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(Elections) Elections

HB 1121 Absentee voting; verification of signatures by officers of elections.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; signature requirement; verification of signatures by officers of elections. Requires the officers of elections to compare the signature on an absentee ballot envelope with the signature on that voter's voter registration application. Three officers, including one representative of each political party, are required to agree that the signatures match in order for the absentee ballot to be accepted. If less than three agree, the ballot is given provisional status and the electoral board makes the final determination of its validity. Notice by certified mail is required to be given to the voter. The bill also requires absentee ballot applications to be signed by the applicant's own handwriting or by electronic means, if such electronic signature is created by using a cursor, stylus, or similar device moved by the applicant to capture his signature. Any application signed by any other means shall be rejected.

01/19/16 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/21/16 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1121)
02/09/16 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)
02/12/16 House: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections
12/01/16 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1328 Unfaithful delegates; constitutional convention, penalty.

Summary as passed House:

Unfaithful delegates; penalty. Provides that an individual representing the Commonwealth at a convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution called pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution who knowingly and intentionally votes for a proposed amendment that is outside the scope of the application calling for the convention is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

02/17/16 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/17/16 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/17/16 House: Impact statement from VCSC (HB1328E)
03/02/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Courts of Justice (13-Y 1-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Courts of Justice

HB 1379 Voter list maintenance; use of Electronic Registration Information Center, etc.

Summary as passed House:

Voter list maintenance; use of information received through certain list comparisons and data matching exchanges with other states. Requires the information received through the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program to be used as part of the regular periodic review of registration records conducted by the Department of Elections. Within seven days of receiving information from these programs, the Department of Elections is required to send that information to the general registrars. Within 21 days of receiving that information from the Department of Elections, the general registrars are required to send notice to the voters by forwardable mail along with a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return card for correcting or verifying the information. The bill also requires Virginia, through the Department of Elections, to have active and continuous participation in ERIC and the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program.

02/17/16 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/17/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/22/16 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1379H1)
02/23/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N 1-A)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1380 Absentee voting; electronic signatures prohibited on certain applications for absentee ballots.

Summary as introduced:

Absentee voting; electronic signatures prohibited on certain applications for absentee ballots. Provides that an application for an absentee ballot that requests that the ballot be sent to an address in the United States must be signed in the applicant's own handwriting.

01/27/16 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
02/09/16 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1380)
02/11/16 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
02/12/16 House: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections
12/01/16 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1409 House of Delegates and Senate districts; General Assembly authorized to make technical adjustments.

Summary as introduced:
House of Delegates and Senate district boundaries. Authorizes the General Assembly to make technical adjustments to legislative districts subsequent to the decennial redistricting solely for the purpose of causing legislative district boundaries to coincide with local voting precincts. Any adjustment shall change districts only to the extent necessary to accomplish this purpose and shall be consistent with the criteria for districts established for the preceding decennial redistricting.

02/17/17 Senate: Passed by for the day
02/20/17 Senate: Read third time
02/20/17 Senate: Motion to recommit to committee agreed to
02/20/17 Senate: Recommitted to Privileges and Elections
02/21/17 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1425 President and Vice President electors; allocation of electoral votes by congressional district.

Summary as introduced:
Electors for President and Vice President; allocation of electoral votes by congressional district. Revises the process by which the Commonwealth's electoral votes are allocated among the slates of presidential electors. The bill provides that a voter will vote for two electors for the Commonwealth at large and one elector for the congressional district in which he is qualified to vote. The candidates for President and Vice President receiving the highest number of votes cast statewide are allocated the two electoral votes for the Commonwealth at large, and the candidates for President and Vice President receiving the highest number of votes cast in each congressional district are allocated the one electoral vote for that congressional district. Currently, the candidates for President and Vice President receiving the highest number of votes cast statewide are allocated the total number of the Commonwealth's electoral votes.

11/03/16 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/12/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1425)
01/24/17 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
01/27/17 House: Tabled in Privileges and Elections

HB 1428 Absentee voting; photo identification required with application.

Summary as passed House:

Absentee voting; photo identification required with application. Requires any voter submitting an application for an absentee ballot by mail or by electronic or telephonic transmission to a facsimile device to submit with his application a copy of one of the forms of identification acceptable under current law. The bill exempts military and overseas voters and persons with a disability from this requirement.

