Topics
Code Section
Virginia > Title 24.2 Elections > Federal, Commonwealth, And Local Officers Article 5: Constitutional and Local Officers

§ 24.2-220 Reversion to quadrennial elections

Overview of Statute

This section empowers the governing body of any county or the qualified voters in the county to repeal an ordinance previously adopted to provide for the election of the board of supervisors biennially for staggered four-year terms.

Statute

The governing body of any county, by ordinance, may repeal an ordinance previously adopted to provide for the election of the board of supervisors biennially for staggered four-year terms and provide for the election of the board of supervisors quadrennially for four-year terms. The qualified voters of the county, by petition and referendum in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in § 24.2-219, may repeal an ordinance of the board or a referendum previously adopted which authorized the election of the board of supervisors biennially for four-year terms. The question in the referendum to rescind shall be:

“Shall the members of the county board of supervisors be elected quadrennially for four-year terms?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No”

If a majority of the voters voting in the referendum voted for quadrennial election of the members of the board of supervisors for four-year terms, or if the governing body has so provided by ordinance, then the successors to those supervisors whose terms expire in 1995 or any fourth year thereafter shall be elected for a four-year term and immediate successors to those supervisors whose terms expire in 1993 or any fourth year thereafter shall be elected for a two-year term and all subsequent successors for a four-year term.

Code 1950, § 24-157; 1968, c. 639; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-88; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 265; 1973, c. 30; 1976, c. 616; 1981, c. 12; 1982, c. 650; 1993, c. 641 .

Definition [Referendum]

Any election held pursuant to law to submit a question to the voters for approval or rejection.

See § 24.2-101.

Definition [Qualified voter]

A person who is entitled to vote pursuant to the Constitution of Virginia and who is (i) 18 years of age on or before the day of the election or qualified pursuant to § 24.2-403 or subsection D of § 24.2-544, (ii) a resident of the Commonwealth and of the precinct in which he offers to vote, and (iii) a registered voter. No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be a qualified voter unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. No person adjudicated incapacitated shall be a qualified voter unless his capacity has been reestablished as provided by law. Whether a signature should be counted towards satisfying the signature requirement of any petition shall be determined based on the signer of the petition’s qualification to vote. For purposes of determining if a signature on a petition shall be included in the count toward meeting the signature requirements of any petition, “qualified voter” shall include only persons maintained on the Virginia voter registration system (a) with active status and (b) with inactive status who are qualified to vote for the office for which the petition was circulated.

See § 24.2-101.

Definition [Board]

The State Board of Elections.

See § 24.2-101.

Definition [Election]

A general, primary, or special election.

See § 24.2-101.

Regulations & Guidance