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§ 24.2-1016 False statements; penalties

Any willfully false material statement or entry made by any person in any statement, form, or report required by this title shall constitute the crime of election fraud and be punishable as a Class 5 felony. Any preprinted statement, form, or report shall include a statement of such unlawful conduct and the penalty provided in this section.

History

The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. The oldest record of it is its appearance in the Code of Virginia of 1950, as § 24-68. It has been modified 15 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 341; in 1958, chapter 576; in 1960, chapter 288; in 1962, chapter 536; in 1970, chapter 462; in 1971, chapter 205 of the Extra Session; in 1972, chapter 620; in 1974, chapter 428; in 1975, chapter 515; in 1977, chapter 490; in 1978, chapter 778; in 1980, chapter 639; in 1989, chapter 138; in 1992, chapter 433; in 1993, chapter 641.

Code 1950, § 24-68; 1952, c. 341; 1958, c. 576; 1960, c. 288; 1962, c. 536; 1970, c. 462, §§ 24.1-48, 24.1-279; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 205; 1972, c. 620; 1974, c. 428; 1975, c. 515; 1977, c. 490; 1978, c. 778; 1980, c. 639; 1989, c. 138; 1992, c. 433; 1993, c. 641.

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What This Is

This is a law from the Code of Virginia. This is the actual, unchanged text of one of the many laws that govern Virginia.

Trust, But Verify

The text of this law was last verified on Aug 02, 2026. But if you’re reading this for anything important, you should double-check its accuracy—read § 24.2-1016 on the official Code of Virginia website.

Keyboard Guide

Court Decisions

Williams v. Commonwealth (COA, 04/27/04)
. . . *3ELDER, Judge. . . .
Lux v. Judd (District Court, E.D. Virginia, 02/08/12)
. . . MEMORANDUM OPINION . . .
Waldrop v. Commonwealth (COA, 12/17/96)
. . . 478 S.E.2d 723 (1996) . . .
Waldrop v. Commonwealth (SCV, 01/09/98)
. . . 495 S.E.2d 822 (1998) . . .
Parson v. Alcorn (District Court, E.D. Virginia, 01/15/16)
. . . MEMORANDUM OPINION . . .

Court opinions are provided by CourtListener, which is developed by the Free Law Project.

Amendment Attempts

HB219: Voter registration; automatic voter registration. (failed)
SB887: Voter registration; automatic voter registration. (failed)
HB219: Voter registration; automatic voter registration.
SB887: Voter registration; automatic voter registration.
HB1573: Absentee voting; absentee voting in person; available beginning 10 days prior to election. (failed)
HB1574: Absentee voting; absentee voting in person; available beginning 10 days prior to primary election. (failed)
HB1652: Elections; voter identification containing photograph required; who may register up to and including the day of the election; absentee ballot application requirements; absentee voting in person availability; return of absentee ballots. (failed)
HB1657: Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records. (failed)
HB1681: Undesignated sex or gender designation option. (failed)
HB1686: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds; complaints, hearings, civil penalty, and advisory opinions. (failed)
HB1862: Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election. (failed)
HB2002: Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data. (failed)
HB2011: Voter registration; cancellation of registration by voter. (failed)
HB2057: Voter registration; automatic registration of hunting, fishing, and milk distributor license. (failed)
HB2165: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, etc. (passed)
HB2173: Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure. (failed)
HB2276: Voter registration; list maintenance activities, cancellation procedures, required record matches. (failed)
HB2357: Voter registration; list of unqualified persons transmitted to general registrars. (failed)
HB2388: Voter registration; list of unqualified persons transmitted to general registrars. (failed)
HB2390: Elections; absentee voting in person, availability & affirmation stmt. in lieu of identification. (failed)
HB2402: Elections; affirmation statement in lieu of identification, additional information required. (failed)
HB2434: Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. (failed)
HB2445: Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to election, hours of operation. (failed)
HB2484: Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure. (failed)
HB2485: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties. (failed)
HB2508: Voter registration; high school registration activities and parental consent. (failed)
HB2513: Voter registration; cancellation of registration, notice of cancellation, new address if available.
HB2586: Voter registration; automatic registration upon application for hunting and fishing license. (failed)
HB2670: Campaign finance; campaign required tax-exempt organization disclosure, report, civil penalties. (failed)
SB760: Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. (failed)
SB764: Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. (failed)
SB813: Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records. (failed)
SB856: Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to election. (failed)
SB970: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties. (failed)
SB1002: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, etc. (passed)
SB1070: Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. (failed)
SB1072: Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to election. (failed)
SB1073: Voter registration; verification of social security numbers, provisional registration status. (failed)
SB1175: Elections; absentee voting in person, uniform availability. (failed)
SB1185: Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure. (failed)
SB1454: Voter registration; systematic citizenship verification program. (failed)
HB28: Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records. (failed)
HB82: Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. (passed)
HB111: Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data.
HB493: Absentee voting; ballots received, marked, and cast electronically through the Internet. (failed)
HB640: Elections; challenges to a voter or voter's registration, filing of petition, notice of appeal. (passed)
HB642: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report. (failed)
HB835: Elections; candidates and elected officials, confidentiality of personally identifiable information. (passed)
HB909: Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting. (passed)
HB964: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. (passed)
HB972: Voter registration; list maintenance activities, cancellation procedures, required record matches. (passed)
HB993: Driver privilege cards and permits; discontinues issuance.
HB1131: Elections; identification containing a photograph required and excuse required to vote absentee.
HB1213: Elections; affirmation statement in lieu of identification, additional information required.
HB1244: Absentee voting; emergency application for absentee ballot. (passed)
SB46: Absentee voting in person; available beginning 15 days prior to any election.
SB52: Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records.
SB58: Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. (passed)
SB162: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. (passed)
SB298: Elections; absentee voting in person; available beginning on the tenth day prior to election; hours of operation.
SB350: Absentee voting; counting ballots prior to the close of polls. (failed)
SB438: Absentee voting in person; available the second and third Sunday before all elections. (passed)
SB526: Elections; conduct of election; affirmation statement in lieu of identification; additional information required.
SB533: Elections; absentee voting in person, uniform availability. (failed)
SB542: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report.
SB544: Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required.
SB582: Absentee & provisional ballots; process & timing for rejected applications, rejected prov. ballots. (passed)
SB632: Elections; candidates and elected officials, confidentiality of personally identifiable information. (passed)
SB658: Back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation. (passed)
SB671: Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
SB826: Marijuana; creates framework for retail sales.
SB831: Challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify, civil penalty. (failed)

