{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-24.2-686","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 24.2-686","heading":"Special elections; petition and referendum requirements; abolition of constitutional office by change in form of government","body":"The provisions of § 24.2-685 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any county seeking to change its form of government pursuant to Chapter 3 (§ 15.2-300 et seq.) of Title 15.2 if the effect of such change in form would be the abolition of an existing office created pursuant to Section 4 of Article VII of the Constitution of Virginia. In such case, the circuit court may order a referendum under § 15.2-301 only if requested by a voter petition meeting the requirements of § 24.2-685. In such case, a question in substantially the following form shall be listed first on the ballot and be followed by those provided in § 15.2-301:\"Shall the County of ______________ be authorized to change its form of government to one which would eliminate the elected office(s) of ______________?\"An affirmative vote on the subsequent question or questions on the ballot shall be given effect only if a majority of those voting in the referendum have voted affirmatively on the first question to authorize such a change in the form of government.1995, cc. 761, 808, 825.","path":["Title 24.2. ELECTIONS","Chapter 6. THE ELECTION","Article 5. SPECIAL ELECTIONS"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-686/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:15:04Z","sha256":"22b01dcfe774f3b653b0e795e1f44134ecb1ecbf26755dc687d7828c3e5d4660","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-24.2-685","next":"us-va/va.-code-24.2-687"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}