HomeFinding AidsRockingham County Voter and Election Records

Rockingham County Voter and Election Records

Collection Summary 

View contents here

*this collection has not been digitized

Title  Voter and Election Records 
Collection Reference Code  Ver 
Inclusive Dates  1870-1980
Extent  13 boxes; 9 bound volumes;  7 linear feet 
Creator  Electoral Board, Election Officers, County and City Registrars
Bio/Historical Note  Every city and county in the Commonwealth of Virginia has a three-member Electoral Board, which ensures fair, free, open and transparent elections. The Electoral board for each city and county then appoints election officers, who serve as the administrators of polling sites and ballot collectors. County and City Registrars are also appointed by the Electoral Board to ensure the registration of qualified voters in the Commonwealth. 
Archival History  These records have been maintained continuously by the Circuit Court. The electoral board was required to submit abstracts of votes for each election to the Clerk of the Court for safekeeping. 
Scope and Content 

There are nine different series within this record group. This first consists of voter registration books, which date from 1870-1952. These were broken into three divisions. There is a separate volume for white males registred to vote between 1870 and 1952, white females registered to vote from 1920-1952 and a volume for both male and female (one they were granted the right to vote) African Americans registered to vote from 1870-1952. These forms contained information such as the date of the registration, the person's name, date of birth, age, occupation, residence, naturalization status and precinct transfer (if applicable).

The second series, List of Voters Registered, are loose records indicating individuals registered to vote in specific precincts. These are separate from the bound volumes, as the formats differ, but it is not clear how they were used differently.

Registration of Oaths is the third series. They are naturally divided into two subseries Male Registrations (1919-1944) and Female Registrations (1920-1944). These were to be filed by the Registrar along with the Books of Registration. The oath established the individual's right to register under the Constitution and laws of the state.

Series four contains voter transfer applications made to the Registrar by the individual wishing to transfer precincts. There is no information provided as to the reason for the request.

Registration Laws is a series comprised of documentation relating to the Voter Registration Code of 1958.

Certificates of Registration make up the sixth series of this record group. These were certificates used to certify a previously registered voter could transfer to a newly established voting precinct. The information listed includes the name, race, date of birth, age and occupation of the individual, as well as their former voting precinct.

The Abstract of Votes series is divided into subseries for Local Elections, State Elections, National Elections, Elections on Legislature, and Special Elections. Special Elections refer to (but is not limited to) elections for Soil Conservation officers, elections on the change of municipal government, and bond issues.

General Election Records consists of various records that did not fall into clearly into previously established series. This includes Special Election Records, Newspaper Articles, Electoral Board Correspondences.

Finally, Series nine contains Voting Precinct Petitions (1915-1931). These petitions were brought by local individuals requesting the establishment of a new voting precinct or the revision of precinct boundary lines. 

Index Terms Voting--1870-1980, Voting--History--20th century, Voting registers--Virginia, Voting registrars, Voting rights, Rockingham County (Va.), Rockingham County (Va.)--Genealogy--Sources, Rockingham County (Va.)--History--Sources. 
Processing Information Processed by Kayla Heslin, January 2020.
Arrangement  All series, and subsequent subseries, are arranged chronologically. 
Conditions Governing Access  This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.
Language  English 

Printable PDF version