Cross References

§ 24.2-407: Statement for persons receiving lists of persons registered or voting; penalties
§ 24.2-411.2: State-designated voter registration agencies
§ 24.2-416.2: Mail voter registration application forms
§ 24.2-418: Application for registration
§ 24.2-424: Change of registered voter's address within the Commonwealth; pilot project
§ 24.2-427: Cancellation of registration by voter or for persons known to be deceased or disqualified to vote
§ 24.2-428: Regular periodic review of registration records; notice to voters identified as having moved; placement on inactive status for failure to respond to notice
§ 24.2-616: Duties of printer; statement; penalty
§ 24.2-617: Representative of electoral board or general registrar to be present at printing; custody of ballots; electoral board or general registrar may disclose contents, style, and size
§ 24.2-619: Sealing ballots
§ 24.2-642: Inoperative equipment
§ 24.2-643: Qualified voter permitted to vote; procedures at polling place; voter identification
§ 24.2-649: Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties
§ 24.2-651: Voter who is challenged; how challenge tried
§ 24.2-652: Voter whose name erroneously omitted from pollbook; provisional ballots
§ 24.2-653: Provisional voting; procedures in polling place
§ 24.2-653.1: Voters who did not receive absentee ballots; provisional ballots
§ 24.2-701: Application for absentee ballot
§ 24.2-701.1: Absentee voting in person
§ 24.2-703.2: Replacement absentee ballots for certain disabled or ill voters; penalty
§ 24.2-705: Emergency applications and absentee ballots for individual emergencies
§ 24.2-706: Duty of general registrar on receipt of application; statement of voter
§ 24.2-708: Return of unused ballots; voting by applicant who did not receive or lost ballot; defaced ballots
§ 24.2-947.4: Information to be included on campaign finance reports for campaign committees
§ 24.2-948.7: (Effective July 1, 2026) Violations of the ban on personal use of campaign funds; complaint; notice; hearing; civil penalties
§ 24.2-949.5: Information to be included on campaign finance reports for political action committees
§ 24.2-950.4: Information to be included on campaign finance reports for political party committees
§ 24.2-951.3: Information to be included on campaign finance reports for referendum committees
§ 24.2-952.3: Information to be included on campaign finance reports for inaugural committees
§ 53.1-231.2: Restoration of the civil right to be eligible to register to vote to certain persons