Virginia State Board of Elections certifies June primary, approves voting system, ballot order, forms and policies
July 08, 2025 | Department of Elections, Executive Agencies, Executive, Virginia
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The Virginia State Board of Elections on July 1 certified the results of the June 17 primary, approved certification of the Election Systems & Software (ES&S) EVS 6.5 voting system for use in the commonwealth, determined ballot order for the 2025–26 cycle and approved several administrative forms and policies.
The board voted unanimously to certify abstracts of votes from localities and to declare primary winners the parties’ nominees for the November general election. Department of Elections staff told the board they had compared local abstracts to the election-night reporting system, ran turnout and voting-credit reports, and asked localities to resolve discrepancies before recommending certification.
Commissioner Susan Beals, Commissioner of Elections, briefed the board on administrative changes that took effect July 1, including a new electronic filing feature for independent expenditure reports and the first campaign finance review report. “This new feature makes these reports easy to file and easy for the public to view as well,” Beals said. The campaign finance review of the 2024 cycle found an overall committee compliance rate of 84 percent, staff said. Beals also said the cost of voter data sold to statutorily authorized recipients was reduced by 90 percent effective July 1.
On voting equipment, ES&S submitted a Technical Data Package and completed state evaluation and a Chesterfield County mock election. Department staff recommended certification of ES&S EVS 6.5 under the state voting system standards; the board voted to certify the system. “The ES&S voting system presented for certification under version 6.5 successfully completed the Virginia Voting Systems Certification requirements,” Department staff said.
The board conducted two drawings to set ballot order for elections from Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026. The first drawing among the two major parties resulted in the Democratic ticket drawn first and the Republican ticket drawn second. A second drawing among additionally recognized parties placed the Forward Party and the Libertarian Party in the remaining positions; the board then moved to certify the determinations and voted to approve the ballot order.
The board also approved the table of party abbreviations for general and special election ballots through July 31, 2026; approved an amended “inquiry as to residency” form to reflect the shortened registration-closure period mandated by recent legislation (effective July 1, 2025); approved annual delegations of authority from the board to the Department of Elections; and adopted the Department’s electronic participation policy for board meetings as drafted, to be effective July 1, 2025.
The board took a closed session to discuss pending litigation under Virginia law and reconvened in open session to certify that only matters listed in the motion were discussed. Following the reconvened roll call, the board adjourned.
Votes at a glance
- Certify June 17, 2025 primary results: motion carried, roll call unanimous (Chairman O'Bannon: Aye; Vice Chair Danz: Aye; Dr. Stolle: Aye; Mr. Peterson: Aye; Secretary Elvis Long: Aye). Outcome: approved.
- Certify ballot order for 08/01/2025–07/31/2026 (Democratic first, Republican second; Forward and Libertarian ordered by drawing): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Approve party abbreviations for ballots through 07/31/2026: motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Certify ES&S EVS 6.5 voting system for use in Virginia: motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Approve amended inquiry as to residency form (effective 07/01/2025): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Approve annual delegations of authority to the Department of Elections (rescinding prior delegations): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Adopt policy for electronic participation in board meetings (effective 07/01/2025): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Enter and reconvene from closed session to discuss pending litigation under Va. Code §§ 2.2-3711(A)(7) and related provisions: motions carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
Why it matters
The actions formalize winners from the June primary, update administrative processes available to candidates and the public, and place a newly certified voting system on the state’s approved list. Changes to forms and to the Department’s online services may affect how voters and campaigns file documents and access voter data ahead of the November elections.
What happened next
Board members signed certified statements of election results at the meeting’s end. Staff said they will publish the campaign finance review and continuing guidance on the Department of Elections website.
Sources: Department of Elections staff presentations and the State Board of Elections roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.
The board voted unanimously to certify abstracts of votes from localities and to declare primary winners the parties’ nominees for the November general election. Department of Elections staff told the board they had compared local abstracts to the election-night reporting system, ran turnout and voting-credit reports, and asked localities to resolve discrepancies before recommending certification.
Commissioner Susan Beals, Commissioner of Elections, briefed the board on administrative changes that took effect July 1, including a new electronic filing feature for independent expenditure reports and the first campaign finance review report. “This new feature makes these reports easy to file and easy for the public to view as well,” Beals said. The campaign finance review of the 2024 cycle found an overall committee compliance rate of 84 percent, staff said. Beals also said the cost of voter data sold to statutorily authorized recipients was reduced by 90 percent effective July 1.
On voting equipment, ES&S submitted a Technical Data Package and completed state evaluation and a Chesterfield County mock election. Department staff recommended certification of ES&S EVS 6.5 under the state voting system standards; the board voted to certify the system. “The ES&S voting system presented for certification under version 6.5 successfully completed the Virginia Voting Systems Certification requirements,” Department staff said.
The board conducted two drawings to set ballot order for elections from Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026. The first drawing among the two major parties resulted in the Democratic ticket drawn first and the Republican ticket drawn second. A second drawing among additionally recognized parties placed the Forward Party and the Libertarian Party in the remaining positions; the board then moved to certify the determinations and voted to approve the ballot order.
The board also approved the table of party abbreviations for general and special election ballots through July 31, 2026; approved an amended “inquiry as to residency” form to reflect the shortened registration-closure period mandated by recent legislation (effective July 1, 2025); approved annual delegations of authority from the board to the Department of Elections; and adopted the Department’s electronic participation policy for board meetings as drafted, to be effective July 1, 2025.
The board took a closed session to discuss pending litigation under Virginia law and reconvened in open session to certify that only matters listed in the motion were discussed. Following the reconvened roll call, the board adjourned.
Votes at a glance
- Certify June 17, 2025 primary results: motion carried, roll call unanimous (Chairman O'Bannon: Aye; Vice Chair Danz: Aye; Dr. Stolle: Aye; Mr. Peterson: Aye; Secretary Elvis Long: Aye). Outcome: approved.
- Certify ballot order for 08/01/2025–07/31/2026 (Democratic first, Republican second; Forward and Libertarian ordered by drawing): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Approve party abbreviations for ballots through 07/31/2026: motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Certify ES&S EVS 6.5 voting system for use in Virginia: motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Approve amended inquiry as to residency form (effective 07/01/2025): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Approve annual delegations of authority to the Department of Elections (rescinding prior delegations): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Adopt policy for electronic participation in board meetings (effective 07/01/2025): motion carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Enter and reconvene from closed session to discuss pending litigation under Va. Code §§ 2.2-3711(A)(7) and related provisions: motions carried, unanimous. Outcome: approved.
Why it matters
The actions formalize winners from the June primary, update administrative processes available to candidates and the public, and place a newly certified voting system on the state’s approved list. Changes to forms and to the Department’s online services may affect how voters and campaigns file documents and access voter data ahead of the November elections.
What happened next
Board members signed certified statements of election results at the meeting’s end. Staff said they will publish the campaign finance review and continuing guidance on the Department of Elections website.
Sources: Department of Elections staff presentations and the State Board of Elections roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.
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