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Getting a Question on the Ballot
The State Board of Elections designed the referendum
petition form to assure that all required information was provided by petition
signers. In addition, the bulletins listed below were prepared for use by
citizens interested in placing an issue on the ballot in a county, city or
town.
| Referendum Provisions
- In General
This bulletin was prepared to assure compliance
with the provisions of
§§ 24.2-684 and
24.2-684.1. The petitioner must determine whether or not Virginia Law
allows the issue to appear on the ballot. See
Local Issues below.
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| Direct Election of
School Board Members or Reversion to Appointed School Board Members
At it's 1992 Session, the General Assembly enacted
legislation permitting citizens in counties, cities and town constituting
separate school divisions to petition for a referendum on this question.
This bulletin was prepared because of the interest generated across
Virginia. It is updated annually to reflect appropriate deadlines for
filing petitions for this issue. It also includes the additional
requirements imposed by
§§ 24.2-684 and
24.2-684.1 of the Code of Virginia.
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Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Or Off-track Pari-Mutuel Wagering
At the November 1988 election, voters approved Chapter 855 of the 1988
Act of the General Assembly which authorized pari-mutuel betting on horse
racing and provided for its regulation. This bulletin was prepared in
1989 as the first local referendums on the pari-mutuel wagering were held
that year. It is updated when changes are enacted by the General Assembly
to
§§ 24.2-684,
24.2-684.1 or to any relevant section of Title 59 of the Code of
Virginia.
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There are several other types of issues. Some may
appear on the ballot only by action taken by the General Assembly or the local
governing body, as appropriate. Others require petitions signed by a specific
number of registered voters from the county, city, town or local district; while
others may appear on the ballot either by action taken by the local governing
body or by voter petition. General explanations are provided below.
Statewide Issues
Requires legislation to be enacted by the General Assembly. Voters cannot
circulate petitions for any question to appear on the ballot statewide.
Local Issues
Local issues are permitted to be placed on the ballot only if the question
is authorized by statute or by charter. In such cases the question is
specifically stated in either the county, city or town charter or in the section
of the Code of Virginia that permits the question. Example: The Direct
Election of School Board is found in
§ 22.1-57.2. The signature requirements also are included in that section.
You can determine which issues are
permitted by law by going to the following website:
http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/CodeofVa.htm.
and submit a search using the keyword: referendum
The Code section that authorizes the issue
also will specify if it can appear on the ballot as a result of voter petition.
Initiative Referendum
Voter petition for an initiative referendum is permitted ONLY if the
county, city or town charter includes provisions allowing voters to circulate
petitions for such an issue. The charter also would provide the procedures to
be followed, including the number of signatures required, the deadline for
filing, restrictions on types of questions permitted, etc. Compliance with the
provisions of §§ 24.2-684 and 24.2-684.1 also is required.
Each bulletin includes the Statement of
Petitioner, Certificate of Receipt and Acceptance and appropriate Sample Order(s).
The links below can be used to download each bulletin and referendum petition
form.
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