The Office of the Elections and Voter Registration strives to promote the highest level of service to its citizens by providing equitable opportunities to register and vote and by maintaining accurate records relating to voter registration, elections, and candidates. The Director of Elections/General Registrar and Electoral Board are committed to providing each citizen the opportunity to exercise his or her right to vote in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Code of Virginia thus ensuring fair and impartial elections. The Director of Elections/General Registrar is appointed by the Bristol Virginia Electoral Board, composed of three members appointed by a majority of the circuit judges of the 28th Judicial Circuit Court of which the City of Bristol, Virginia is part.

Electoral Board appointments are based on representation of the two political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth of Virginia for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Two electoral board members shall be of the political party that cast the highest number of votes for Governor at that election. Electoral Board members serve three-year terms and are also responsible for the appointment of officers of elections.