In a surprise move, the national NAACP has put the Oct. 31 election results for the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP on hold as it investigates claims of irregularities in the vote.

Among other things, the national office is seeking to determine whether youth delegates were wrongly denied ballots in the vote for officers.

Jack Gravely, interim state executive director, confirmed Monday that state officers serving prior to the elections have been restored to office.

Carmen Taylor of Hampton, who lost her bid for re-election as state NAACP president by two votes to Linda Thomas of Caroline County is back in the leadership position.

Neither Ms. Thomas, a former state president, or Ms. Taylor were available for comment on the abrupt change in their status.

Responding to a Free Press query, Mr. Gravely said the national office notified him and the state officers at least two weeks ago. The action was not publicly announced.

Also affected is Joe W. Dillard Jr. of Norfolk, who was elected state vice president and seemed poised to move up to president in a future election.

Two other officers, state secretary LaSalle J. McCoy Jr. of Chesterfield and state treasurer Sylvia Wood of Richmond, are unaffected because they were re-elected to their positions.

The claims of irregularities apparently concern the election of representatives from several areas of the state, including Roanoke.

The national NAACP has not indicated how long the investigation would take, Mr. Gravely said.

The Rev. Gill Ford, national NAACP director for unit capacity, is in charge of the probe into the elections. He was not immediately available for comment.