{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/24.2-648.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/24.2-648.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/24.2-648.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/24.2-648.html"}],"law_id":355974,"edition_id":2,"section_id":355974,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-648","catch_line":"Write-in votes on voting equipment","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 24-307; 1962, c. 260; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-217; 1975, c. 515; 1985, c. 458; 1990, c. 214; 1993, c. 641; 1996, c. 5; 2014, cc. 540, 576.","full_text":"Write-in votes may be cast on voting equipment for any person whose name does not appear on the ballot as a candidate for the office being voted, subject to this section and the provisions of \u00a7 24.2-644 not in conflict with this section.\n\nEach write-in vote shall be entered in the receptacle or area designated on the machine for the office being elected. A write-in vote shall be cast in its appropriate place, in accordance with the instructions for that equipment, or it shall be void and not counted.\n\nExcept on machines that provide a means to enter a name electronically, each write-in vote shall be entered by the voter in his own handwriting or hand printing.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1325460,"text":"Write-in votes may be cast on voting equipment for any person whose name does not appear on the ballot as a candidate for the office being voted, subject to this section and the provisions of \u00a7 24.2-644 not in conflict with this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1325461,"text":"Each write-in vote shall be entered in the receptacle or area designated on the machine for the office being elected. A write-in vote shall be cast in its appropriate place, in accordance with the instructions for that equipment, or it shall be void and not counted.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1325462,"text":"Except on machines that provide a means to enter a name electronically, each write-in vote shall be entered by the voter in his own handwriting or hand printing.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":50931,"edition_id":2,"name":"Conduct of Election; Election Results","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":6,"parent_id":50927,"metadata":{"child_laws":49,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:35:05","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:33","permalink":{"id":1415625,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50931,"identifier":"4","token":"24.2\/6\/4","url":"\/24.2\/6\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50927,"edition_id":2,"name":"The Election","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":7,"parent_id":50878,"metadata":{"child_laws":112,"child_structures":5},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:34:57","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:33","permalink":{"id":1415397,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50927,"identifier":"6","token":"24.2\/6","url":"\/24.2\/6\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50878,"edition_id":2,"name":"Elections","identifier":"24.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":64,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":546,"child_structures":79},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:34:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:25","permalink":{"id":1414151,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50878,"identifier":"24.2","token":"24.2","url":"\/24.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":355968,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-643","catch_line":"Qualified voter permitted to vote; procedures at polling place; voter identification","url":"\/24.2-643\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-643","metadata":false},{"id":355969,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-644","catch_line":"Voting by paper ballot; voting for presidential electors; write-in votes","url":"\/24.2-644\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-644","metadata":false},{"id":355970,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-645","catch_line":"Defaced printed ballots","url":"\/24.2-645\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-645","metadata":false},{"id":355972,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-646","catch_line":"Voter folds paper ballot and hands same to officer who deposits it unopened in ballot container","url":"\/24.2-646\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-646","metadata":false},{"id":355971,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-646.1","catch_line":"Permitted use of paper ballots","url":"\/24.2-646.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-646.1","metadata":false},{"id":355973,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-647","catch_line":"Voting systems; demonstration on election day","url":"\/24.2-647\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-647","metadata":false},{"id":355974,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-648","catch_line":"Write-in votes on voting equipment","url":"\/24.2-648\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-648","metadata":false},{"id":355976,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-649","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties","url":"\/24.2-649\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649","metadata":false},{"id":355975,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-649.1","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters outside of the polling place","url":"\/24.2-649.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649.1","metadata":false},{"id":355977,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-650","catch_line":"Officers to sign only official papers, etc","url":"\/24.2-650\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-650","metadata":false},{"id":355979,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-651","catch_line":"Voter who is challenged; how challenge tried","url":"\/24.2-651\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-651","metadata":false},{"id":355978,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-651.1","catch_line":"Voter who is shown as having already voted; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-651.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-651.1","metadata":false},{"id":355980,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-652","catch_line":"Voter whose name erroneously omitted from pollbook; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-652\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-652","metadata":false},{"id":355985,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-653","catch_line":"Provisional voting; procedures in polling place","url":"\/24.2-653\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653","metadata":false},{"id":355981,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-653.01","catch_line":"Provisional ballots; electoral boards to make determination as to validity","url":"\/24.2-653.01\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.01","metadata":false},{"id":355982,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-653.1","catch_line":"Voters who did not receive absentee ballots; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-653.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.1","metadata":false},{"id":355983,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-653.2","catch_line":"Ballots cast after normal close of polling hours due to court-ordered extension; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-653.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.2","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":355984,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-653.3","catch_line":"Voters assigned to split precinct; provisional ballots","url":"\/24.2-653.3\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-653.3","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":355986,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-654","catch_line":"Officers to lock and seal voting equipment and ascertain vote after polls closed; statement of results","url":"\/24.2-654\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-654","metadata":false},{"id":355987,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-655","catch_line":"Representatives of political parties and candidates to be present on request","url":"\/24.2-655\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-655","metadata":false},{"id":355988,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-656","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-656\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-656","metadata":false},{"id":355989,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-657","catch_line":"Determination of vote on voting systems","url":"\/24.2-657\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-657","metadata":false},{"id":355990,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-658","catch_line":"Machines with printed return sheets; disposition of sheets","url":"\/24.2-658\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-658","metadata":false},{"id":355991,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-659","catch_line":"Locking voting systems after election and delivering keys to clerk; printed