Office of Elections

About Us

Virginia has 133 independent cities and counties, ranging in population from under 3,000 to over 1 million. Each independent city and county has one general registrar and a three-member electoral board. These four individuals are responsible for all aspects of voter registration and election administration in their locality. As the top elections official, the General Registrar is the public face of the local electoral process.

With a population of 228,501 Richmond is the 4th largest city and the 10th largest locality in the Commonwealth. There are over 160,000 registered voters in the city, a number that continues to increase thanks to the continued growth of our city.

The Electoral Board is responsible for appointing the General Registrar/Director of Elections and the Election Officers, as well as provide policy guidance regarding the administration of elections. The current members of the Richmond City Electoral Board are: Chairwoman C. Starlet Stevens, Vice Chair Katherine Maxwell, and Secretary Joyce K. Smith.

The Office of Elections enacts policies set by the State Board of Elections and by the Electoral Board. The goal of this office is to conduct accurate, secure, and accessible elections, providing an important opportunity for voters to participate in the bedrock of our democracy. The Office of Elections prides itself in being an innovative, creative, and well-respected leader within the elections community for its programs, outreach, and education

General Registrar

David Levine is the Director of Elections and General Registrar for the City of Richmond, Virginia after previously serving as the office’s Deputy General Registrar from 2012-2014.

Prior to rejoining the City of Richmond, Levine served as a senior fellow at UMD’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement and as an election security adjunct professor at George Mason University. He also served as the senior elections integrity fellow at the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy. Prior to that he was the Ada County, Idaho Elections Director, managing the administration of all federal, state, county, and local district elections for 25% of the state’s population.

David received a BA from Haverford College and a JD from the Case Western Reserve School of Law, where he discovered his passion for elections. Since then, he has administered elections, worked with civil society organizations to improve the election process, and observed elections in the United States and many other countries.

Mission Statement

The right to vote is the foundational principle of our democracy. The Richmond City Office of Elections seeks to promote this principle in four ways.

1. To conduct fair and honest elections.

2. To certify election results in a manner that is transparent.

3. To enfranchise eligible citizens who register to vote.

4. To promote the value of voter education throughout our city.