The Green Papers: Virginia State and Local Government

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Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
2020 Census: 8,654,542 (2.61% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 13 (2.42% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 11 (2.53% of 435)
2010 Census: 8,037,736 (2.59% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 13 (2.42% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 11 (2.53% of 435)
Capital: Richmond

Current Virginia Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The COMMONWEALTH of Virginia
Status: STATE of the Union
Ratified Articles of Confederation: 9 July 1778. this State formally adhered to the Articles on 9 July 1778 when the document was signed by its delegates to the Seventh Continental Congress
Ratified Constitution of the United States: 25 June 1788
The 10th state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: SOUTH
Region: Upper ["Border"] South
Survey: Metes & Bounds

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act: [None. One of the 13 original States which declared their independence from the nascent British Empire on 4 July 1776]
- 1st (1776-1830) [Adopted: 29 June 1776 Convention convened, 6 May 1776. (Declaration of Rights adopted 12 June 1776), Ratified: 29 June 1776 not submitted to the People]
- 2nd (1830-1851) [Adopted: 14 January 1830 Convention convened, 5 October 1829, Ratified: 1830 ratified by vote of 26,055 to 15,563]
- 3rd (1851-1864) [Adopted: 1 August 1851 Convention convened, 14 October 1850, Ratified: 23 October 1851 ratified by vote of 67,562 to 9,938]
- 4th (1864-1870) [Adopted: 11 April 1864 Convention convened, 13 February 1864, Ratified: 11 April 1864 not submitted to the People]
- 5th (1870-1902) [Adopted: 7 April 1868 Convention convened, July 1867, Ratified: 6 July 1869 ratified by vote of 210,585 to 9,136; effective, 1870]
- 6th (1902-1971) [Adopted: 26 June 1902 Convention convened, 12 June 1902, Ratified: 26 June 1902 not submitted to the People; effective, 10 July 1902]
- 7th (1971-) [Adopted: 1970 drafted by the General Assembly in 1969; enacted by the General Assembly and submitted to the People on the above date, Ratified: 1970 effective, 1 July 1971]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2021, 2025. Term Limit: ineligble to immediately succeed after a given 4-year term
- Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2021, 2025
- Attorney General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2021, 2025

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Upper House
- Senate
Lower House
- House of Delegates

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court
Intermediate Appellate Court
- Court of Appeals

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- County [Type: Strong, Executive and Legislative: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - district [Type: None, Executive and Legislative: no associated governmental structure]

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
- Federal: Tuesday next after first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
  State: Tuesday next after first Monday in November in odd-numbered years.
Presidential Primary All States
- (2004-2011) Primaries for the nomination of candidates for the office of President of the United States to be voted on at the November 2004 general election, and the November general election in each presidential election year thereafter, shall be held on the second Tuesday in February preceding the November general election. [Code of Virginia § 24.2-544.A]
- (2012--) Primaries for the nomination of candidates for the office of President of the United States to be voted on at the November 2012 general election, and the November general election in each presidential election year thereafter, shall be held on the first Tuesday in March preceding the November general election. [Code of Virginia § 24.2-544.A]
State Primary All States
- (2004-2011) Primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in November shall be held on the second Tuesday in June next preceding such election, except that beginning with the year 2004 and in presidential election years thereafter, primaries to choose among presidential candidates may be held as provided below in Article 7 (§ 24.2-544 et seq.) of this chapter on the second Tuesday in February. Primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in May shall be held on the first Tuesday in March next preceding such election, except that beginning with the year 2004 and in presidential election years thereafter, primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in May shall be held as described below in Article 7 of this chapter on the second Tuesday in February. [Code of Virginia § 24.2-515]. Governor Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell signed HB1507 on 17 February 2011. The bill moves the 2011 primary from 14 June to 23 August 2011 to give the state additional time to complete the redistricting process. The law expires on 1 January 2012 so the state will revert to a June primary in 2012.
- (2012-2021) Primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in November shall be held on the second Tuesday in June ... [Code of Virginia § 24.2-515]
- (2021--) Primaries for the nomination of candidates ... shall be held on the third Tuesday in June ... [Code of Virginia § 24.2-515]
Polling times All States
- Hours polls to be open; closing the polls. At all elections, the polls shall be open at each polling place at 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election and closed at 7:00 p.m. on the same day. [Code of Virginia § 24.2-603]

Links Links to other web sites. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes.

Constitution
- Virginia Law / Code / Constitution / Administrative / Regulations / Acts / Charters
Election Authority. All States
- Virginia Department of Elections
Legislature. All States
- Code of Virginia
Democratic
Republican
- Republican Party of Virginia
Third Party
Media & others

State and Local Government Outline

Modified .