returns as evidence","url":"\/24.2-659\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-659","metadata":false},{"id":355992,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-660","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-660\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-660","metadata":false},{"id":355993,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-661","catch_line":"Detection and setting aside of double ballots","url":"\/24.2-661\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-661","metadata":false},{"id":355994,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-662","catch_line":"Procedure when paper ballots exceed names on pollbooks","url":"\/24.2-662\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-662","metadata":false},{"id":355995,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-663","catch_line":"When ballot void","url":"\/24.2-663\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-663","metadata":false},{"id":355996,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-664","catch_line":"Reduction in number of ballots","url":"\/24.2-664\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-664","metadata":false},{"id":355997,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-665","catch_line":"How paper ballots counted","url":"\/24.2-665\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-665","metadata":false},{"id":355998,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-666","catch_line":"Procedures to account for paper ballots","url":"\/24.2-666\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-666","metadata":false},{"id":356000,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-667","catch_line":"Completion of statement of results","url":"\/24.2-667\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-667","metadata":false},{"id":355999,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-667.1","catch_line":"Reporting of results; absentee and provisional votes","url":"\/24.2-667.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-667.1","metadata":false},{"id":356001,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-668","catch_line":"Pollbooks, statements of results, and ballots to be sealed and delivered to clerk or general registrar","url":"\/24.2-668\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-668","metadata":false},{"id":356002,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-669","catch_line":"Clerk to keep ballots; inspection; destruction","url":"\/24.2-669\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-669","metadata":false},{"id":356003,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-670","catch_line":"Clerk to send for books and ballots if not delivered by officers","url":"\/24.2-670\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-670","metadata":false},{"id":356006,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-671","catch_line":"Electoral board to meet and ascertain results; conclusiveness of results","url":"\/24.2-671\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671","metadata":false},{"id":356004,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-671.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/24.2-671.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671.1","metadata":false},{"id":356005,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-671.2","catch_line":"Risk-limiting audits","url":"\/24.2-671.2\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-671.2","metadata":false},{"id":356007,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-672","catch_line":"Electoral board to correct irregularities in returns of officers of election","url":"\/24.2-672\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-672","metadata":false},{"id":356009,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-673","catch_line":"Candidates having highest number of votes to receive certificate of election","url":"\/24.2-673\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-673","metadata":false},{"id":356008,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-673.1","catch_line":"(Expires July 1, 2031) Ranked choice voting","url":"\/24.2-673.1\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-673.1","metadata":false},{"id":356010,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-674","catch_line":"Determination by lot in case of tie","url":"\/24.2-674\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-674","metadata":false},{"id":356011,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-675","catch_line":"Abstracts of votes to be made by secretary and forwarded to State Board and to clerks","url":"\/24.2-675\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-675","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":356012,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-676","catch_line":"Secretary to make out and deliver certificate of election","url":"\/24.2-676\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-676","metadata":false},{"id":356013,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-677","catch_line":"State Board to open and record returns; application of Freedom of Information Act","url":"\/24.2-677\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-677","metadata":false},{"id":356014,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-678","catch_line":"Law-enforcement officer to be sent for abstracts not forwarded","url":"\/24.2-678\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-678","metadata":false},{"id":356015,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-679","catch_line":"State Board to meet and make statement as to number of votes","url":"\/24.2-679\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-679","metadata":false},{"id":356016,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-680","catch_line":"Certificates of election","url":"\/24.2-680\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-680","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":355973,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-647","catch_line":"Voting systems; demonstration on election day","url":"\/24.2-647\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-647","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":355976,"structure_id":50931,"section_number":"24.2-649","catch_line":"Assistance for certain voters inside the polling place; penalties","url":"\/24.2-649\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-649","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-648\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 260; in 1970, chapter 462; in 1975, chapter 515; in 1985, chapter 458; in 1990, chapter 214; in 1993, chapter 641; in 1996, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?961+ful+CHAP0005\">5<\/a>; in 2014, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0540\">540<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0576\">576<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":355969,"section_number":"24.2-644","catch_line":"Voting by paper ballot; voting for presidential electors; write-in votes","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-644\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1415651,"object_type":"law","relational_id":355974,"identifier":"24.2-648","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-648","url":"\/24.2-648\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-648\/","token":"24.2\/6\/4\/24.2-648","dublin_core":{"Title":"Write-in votes on voting equipment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-648","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Write-in votes may be cast on voting equipment for any person whose name does not appear on the ballot as a <span class=\"dictionary\">candidate<\/span> for the office being voted, subject to this section and the provisions of \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Voting by paper ballot; voting for presidential electors; write-in votes\" href=\"\/24.2-644\/\">24.2-644<\/a> not in conflict with this section.<\/p><p>Each write-in vote shall be entered in the receptacle or area designated on the machine for the office being elected. A write-in vote shall be cast in its appropriate place, in accordance with the instructions for that equipment, or it shall be void and not counted.<\/p><p>Except on machines that provide a means to enter a name electronically, each write-in vote shall be entered by the voter in his own handwriting or hand printing.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWRITE-IN VOTES ON VOTING EQUIPMENT (\u00a7 24.2-648)\n\nWrite-in votes may be cast on voting equipment for any person whose name does\nnot appear on the ballot as a candidate for the office being voted, subject to\nthis section and the provisions of \u00a7 24.2-644 not in conflict with this\nsection.\n\nEach write-in vote shall be entered in the receptacle or area designated on the\nmachine for the office being elected. A write-in vote shall be cast in its\nappropriate place, in accordance with the instructions for that equipment, or it\nshall be void and not counted.\n\nExcept on machines that provide a means to enter a name electronically, each\nwrite-in vote shall be entered by the voter in his own handwriting or hand\nprinting.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 24-307; 1962, c. 260; 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-217; 1975, c.\n515; 1985, c. 458; 1990, c. 214; 1993, c. 641; 1996, c. 5; 2014, cc. 540, 576.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}