State Board of Elections certifies Fairfax special election for 17th District

RICHMOND — The State Board of Elections voted unanimously to certify abstracts and sign certificates of election from a special election in Fairfax County for the 17th District of the Virginia House of Delegates, the board said at a short meeting called to finalize results.

Mister Cronin, a staff member presenting the canvass report, told the board local registrars had entered election data into the state reporting system, that the local canvass and provisional ballot review were completed, and that Department staff had run validation and turnout reports and asked the locality to resolve any discrepancies. "We confirmed all required abstracts were completed and submitted," Cronin said, and recommended the board certify the statements and sign the certificates of election.

Under the Virginia code, the results of contested elections must be certified by the State Board of Elections on a signed statement; Cronin said the Department followed those steps before bringing the abstracts forward for certification. A board member moved to certify the abstracts and sign the statements of election; the motion was seconded and brought to a roll call vote.

The secretary called the roll. The transcript records 'Aye' votes from Chairman O'Bannon, Vice Chair Danz, Doctor Stolle and the secretary. The recorded votes carried the motion, and Chairman O'Bannon said the certification "will allow this new member of the house to get properly seated and be able to vote." The transcript shows Mister Peterson on the roll but does not capture an audible vote for him in the provided record.

After the vote, Commissioner Muskoski thanked the board for scheduling flexibility during the canvass process. The board scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, February 18, at the Washington Building and then adjourned.

What the transcript shows and what it does not: the meeting record documents staff validation steps and a certification vote; it does not include a precise calendar date for the special election within the transcript excerpts provided, and one roll-call entry (Mister Peterson) did not include an audible vote in the excerpt.