02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1428ER)
02/21/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1428ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1446 Campaign finance; permitted use of excess funds.

Summary as introduced:
Campaign finance; permitted use of excess funds. Provides that contributions received by a candidate or his campaign committee that are in excess of the amount necessary to defray his campaign expenditures may be disposed of only by transferring for use in a succeeding election, returning to a contributor, donating to a charitable organization, contributing to another candidate, political committee, or political party committee, or defraying ordinary, nonreimbursed expenses related to the elective office. The bill also prohibits the conversion of any contributed moneys, securities, or like intangible personal property to personal use. Under current law, the same provisions governing the use of excess contributed funds apply only in the context of filing a final campaign finance report.

12/01/16 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1446)
01/26/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1459 Campaign finance; prohibited personal use, penalty.

Summary as introduced:
Campaign finance; prohibited personal use; penalty. Prohibits the conversion of any contributed moneys, securities, or like intangible personal property by any person to the personal use of a candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family, if such use is for a strictly personal purpose with no reasonable or foreseeable benefit to the candidate's campaign or public office. Complaints of alleged violations may be made by any person who contributes to the candidate or candidate's campaign committee to the State Board of Elections. The subject of the complaint has 30 days to provide to the State Board documentation or other evidence that the use of the campaign funds had a reasonable or foreseeable benefit to the campaign or the candidate's public office. The State Board shall call a hearing if it determines, after reviewing any response made by the subject of the complaint, that the use of campaign funds had no reasonable or foreseeable benefit to the campaign or the candidate's public office. If the complaining party declines to participate in the hearing, the complaint shall be dismissed. A person found by the State Board to have willfully and knowingly violated this section shall repay to the campaign committee the amount unlawfully converted to the personal use of the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family and shall return to the complaining party the full amount of the complaining party's contribution to the campaign. The State Board may also assess an additional civil penalty, in an amount not to exceed $100.

12/05/16 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/30/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1459)
02/02/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1462 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification.

Summary as introduced:
Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. Adds to the list of acceptable forms of voter identification a valid student photo identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in any other state or territory of the United States. Current law allows students from any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth to use their student photo identification cards for purposes of voting.

12/06/16 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1462)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1482 Presidential electors; National Popular Vote Compact.

Summary as introduced:
Presidential electors; National Popular Vote Compact. Enters Virginia into an interstate compact known as the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote. Article II of the United States Constitution gives the states exclusive and plenary authority to decide the manner of awarding their electoral votes. Under the compact, Virginia agrees to award its electoral votes to the presidential ticket that receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The compact goes into effect when states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes have joined the compact. A state may withdraw from the compact; however, a withdrawal occurring within six months of the end of a President's term shall not become effective until a President or Vice President has qualified to serve the next term.

12/13/16 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/12/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1482)
01/24/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1601 Electors for President and Vice President; allocation of electoral votes by congressional district.

01/03/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/12/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1601)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1603 Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers. Entitles a person to vote absentee if the person is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled individual who is confined at home. Currently, such caregivers are entitled to vote absentee only if the ill or disabled individual who is confined at home is a family member of the caregiver.

01/03/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1603)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1631 Elections; early voting.

Summary as introduced:
Elections; early voting. Allows any registered voter to vote early in any election in which he is qualified to vote without providing a reason or making prior application for an absentee ballot. The bill requires that early voting be available beginning the twenty-first day prior to any general election, the seventh day prior to any special election held on a date other than the date of a general election, and the seventh day prior to any primary election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately preceding the election. The bill further requires early voting to be available during regular business hours each weekday during the applicable period, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each Saturday during the applicable period, and from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on each Sunday during the applicable period. The bill removes the current provisions for voting absentee in person but retains those provisions for voting an absentee ballot by mail, including the application requirement and the list of statutory reasons that allow a registered voter to vote absentee by mail.

01/04/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1631)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1696 Filling vacancies in the United States Senate.

Summary as introduced:
Filling vacancies in the United States Senate. Removes the language limiting the date at which a special election can be held to fill a vacancy occurring in the representation of the Commonwealth in the United States Senate. The bill also removes the authority of the Governor to make a temporary appointment to fill such a vacancy. The bill allows the Governor to immediately issue a writ to call an election upon receipt of written notification by a Senator or Senator-elect of his resignation and makes such resignation irrevocable after the date stated by him for his resignation or after the forty-fifth date before the date set for the special election.

