State Board of Elections certifies Feb. 10 special election results and outlines referendum timetable
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The State Board of Elections unanimously certified Feb. 10 special-election results for Senate District 39 and House District 5; staff described checks performed and the Department clarified it has no role in writing the April 21 referendum question and will execute any law set by the General Assembly.
The State Board of Elections voted unanimously to certify the results of the Feb. 10 special elections for Senate District 39 and House District 5, board staff said.
Elections staff told the board it had confirmed that local registrars submitted certified abstracts, compared those abstracts with entries in the election reporting software, ran turnout and validation checks, and asked localities to resolve identified discrepancies. “Therefore, it is [staff's] recommendation that the board certify these statements to be correct and sign the statements and certificates of election,” a staff member said.
A board member moved to certify the statements and sign the certificates; the motion was seconded and the board recorded aye votes for Chairman O'Bannon, Vice Chair Vance, Dr. Stolle and Secretary Elvis Long. The board then signed the certificates, completing formal certification for those contests held in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County.
The commissioner's report at the meeting also addressed the statewide constitutional referendum scheduled for April 21. The commissioner said the referendum was ordered by the General Assembly and that “the Department of Elections has no role in the development of that ballot question.” He added that the Department and localities will implement whatever the General Assembly prescribes and that the Department is prepared to provide guidance and voter education should the legislation pass.
Board members and staff discussed pending legislation that could change the election calendar: if enacted, the legislation would move primaries from June to August and adjust filing timelines for congressional candidates. The commissioner said the Department has been proactive in providing information to general registrars and will continue outreach as developments occur.
The board set its next meeting for March 10 at 1 p.m. and completed required signatures for the certified contests.