HB1528 • 2026

General Assembly; special election to fill certain vacancies, deadline for parties to nominate.

An Act to amend and reenact § 24.2-510 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; special election to fill certain vacancies in the General Assembly; deadline for parties to nominate.

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: McGuire
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material only specifies changes to the nomination process for special elections between December 10 and March 1, without mentioning other election types or their deadlines.

Special Election Rules and Nomination Deadlines

This act changes the rules for nominating candidates in special elections held to fill vacancies in the Virginia General Assembly between December 10 and March 1.

What This Bill Does

Changes the deadline for political parties to nominate candidates for a special election to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly if it happens between December 10 and March 1 within seven days of any writ of election or order calling such special election.

Who It Names or Affects

Political parties in Virginia
Candidates running for a vacancy in the General Assembly

Terms To Know

General Assembly: The legislative body of Virginia, consisting of two houses: the House of Delegates and the Senate.
Writ of election: A legal document issued by a court or government official that orders an election to be held.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact effective date is not provided in the bill text.
It does not specify what happens if parties miss the seven-day deadline for nominations.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 477 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-08 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0477)
2026-03-25 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
2026-03-25 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-17 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1528)
2026-03-14 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-14 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled
2026-03-14 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1528ER)
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-05 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-05 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-05 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03 Privileges and Elections
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-15 House
Read first time
2026-02-13 Privileges and Elections
Reported from Privileges and Elections (21-Y 0-N)
2026-02-03 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1528)
2026-01-30 House
Presented and ordered printed 26106000D
2026-01-30 House
Unanimous consent to introduce
2026-01-30 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Special election to fill certain vacancies in the General Assembly; deadline for parties to nominate.
Requires parties to nominate candidates for any special election to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly occurring between December 10 and March 1 within seven days of any writ of election or order calling such special election.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
24.2-510
of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; special election to fill certain vacancies in the General Assembly; deadline for parties to nominate.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
24.2-510
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
24.2-510
. Deadlines for parties to nominate by methods other than primary.
For any office, nominations by political parties by methods other than a primary shall be made and completed in the manner prescribed by law according to the following schedule:
1. For a general election in November, by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June;
2. For a general election in May, by 7:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in March;
3. For a special election held at the same time as a November general election, either (i) at least 81 days before the election or (ii) if the special election is held at the second November election after the vacancy occurred, by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June before that November election;
4. For a special election held at the same time as a May general election, by 7:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in March; or
5. For a special election held at a time other than a general election, (i) at least 60 days before the election
or
;
(ii) within five days of any writ of election or order calling a special election to be held less than 60 days after the issuance of the writ or order
; or (iii) in the case of a special election to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly occurring between December 10 and March 1, within seven days of any writ of election or order calling such special election
.
In the case of all general elections a party shall nominate its candidate for any office by a nonprimary method only within the 47 days immediately preceding the primary date established for nominating candidates for the office in question. This limitation shall have no effect, however, on nominations for special elections or pursuant to §
24.2-539
.