Chapter 20. General Administration
1VAC20-20-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board" means the Virginia State Board of Elections.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the State Board of Elections.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 16, eff. March 28, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011.
1VAC20-20-20. Electronic transmission of records containing sensitive personal information; encryption or redaction required..
State and local election staff shall use encryption technology meeting the Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules, FIPS PUB 140-2, issued May 25, 2001, with change notices through December 3, 2002, of the National Institute of Technology (NIST) of the United States Department of Commerce (http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips140-2/fips1402.pdf) to transmit electronically any records containing sensitive personal information. Electronic transmission includes email or facsimile transmission. For purposes of this regulation, sensitive personal information means: (i) more than four digits of a social security number or other unique identifier other than voter identification number; (ii) day and month of birth; or (iii) the residence address of voters qualified for protection under § 24.2-418 of the Code of Virginia. If encryption is not used, then all sensitive personal information must be redacted from the record before the record is transmitted electronically. "Redact" means alteration or truncation of data so that no sensitive personal information is accessible.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 16, eff. March 28, 2011.
1VAC20-20-30. Organization of State Board of Elections; seal.
A. The board shall have a chairman and a vice-chairman of the board, in addition to the ex-officio secretary. The chairman shall preside at all meetings and perform the usual functions of a presiding officer and such other duties as are imposed by these regulations or from time to time by the board. In the chairman's absence, the vice-chairman shall perform these functions and duties. Each member, except the secretary, shall receive a per diem and expenses for attendance. Expenses shall be reported on forms approved by the Department of Accounts. The secretary is authorized to sign the vouchers for the payment of such expenses.
B. The secretary shall be authorized and it shall be the secretary's duty to employ such assistants and to purchase such equipment and supplies as are necessary from time to time, subject to the provisions of the law creating the board and the provisions of the laws and rules relating to the budgetary and personnel systems. The secretary or secretary's designee is authorized to execute necessary vouchers for the payment of the salaries of such assistants and for equipment and supplies so secured.
C. The secretary is authorized and directed to perform all duties of a routine and administrative character imposed upon the board by the law creating the same and other such duties delegated to the secretary by the board.
D. The secretary is authorized to do all things necessary to the proper execution of the law creating and governing the board and in the performance of the duties imposed upon it insofar as the same are not from their nature such as can be performed only by the board in its corporate capacity.
E. The secretary is authorized and directed to consult with and obtain the advice of the Attorney General, on behalf of and in the name of the board, whenever in the secretary's judgment occasion arises.
F. Routine and informal action of the board or of the secretary within the scope of the secretary's authority may be evidenced merely by the signature of the secretary.
G. Three members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any duly constituted meeting.
H. Notice of each meeting of the board shall be given to all board members either by the secretary or the member calling the meeting at least three business days prior to the meeting except in the case of an emergency as defined in § 2.2-3701 of the Code of Virginia. Notice shall be given to the public as required by § 2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). All meetings shall be open to the public unless the board goes into a closed meeting pursuant to § 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia.
I. A record of formal official and definitive actions of the board shall be preserved in a record book which may be bound or loose leaf.
J. The secretary shall keep the seal of the board and affix the seal to evidence formal action of the board.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 1, eff. September 30, 2021.
1VAC20-20-40. Virginia Help America Vote Act plan.
Virginia's plan under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 42 USC § 15301 et seq., states policy of the board and performance goals for the board to document and measure.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011.
1VAC20-20-50. Fee for nonattendance at annual training.
The board, at its discretion, will impose a fee for noncancellation of attendance at the annual training (workshop). This fee will be limited to individuals who register to attend the training and fail to cancel their attendance within three business days of the event. The fee will be limited to the cost incurred as a result of the noncancellation.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011.
1VAC20-20-60. Delegations to Secretary of State Board of Elections.
A. In addition to the authority described in 1VAC20-20-30, the secretary has the delegations of authority to the secretary detailed in the board's minutes of December 2, 2004, as amended September 14, 2010. Board staff (i) may update that listing to correct citations and (ii) shall post the list to the Internet in order that additional delegations or other modifications may be proposed to the board by any interested person.
B. The secretary is authorized to prescribe the paper ballot reconciliation form under § 24.2-666 of the Code of Virginia and to develop, maintain, and prepare instructions for the operation of poll equipment before, during, and after the closing of the polls and in preparation of the statements of results.
C. The secretary shall monitor and control the quality and cost of the copies of Title 24.2 of the Code of Virginia and other election materials that the board provides to electoral boards for use at each precinct.
D. Subject to the board's policy oversight, the secretary has authority to conduct the board's administrative and programmatic operations and to discharge the board's duties consistent with specific delegations of authority.
E. The secretary is authorized to establish and maintain a central repository of forms and instructions approved for use in conducting elections. The forms and instructions shall be organized following a standard naming convention consisting of name taken from the first descriptive line, a statutory or other authority identifier, and revision date.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011.
1VAC20-20-70. Duty to request assistance and to notify voters of denial of applications for voter registration or absentee ballots..
A. A general registrar experiencing difficulty processing applications for voter registration or absentee ballots in a timely manner should immediately notify the secretary to request staff support to assure compliance with federal and state laws.
B. A general registrar should provide applicants with specific reasons whenever their voter registration or absentee applications are denied. The board shall automate the notice process through standard correspondence and the statewide voter registration system.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011.
1VAC20-20-80. Complaints.
A. Any person may make an informal complaint electronically or by telephone. Localities are primarily responsible for responding to all voter complaints they receive and may request board staff for assistance as needed.
B. A person may file a formal written complaint with the board as required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 42 USC § 15301 et seq., using the form and instructions available from the board. Formal complaints require review and response by the deputy secretary or secretary who may contact local election officials for information. Any complaints not meeting the criteria for formal complaints will be responded to informally by appropriate staff.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 6, eff. November 1, 2011.
1VAC20-20-90. Required training for Virginia Voter Registration System users.
Access to the Virginia Voter Registration System shall be restricted to individuals enrolled in a security awareness training program approved or provided by the Virginia Department of Elections. Individuals who do not complete assigned training within the required timeframe may have their credentials revoked or limited as needed to ensure the security of the Virginia Voter Registration System.
Statutory Authority
§§ 24.2-103 and 24.2-410.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 15, eff. March 2, 2023.
Forms (1VAC20-20)
Virginia Voters' Election Day Complaint Form (rev. 7/2010)
Documents Incorporated by Reference (1VAC20-20)
State Board of Election Minutes of December 2, 2004, as amended September 14, 2010