State Board certifies January special-election winners for three Virginia legislative contests

The Virginia State Board of Elections unanimously certified abstracts of votes and signed certificates of election for winners in three special legislative contests held Jan. 7.

The contests covered by the certification included the 10th District of the Senate of Virginia, the 30th District of the Senate of Virginia, and the 26th District in the Virginia House of Delegates (as described in the board's working papers). Department of Elections staff recommended certification after reviewing local abstracts, provisional-ballot canvasses, and data entered into the state's reporting systems.

Commissioner Beals told the board staff had confirmed that local general registrars entered relevant election data into the state's election-night reporting software and had conducted provisional ballot canvasses and canvases within the 10-day requirement in Virginia law. Staff ran validation checks, compared abstracts to reported results and resolved issues raised by localities prior to recommending certification.

The board approved the staff recommendation and voted to sign the certified statements and certificates of election. The roll-call certification vote was recorded as unanimous.

Why it matters: Certification is the formal statement by the state board that abstracts and certificates submitted by local officials accurately reflect local canvass results and that the state has completed its verification steps required under Virginia law.

Details of the process

Department staff confirmed required abstracts and any write-in certifications were complete and compared the vote totals entered in the election-net reporting software with the posted abstracts. Staff also ran turnout and voting-credit reports and followed up with localities to resolve or explain any discrepancies before presenting the statements to the board.

Rockingham reporting note: Commissioner Beals told the board that Rockingham County reported an administrative reporting error after certification of the 2024 general election. Department staff reviewed the county's explanation, determined the error did not affect the outcome of any contest, and confirmed no recounts were triggered. Rockingham representatives later addressed the board and acknowledged the double-counting error in reporting; they described steps they will take to prevent recurrence, including emphasizing separation of pre- and post-election totals in training materials.

Votes and next steps

- Motion to certify abstracts and sign certificates of election for Jan. 7 contests: moved and seconded; roll-call vote: unanimous (O'Bannon Aye; Vice Chair Danz Aye; Delegate Marix Aye; Mr. Weinstein Aye; Secretary Elvis Long Aye). The board signed the certificates and suspended briefly to complete the required signatures.

Ending

The board signed the certified statements and certificates of election and completed that portion of the agenda before returning to other business.