§ 24.2-455 Role of Commissioner of Elections
Statute
A. The Commissioner of Elections is the state official responsible for implementing this chapter and Virginia’s responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.
B. The Commissioner shall make available to covered voters information regarding voter registration procedures for covered voters and procedures for casting military-overseas ballots. The Commissioner may delegate the responsibility under this subsection only to the state office designated in compliance with § 102(b)(1) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20302(b)(1).
C. The Commissioner shall coordinate with local electoral boards to establish an appropriate system through which a covered voter may apply for and receive voter registration materials, military-overseas ballots, and other information under this chapter.
D. The Commissioner shall:
1. Develop standardized absentee-voting materials, including privacy and transmission envelopes, authentication materials, and voting instructions to be used with the military-overseas ballot of a voter authorized to vote in any jurisdiction in this state; and
2. To the extent reasonably possible, coordinate with other states to carry out this subsection.
E. The Commissioner shall prescribe the form and content of a declaration for use by a covered voter to swear or affirm specific representations pertaining to the voter’s identity, eligibility to vote, status as a covered voter, and timely and proper completion of an overseas-military ballot. The declaration must be based on the declaration prescribed to accompany a federal write-in absentee ballot, as modified to be consistent with this chapter. The Commissioner shall ensure that a form for the execution of the declaration, including an indication of the date of execution of the declaration, is a prominent part of all balloting materials for which the declaration is required.
The Commissioner coordinates with the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) on resources for voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act (UOCAVA), including a Voting Assistance Guide (VAG) for Virginia.
1. Definition for Covered voter
a. A uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is registered to vote in this state;
b. A uniformed-service voter defined in subdivision 9 a whose voting residence is in this state and who otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements, including subdivision 2 of § 24.2-700;
c. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this state and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;
d. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have been last eligible to vote in this state had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements; or
e. An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not described in subdivision c or d, and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements, if:
(1) The last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter was, or under this chapter would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this state; and
(2) The voter has not previously registered to vote in any other state.
See § 24.2-452.
2. Definition for Electoral board
A board appointed pursuant to § 24.2-106 to administer elections for a county or city. The electoral board of the county in which a town or the greater part of a town is located shall administer the town’s elections.
See § 24.2-101.
3. Definition for Local electoral board
A board appointed pursuant to § 24.2-106 to administer elections for a county or city. The electoral board of the county in which a town or the greater part of a town is located shall administer the town’s elections.
See § 24.2-101.
4. Definition for Military-overseas ballot
a. A federal write-in absentee ballot;
b. A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this title; or
c. A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this title.
See § 24.2-452.
5. Definition for Federal write-in absentee ballot
The ballot described in § 103 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20303, that may be used in all elections in which the voter is eligible to vote as provided in § 24.2-702.1.
See § 24.2-452.
6. Definition for Board
The State Board of Elections.
See § 24.2-101.
7. Definition for State
A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
See § 24.2-452.
8. Definition for Election
A general, primary, or special election.
See § 24.2-101.