Virginia Code 15.2-3226: Redistricting and elections in city or town following annexation; registration and transfer of registration of voters in annexed territory.
A. Whenever the boundaries of a city or town, which elects its council by wards or districts, have been expanded through annexation, subject to the provisions of § 24.2-304.1, the council of the city or town shall redistrict the municipality into wards or districts, change the boundaries of existing wards or districts, or increase or diminish the number of wards or districts to incorporate the additional territory.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 15.2-3226
- City: means an independent incorporated community which became a city as provided by law before noon on July 1, 1971, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city as provided by law. See Virginia Code 1-208
- Council: means the governing body of a city or town. See Virginia Code 15.2-102
- County: means any existing county or such unit hereafter created. See Virginia Code 15.2-102
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
- Town: means any existing town or an incorporated community within one or more counties which became a town before noon, July one, nineteen hundred seventy-one, as provided by law or which has within defined boundaries a population of 1,000 or more and which has become a town as provided by law. See Virginia Code 15.2-102
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-312, there shall be an election for members of council on the first Tuesday in May following the effective date of annexation for terms to commence on July 1 following the election; however, upon the approval of the governing bodies affected and the special court, such election may be on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November following the effective date of annexation for terms to commence on January 1 following the election. If council members are chosen on an at-large basis the election shall be held for the unexpired portion of the term of each council member whose term extends beyond July 1 immediately following the effective date of annexation. If council members are chosen on a ward basis, the election shall be held for each ward affected by the annexation. However, no such election shall be held as a result of an annexation instituted under § 15.2-3202 or § 15.2-3203, unless the city or town increases its population by more than five percent due to the annexation.
C. The registration records of voters residing in the annexed areas shall be transferred, and the appropriate notice given, in accordance with § 24.2-114. Any person residing in the annexed territory who has not registered shall be entitled to register and vote in the city or town if he would have been entitled to register and vote at the next election of the county.
Code 1950, § 15-152.24; 1952, c. 328; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-1054; 1970, c. 172; 1974, c. 401; 1976, c. 9; 1977, c. 307; 1994, c. 293; 1997, c. 587; 2001, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.