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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 1. Administration
Agency 20. State Board of Elections
Chapter 70. Absentee Voting
10/24/2026

1VAC20-70-40. Alternative processing procedures for absentee ballots returned before election day.

To expedite counting absentee ballots under § 24.2-709.1 of the Code of Virginia, each general registrar shall ensure that:

1. The general registrar staff assigned follow the instructions in this section for processing and verifying absentee ballots.

2. Each locality holds a mandatory pre-processing meeting on the seventh day immediately preceding the election. At the conclusion of that meeting, the general registrar's office will determine the number of mail absentee ballots in the locality that have been returned but not pre-processed.

a. The locality shall hold an additional pre-processing meeting on either Friday or Saturday immediately preceding the election if the total number of returned mail ballots awaiting pre-processing (i) is 10% or more of the total returned mail absentee ballots for the locality and (ii) consists of at least 100 ballots.

b. At any mandatory pre-processing meeting held on Friday or Saturday immediately preceding the election, the general registrar's office shall pre-process all absentee ballots that were in their office's possession at the beginning of that day.

3. If (i) a general registrar's office is required to hold a pre-processing meeting on Friday or Saturday immediately preceding the election and is unable to process all ballots in their possession or (ii) if no Friday or Saturday meeting was held, then the general registrar's office shall hold a final pre-processing meeting on Monday immediately preceding the election during which all returned mail absentee ballots must be processed.

4. All absentee ballots are secured at the end of each day following principles of dual control and chain of custody.

5. The general registrar staff assigned follow carefully all the requirements of § 24.2-709.1 of the Code of Virginia, including the requirement that at least two officers of election, one representing each political party, be present during all hours that the expedited procedures are used.

6. Notice is given to the local political party chairs of the times and places for processing absentee ballots in sufficient time to allow for the authorized party representatives to be present. If the general registrar's office determines a Friday or Saturday pre-processing meeting is not required, notice of the decision shall also be provided, and the registrar shall document the justification for forgoing the meeting.

Statutory Authority

§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. April 18, 2012; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2013; Volume 38, Issue 19, eff. May 6, 2022; Volume 43, Issue 6, eff. October 15, 2026.

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