24.2-655 - Representatives of political parties and candidates to be present on request. - Virginia Statutes

§ 24.2-655. Representatives of political parties and candidates to be presenton request.

Before proceeding to ascertain the vote, the officers of election shalldetermine whether no more than two representatives of each political partyhaving candidates in the election and one representative of each independentcandidate or primary candidate request to be present while the absenteeballots are cast, votes are counted, and returns are completed.

Each representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction in theCommonwealth and shall present to the officers of election a writtenstatement certifying that he is an authorized representative, signed by hisparty chairman for the jurisdiction in which the election is held, theindependent candidate, or the candidate in a primary, as appropriate. Suchrepresentatives shall be entitled to be present while the votes are countedand shall remain until the returns are completed.

In case such representatives, or any of them, do not request to be present,the officers shall notify the bystanders, if any, and select one or more tobe present with any available representatives of the parties or candidates sothat there are as many as four bystanders and representatives present.

The representatives and bystanders lawfully present shall have anunobstructed view of the officers of election and their actions while theabsentee ballots are cast, votes are counted, and returns are completed. Therepresentatives and bystanders lawfully present are prohibited frominterfering with the officers of election in any way.

(Code 1950, §§ 24-260, 24-261; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-137; 1974, c. 428; 1993,c. 641; 2006, c. 177; 2010, c. 448.)