Hanover County Electoral Board approves minutes, adds closed session on registrar hiring; registrar reports invalidated special election

The Hanover County Electoral Board met on May 20, 2026, and approved the April 22, 2026 minutes. Chair Michael C. Carter called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m., and Vice-Chair Scott O. Konopasek moved the minutes' approval; the motion passed.

During routine business, the board amended the agenda to add a closed session regarding Registrar hiring. Scott O. Konopasek moved to amend the agenda to include the closed session; that motion passed. Later in the meeting Secretary Margaret J. "Peggy" Lavinder moved the board into closed session under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) and §2.2-3711(A)(12), and the board recessed for the closed meeting. The board reconvened at 12:36 p.m., certified that only the authorized topics were discussed, and adjourned at 12:39 p.m. after a motion from Mr. Konopasek.

In the Registrar's report, Director of Elections/General Registrar Teresa "Teri" Smithson told the board that "Special Election of April 21st materials will be returned without certification after Virginia Supreme Court invalidated the election." She also briefed the board on election logistics for upcoming contests (see separate article on the Registrar's report). The public comment period recorded no speakers.

The minutes record motions to amend the agenda, enter and exit closed session, certify the closed-session topics, and adjourn; the minutes do not record any public vote tally beyond the motions' passage or any additional public actions arising from the closed session.