<aside> 🗳️ Introduction to This Report
This report is focused on how votes are counted and certified in Virginia. Our research provides detailed information about the processes involved in counting and certification, the officials responsible for administering elections, which officials have decision-making power over these processes, and who currently fill those key roles
Our research and analysis is designed to make transparent the detailed process of Virginia's elections to avoid any potential vulnerabilities being exploited by those who have embraced election denialism, subversion, or other anti-democracy activity. To that end, we have identified the top potential threats to the integrity of Virginia elections by looking at those officials who have engaged in anti-democracy activities.
Please note that this report focuses on the November 7, 2023 general election. [1] Our report covers election officials in all 133 localities (95 counties and 38 independent cities) responsible for local election administration across the Commonwealth, including members of Electoral Boards, General Registrars, and additional staff. “Explore.” This year, all seats for the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates will be contested in the general election. Va. Const. Art. IV, §§ 2, 3. A full list of local offices and candidates that will be on the ballot in the general election can be found on the Virginia Department of Election’s website.
Throughout the report, the blue ballot icon indicates legal research & elections process and the orange ballot icon indicates strategic research & potential threats.
If you would like to share any feedback on this report or have questions for our research team, contact us at: info[@]informingdemocracy[dot]org. See our Research Library for additional reports and analysis.
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Click on the individual process item to expand the details of each step in vote counting and election certification. You can also use the tabs at the top of the chart to switch from timeline view to calendar or table view.
Timeline for Vote Counting + Certification
Virginia elections procedures are largely codified in detail in statute and regulation, with additional guidance provided by the State Board of Elections. This leaves limited discretion in the hands of Local Electoral Boards, Registrars, and election staff. Additionally, there are strong protections in Virginia law, including the power of the State Board to remove local officials for a failure to discharge their duties. Va. Code Ann. §§ 24.2-103(E), 24.2-234. This makes it unlikely that even election deniers or subverters serving in an official role could fully undermine a Virginia election.
While we believe in the security of our elections, we expect to see continued efforts to undermine our elections, similar to those seen in the midterm, that could lead to increased chaos and a potential delay in the counting process in the state. As such, we have tried to identify individuals closely involved in the administration of Virginia’s elections who could pose such threats, as well as identified concerning patterns involving who runs the Commonwealth’s elections and how some officers of elections are trained.
This section provides information about the officers and personnel in charge of election administration in Virginia. Click on each office below for complete details. You can also review a brief overview here:
Org Chart: Virginia Election Administration
2023 Virginia Survey Methodology + Questions
Legislature: House of Delegates + Senate
Commissioner of Elections + Department of Elections
Electoral Board (City or County)
Overview: Library of Election Officials + Research Findings
Virginia has a centralized system of vote counting and certification. Many of the process steps and duties are outlined in Virginia statute. Va. Code § 24.2-103(A). Additional guidance comes from the State Board and the Virginia Department of Elections, headed by the Commissioner of Elections, with local discretion over some administrative issues. Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-103A)-(D),(H). Click on each process title below for complete details.