News Releases

Attorney General Jay Jones Announces Voter Protection Section  

Section will serve as affirmative voter protection arm of the OAG and enforce Virginia’s existing voting rights laws 

RICHMOND, Va. – Attorney General Jones announced the launch of the Office of the Attorney General’s Voter Protection Section. Attorney General Jones launched this section to address the continued erosion of the federal Voting Rights Act, Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on our democracy, and his administration's efforts to impede access to the ballot.  

Attorneys General play an indispensable role in protecting our democracy, especially in the courtroom. We have seen that play out in recent months as courts around the nation have blocked the Trump Administration’s illegal efforts to undermine elections. These legal victories are critical to protecting ballot access, but there is also a need to ensure that the laws intended to protect the rights of individual voters, and groups of voters, are observed and that violations are consistently enforced, which is why Attorney General Jones is announcing this new section.  

The mission of the Voter Protection Section is to protect Virginians’ right to register, vote, and have their vote counted. The section will also be laser-focused on ensuring that election laws are carried out fairly and free from unlawful interference. The section will protect voters by enforcing Virginia’s election laws, including laws that guard against improper registration cancellations, absentee ballot denials, and interference with voting and election administration. The section will also enforce the Virginia Voting Rights Act,  and laws protecting voters with disabilities and military voters.  

"I was raised by people who understood that the right to vote was never simply given. Generations of Americans had to sacrifice, organize, and show extraordinary courage to claim that right,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “That history is personal to me, and it reminds us that the work of civil rights and voting rights is never finished.  

“That is why we created a dedicated Voter Protection Section within the Office of the Attorney General. This work now has a permanent home, and a team focused every day on defending voting rights and enforcing Virginia law. Virginia votes every year, and protecting the franchise must be a year-round responsibility. In Virginia, the right to vote will be defended.”  

"The Voter Protection Section will have a clear mission: enforce Virginia’s voting rights laws, investigate threats to ballot access, and review proposed election changes that could affect voters,” said Ajay Saini, Voter Protection Section Chief. “That includes issues like discriminatory redistricting, poll site changes, voter intimidation, improper registration cancellations, language access, and barriers facing voters with disabilities, students, and military voters. Virginia holds elections every year, so this is year-round work. And at a time when the Trump administration has sought to push the federal government further into the administration of state elections, we will work closely with the Department of Elections and the Federal Accountability Unit to protect Virginia’s authority, the integrity of our elections, and every eligible voter’s right to be heard.”  

Published on: October 13, 2026

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