HB51 • 2026

Elections; time of certain local elections.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1400 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal the second enactment of Chapter 103 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I, relating to elections; time of certain local elections.</p>

Elections

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Bloxom
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide a specific effective date or timeline for when changes can be made by localities.

Changes Local Election Dates

This bill removes a rule that required local elections in November and allows cities and towns to revert their elections back to May if they made changes between certain years.

What This Bill Does

Removes the requirement for local elections, including those for mayor or city council members, to be held in November.
Allows cities and towns that changed their election dates from May to November between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2026, to revert back to holding elections in May.

Who It Names or Affects

Cities and towns that made the transition of local elections from May to November between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2026.
Voters who vote for local leaders in these cities and towns.

Terms To Know

local elections: Elections held in a specific town, city, or county to choose local leaders.
ordinance: A rule made by a city or town government that helps run the community.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only applies to cities and towns that changed their election dates from May to November between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2026.
It does not specify when changes will happen or apply to all localities.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Privileges and Elections
2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Privileges and Elections
2026-01-26 Election Administration
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 2-N)
2026-01-25 Election Administration
Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration
2026-01-20 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB51)
2025-12-29 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100264D
2025-12-29 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Elections; time of certain local elections.
Removes a provision that requires local elections for mayor, members of a local governing body, or members of an elected school board to be held at the time of the November general election. The bill allows cities and towns that made the transition between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2026, to provide by ordinance for its reversal.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
15.2-1400
of the Code of Virginia and to repeal the second enactment of Chapter 103 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I, relating to elections; time of certain local elections.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
15.2-1400
of the Code of Virginia is amended as follows:

§
15.2-1400
. Governing bodies.

A. The qualified voters of every locality shall elect a governing body for such locality. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall be as specified by law, general or special. Qualification for office is provided in Article 4 (§
15.2-1522
et seq.) of Chapter 15.

B. The governing body of every locality shall be composed of not fewer than three nor more than 11 members.

C. Chairmen, mayors, supervisors, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions set forth in §§
15.2-1534
and
15.2-1535
.

D. A governing body may punish or fine a member of the governing body for disorderly behavior.

E.
Notwithstanding the provisions of §§
24.2-222
and
24.2-222.1
, any city or town charter, or any other provision of law, general or special, beginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor, members of a local governing body, or members of an elected school board shall be held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence January 1.

F.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a locality that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the governing body, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the locality at large.

2. That the second enactment of Chapter 103 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I, is repealed.

3. That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, any city or town that (i) between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2026, provided by ordinance for the transition of the election of its mayor, governing body, or school board from being held at the May general election to the November general election or (ii) who had the same transition affected by a charter change enacted by the General Assembly in any session between 2022 and 2026 may provide by ordinance for the return of such election to the May general election.