December 15, 2016
TO:
DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL PARTY CHAIRS
In Counties and Cities Where Term of the Democratic Electoral Board Member Expires on 2/28/17
FROM: Reiko T. Dogu
Senior Elections Administrator
RE:
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO ELECTORAL BOARD
IF YOU ARE NO LONGER THE COUNTY OR CITY CHAIR,
PLEASE FORWARD THESE DOCUMENTS TO THE NEW CHAIR.
Section 24.2-106 of the Code of Virginia governs the appointment of the three members of the electoral board in
each county and city. Party representation requirements, term of office, the deadline for party recommendations, and
bars to qualification are explained below.
It is of the utmost importance that your electoral board recommendations are able and willing to devote the time
necessary to perform the job properly. Remember that there are times when the responsibilities of electoral board
membership can be both physically and mentally demanding and that extra hours may have to be worked to
complete all tasks associated with conducting an election.
Party Representation
Two members of the electoral board must represent the political party of the Governor in office at the time the
appointment is made; the third one represents the other party. When a newly-elected Governor is of a different party
than the previous Governor, the change in representation on electoral boards occurs as terms of the incumbent
members expire.
Term of Office
The three-year term of one of the three electoral board members expires on the last day of February each year. In
2017 in your county or city, the term expires of one of the electoral board members representing your party.
Party Recommendations
Your political party is eligible at this time to recommend persons for appointment to this position. Your list must
contain the names of at least three qualified voters of your county or city. Virginia Code Section 24.2-106 clearly
states that the political party representative shall recommend at least three qualified voters of the county or city. The
Department of Elections cannot address dilemmas in the inability to locate three qualified appointees. Please contact
your local circuit court if you are unable to recommend three qualified voters. Contact information is available at
Virginia’s Judicial System’s website: http://www.courts.state.va.us/directories/circ.pdf.
Deadline for Receipt of Recommendations
You are required by law to file your nominees for a new full term with your local circuit court by January 15, 2017.
This will allow the judges of the judicial circuit time to review your recommendations and appoint a member who
can qualify and take office on March 1, 2017.
In the case of an interim vacancy, your recommendations must be received no later than 30 days after the date of
1100 Bank Street
Washington Building – First Floor
Richmond, VA 23219-3947
elections.virginia.gov
Toll Free: (800) 552-9745
TDD: (800) 260-3466
[email protected]
Democratic Political Party Chairs
December 16, 2016
Page 2 of 3
death, disqualification, or notice of resignation of a member representing your political party.
Bars to Qualification
[See Article II, § 8 of the Constitution of Virginia; §§ 24.2-106 and 24.2-119 of the Code of Virginia]
Certain conditions prevent an individual from being appointed, or continuing to serve, as an Electoral Board
Member. No person is eligible:

who is employed, either full or part time:
o by the government of the United States;
o by the Commonwealth of Virginia; or
o by any County, City or Town;

who holds an office or post, under any of the above governmental units, for which payment is received
[includes any position for which a per diem is paid but excludes positions for which only actual, itemized
expenses are reimbursed];

who holds any elective office;

who is the spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a candidate for or holder of an elective
office filled in whole or in part by any voters within the jurisdiction of the electoral board;

who is the spouse of a grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of a candidate for or holder of an
elective office filled in whole or in part by any voters within the jurisdiction of the electoral board;

who is the spouse of either an electoral board member or the general registrar;

who is the parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild of either an electoral board member or the
general registrar;

who is the spouse of a person who is the parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild of either an
electoral board member or the general registrar;

who serves as the chair of a state, local or district level political party committee; or

who is a paid worker in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or election to any office filled in whole
or in part by the qualified voters of the county or city.
Certificate of Eligibility
To assist the Court in assuring that its appointee is qualified to hold office, we are attaching a form which each of
your nominees should complete. Please provide the completed forms to the Court with your recommendations.
Including a cover letter expressing your preferences in your three nominees is permissible. However, the circuit
court judges will ultimately select the next electoral board member.
In 89 counties and 36 cities the term of one Democratic member of the electoral board expires on 2/28/17. For these
expiring terms and any other vacancies cause by resignations, a Democratic member must be appointed or reappointed.
The localities are listed on page 3.
Democratic Political Party Chairs
December 16, 2016
Page 3 of 3
Counties:
ACCOMACK COUNTY
ALLEGHANY COUNTY
AMELIA COUNTY
AMHERST COUNTY
APPOMATTOX COUNTY
ARLINGTON COUNTY
AUGUSTA COUNTY
BATH COUNTY
BEDFORD COUNTY
BOTETOURT COUNTY
BUCHANAN COUNTY
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY
CAMPBELL COUNTY
CAROLINE COUNTY
CARROLL COUNTY
CHARLES CITY COUNTY
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
CLARKE COUNTY
CULPEPER COUNTY
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
DICKENSON COUNTY
DINWIDDIE COUNTY
ESSEX COUNTY
FAIRFAX COUNTY
FAUQUIER COUNTY
FLOYD COUNTY
FLUVANNA COUNTY
FRANKLIN COUNTY
FREDERICK COUNTY
GILES COUNTY
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
GOOCHLAND COUNTY
GRAYSON COUNTY
GREENE COUNTY
GREENSVILLE COUNTY
HALIFAX COUNTY
HANOVER COUNTY
HENRICO COUNTY
HENRY COUNTY
HIGHLAND COUNTY
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY
JAMES CITY COUNTY
KING & QUEEN COUNTY
KING GEORGE COUNTY
KING WILLIAM COUNTY
LANCASTER COUNTY
LEE COUNTY
LOUDOUN COUNTY
LOUISA COUNTY
LUNENBURG COUNTY
MADISON COUNTY
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
NELSON COUNTY
NEW KENT COUNTY
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
NORTHUMBERLAND
COUNTY
NOTTOWAY COUNTY
ORANGE COUNTY
PAGE COUNTY
PATRICK COUNTY
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY
POWHATAN COUNTY
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
PULASKI COUNTY
RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY
RICHMOND COUNTY
ROANOKE COUNTY
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
RUSSELL COUNTY
SCOTT COUNTY
SHENANDOAH COUNTY
SMYTH COUNTY
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY
STAFFORD COUNTY
SURRY COUNTY
SUSSEX COUNTY
TAZEWELL COUNTY
WARREN COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY
WISE COUNTY
WYTHE COUNTY
YORK COUNTY
Cities:
ALEXANDRIA CITY
BRISTOL CITY
BUENA VISTA CITY
CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY
CHESAPEAKE CITY
COLONIAL HEIGHTS CITY
COVINGTON CITY
DANVILLE CITY
EMPORIA CITY
FALLS CHURCH CITY
FRANKLIN CITY
FREDERICKSBURG CITY
GALAX CITY
HAMPTON CITY
HARRISONBURG CITY
HOPEWELL CITY
LEXINGTON CITY
LYNCHBURG CITY
MANASSAS CITY
MANASSAS PARK CITY
MARTINSVILLE CITY
NEWPORT NEWS CITY
NORFOLK CITY
NORTON CITY
PETERSBURG CITY
POQUOSON CITY
PORTSMOUTH CITY
RADFORD CITY
RICHMOND CITY
SALEM CITY
STAUNTON CITY
SUFFOLK CITY
VIRGINIA BEACH CITY
WAYNESBORO CITY
WILLIAMSBURG CITY
WINCHESTER CITY