceed the actual cost incurred, the secretary shall provide a copy of the list of the officers of election, including their party designation and precinct to which they are assigned, to any requesting political party or candidate.
§ 24.2-117. Substitution of officer of election.
A candidate may require the removal of an officer of
election for the election in which he is a candidate by a request in writing,
filed at least seven days before the election with the electoral board
appointing the officer, on the grounds that the officer An officer of
election shall not be permitted to serve in an election in which he is the
spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild of an
opposing a candidate in that election. The electoral board
may shall appoint a substitute officer of election, who shall
hold office and serve for that election. [ The electoral board shall give
notice to the public and the candidates of that election that a substitute has
been appointed. That notice shall be given no later than seven days prior to
the election. ]
HOUSE BILL NO. 632
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 24.2-115 and 24.2-117 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 24.2-115. Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election.
Each electoral board at its regular meeting in the first week of February of the year in which the terms of officers of election are scheduled to expire shall appoint officers of election. Their terms of office shall begin on March 1 following their appointment and continue, at the discretion of the electoral board, for a term not to exceed three years or until their successors are appointed.
Not less than three competent citizens shall be appointed for each precinct and, insofar as practicable, each officer shall be a qualified voter of the precinct he is appointed to serve, but in any case a qualified voter of the Commonwealth. In appointing the officers of election, representation shall be given to each of the two political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. The representation of the two parties shall be equal at each precinct having an equal number of officers and shall vary by no more than one at each precinct having an odd number of officers. If practicable, officers shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board at least 10 days before February 1 each year. The electoral board may appoint additional citizens who do not represent any political party to serve as officers but not as the chief officer or the assistant chief officer. If practicable, no more than one-third of the total number of officers appointed for each precinct may be citizens who do not represent any political party.
Officers of election shall serve for all elections held in their respective precincts during their terms of office unless a substitute is required to be appointed pursuant to § 24.2-117 or the electoral board decides that fewer officers are needed for a particular election, in which case party representation shall be maintained as provided above. For a primary election involving only one political party, persons representing the political party holding the primary shall serve as the officers of election if possible.
The electoral board shall designate one officer as the chief officer of election and one officer as the assistant for each precinct. The officer designated as the assistant for a precinct, whenever practicable, shall not represent the same political party as the chief officer for the precinct. The electoral board may also appoint at least one officer of election who reports to the precinct at least one hour prior to the closing of the precinct and whose primary responsibility is to assist with closing the precinct and reporting the results of the votes at the precinct.
The electoral board shall instruct each chief officer and assistant in his duties not less than three nor more than 30 days before each election. Each electoral board may instruct each officer of election in his duties at an appropriate time or times before each November general election, and shall conduct training of the officers of election consistent with the standards set by the State Board pursuant to subsection B of § 24.2-103. Each electoral board shall certify to the State Board that such training has been conducted every four years.
If Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-117, if an
officer of election is unable to serve at any election during his term of
office, the electoral board may at any time appoint a substitute who shall hold
office and serve for the unexpired term.
Additional officers shall be appointed in accordance with this section at any time that the electoral board determines that they are needed.
If practicable, substitute officers or additional officers appointed after the electoral board's regular meeting in the first week of February shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The electoral board shall inform the political parties of its decision to make such appointments and the party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board within five business days.
The secretary of the electoral board shall prepare a list of the officers of election that shall be available for inspection and posted in the general registrar's office prior to March 1 each year. Whenever substitute or additional officers are appointed, the secretary shall promptly add the names of the appointees to the public list. Upon request and at a reasonable charge not to exceed the actual cost incurred, the secretary shall provide a copy of the list of the officers of election, including their party designation and precinct to which they are assigned, to any requesting political party or candidate.
§ 24.2-117. Substitution of officer of election.
A candidate may require
the removal of an officer of election for the election in which he is a
candidate by a request in writing, filed at least seven days before the
election with the electoral board appointing the officer, on the grounds that
the officer An officer of election
shall not be permitted to serve in an election in
which he is the spouse, parent,
grandparent, sibling,
child, or grandchild of an opposing a candidate in that election. The
electoral board may shall appoint a substitute officer of election, who shall
hold office and serve for that election. The electoral board
shall give notice to the public and the candidates of that election that
a substitute has been appointed. That notice shall be
given no later than seven
days prior to the election.