Protections
for Elections
VA
Virginia Beach
Pop. ~460,000 · Council-Manager · VA Independent City Charter (Dillon's Rule state)
Armed federal agents at your polling place
are already illegal. Your city council can enforce it.
§
Any federal employee who stations armed personnel at a polling place commits a felony. No exceptions — not for law enforcement, not for "keeping the peace." The DOJ's own manual bans FBI agents from polling places.
5 YEARS PRISON $250,000 FINE PERMANENT BAR FROM OFFICE
Legal Authority
Virginia is a strict Dillon Rule state, severely limiting municipal authority to act independently.
Why It Can Work Here
Hampton Roads region; diverse electorates
What the Ordinance Would Do
Direct city police not to assist armed federal personnel near polling places. No new criminal penalties — just a policy on how the city's own resources are used.
11 members · 10 district + mayor at-large
Changed to 10-district system in 2022 per federal court order. 4-year staggered terms.
Virginia Beach City Hall
2401 Courthouse Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
(757) 385-4303
clerk.virginiabeach.gov/city-council
Meetings
Tue
6:00 PM
1st & 3rd Tue
1
Call your council member and tell them you want Virginia Beach to pass a Protections for Elections ordinance enforcing the federal ban on armed troops at polls.
(757) 385-4303
2
Show up to the next council meeting. Public comment is open to all residents. Three minutes at the mic changes priorities.
TueS · 6:00 PM · Virginia Beach City Hall
3
Bring a friend. Two people speaking makes it a pattern. Five makes it a movement. Give this flyer to three people you know.
Get Connected → ACLU of VirginiaLWV VirginiaUniversity of Virginia School of...Virginia NAACP State ConferenceBrennan Center for Justice