Topics
Code Section
Virginia > Title 24.2 Elections > The Election Article 1. General Provisions; Polling Places

§ 24.2-603 Hours polls to be open; closing the polls

Statute

Currently in effect

At all elections, the polls shall be open at each polling place at 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election and closed at 7:00 p.m. on the same day except as provided for central absentee voter precincts pursuant to subsection F of § 24.2-712.

At 6:45 p.m. an officer of election shall announce that the polls will close in fifteen minutes. The officers of election shall list the names of all qualified voters in line before the polling place at 7:00 p.m. and permit those voters and no others to vote after 7:00 p.m.

Effective if re-enacted by the 2021 Session of the General Assembly

At all elections, the polls shall be open at each polling place at 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election and closed at 8:00 p.m. on the same day except as provided for central absentee voter precincts pursuant to subsection F of § 24.2–712.

At 7:45 p.m., an officer of election shall announce that the polls will close in 15 minutes. The officers of election shall list the names of all qualified voters in line before the polling place at 8:00 p.m. and permit those voters and no others to vote after 8:00 p.m.

Code 1950, §§ 24-182, 24-184; 1950, p. 462; 1958, c. 160; 1962, c. 536; 1966, c. 116; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-98, 24.1-99; 1981, c. 425; 1993, c. 641; 2008, c. 423; 2020, c. 720.

1. Definition for Polling place

Definition [Polling place]

The structure that contains the one place provided for each precinct at which the qualified voters who are residents of the precinct may vote.

See § 24.2-101.

2. Definition for Qualified voter

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.

3. Definition for Officer of election

Definition [Officer of election]

A person appointed by an electoral board pursuant to § 24.2-115 to serve at a polling place for any election.

See § 24.2-101.

4. Definition for Central absentee voter precinct

Definition [Central absentee voter precinct]

A precinct established by a county or city pursuant to § 24.2-712 for the processing of absentee ballots for the county or city or any combination of precincts within the county or city.

See § 24.2-101.

5. Definition for Election

Definition [Election]

A general, primary, or special election.

See § 24.2-101.

6. Definition for Precinct

Definition [Precinct]

The territory designated by the governing body of a county, city, or town to be served by one polling place.

See § 24.2-101.

Additional Resources

Useful Links