02/14/17 Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)
02/16/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/17/17 Senate: Read third time
02/17/17 Senate: Defeated by Senate (20-Y 20-N)
02/17/17 Senate: Chair votes No

HB 1698 Polling places; memorandum of understanding.

Summary as introduced:
Polling places; memorandum of understanding. Directs the Attorney General to develop and make available a template memorandum of understanding to be used by the general registrars when establishing polling places. The bill requires the general registrar to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the entity or person authorized to grant the use of the facility as a polling place. Using the template prescribed by the Attorney General, the parties will specify the terms for use of the facility, including the hours and dates the facility is to be used, the availability of parking at the facility, and the defined space where the elections are to be conducted. Such memorandum of understanding shall be entered into for a period of five years, with the option to renew at the end of the fourth year. Upon the mutual agreement of the two parties, such memorandum of understanding shall be voided.

01/06/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101752D
01/06/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/19/17 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (4-Y 2-N)
01/20/17 House: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (10-Y 11-N)

HB 1730 Description of duties and responsibilities of local electoral boards; Dept. of Elections to provide.

Summary as introduced:
Description of duties and responsibilities of local electoral boards; Department of Elections to provide annually to certain entities. Requires the State Board of Elections, with the cooperation of the local electoral boards and general registrars, to develop a description of the duties and responsibilities of the local electoral boards. The Department of Elections is required to provide this description to the clerks of the circuit courts, the chairmen of the state and district political party committees, the general registrars, and the local electoral boards.

02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1730ER)
02/21/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1730ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1733 Removal of public officers from office; recall elections for certain elected and appointed officers.

Summary as introduced:
Removal of public officers from office; recall elections for certain elected and appointed officers. Provides a process by which elected officers and officers appointed to an elected office may be recalled and removed from office. The recall process is initiated by a petition signed by a number of registered voters residing within the jurisdiction of the officer equal to 20 percent of the total number of votes cast at the last election for the office the officer holds. The bill requires the timing and conduct of the recall election to comply with the provisions governing special elections. Any registered voter qualified to vote for the officer subject to the recall may vote in the recall election. If a majority of the votes are for removal of the officer, the officer is removed from office and the vacancy is filled in accordance with law. The bill retains the statutory reasons for removal. The bill retains the process for removal by the courts for officers appointed for a term certain.

01/07/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100134D
01/07/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/12/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/26/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1733)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1818 Absentee voting; entitles persons age 65 or older on date of an election to vote absentee.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of persons age 65 or older. Entitles a person who will be age 65 or older on the date of the election for which an absentee ballot is requested to vote absentee.

01/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/13/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1818)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1819 Elections; absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person.

Summary as introduced:
Elections; absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person. Allows qualified voters to vote absentee in person without providing an excuse for not being able to vote in person on election day. The bill retains the statutory list of specific reasons allowing a voter to cast an absentee ballot by mail.

01/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/13/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1819)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1904 Voter identification; repeal of photo identification requirements.

Summary as introduced:
Voter identification requirements; repeal of photo identification requirements. Repeals the requirement that voters show a form of identification containing a photograph in order to be allowed to vote. The bill requires a voter to show either his voter registration confirmation documents; his valid Virginia driver's license, his valid United States passport, or any other identification issued by the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth or any private school located in the Commonwealth; any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer's business; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. The bill adds language regarding requirements for certain voters pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/13/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1904)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1912 Absentee voting; eligibility of persons granted protective order.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of persons granted protective order. Entitles a person to vote absentee if the person has been granted a protective order issued by or under the authority of any court of competent jurisdiction.

02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1912ER)
02/21/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1912ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1933 Candidate withdrawal; notice of withdrawal, information to voters.

Summary as passed House:

Candidate withdrawal; notice of withdrawal; information to voters. Provides that a candidate who has qualified to have his named printed on the ballot for an election is not deemed to have withdrawn from such election until he has submitted a signed written notice declaring his intent to withdraw and that notice has been received by the general registrar. The Department of Elections is required to include in its candidate guidance documents the requirements and process for candidate withdrawal. The bill also provides that when ballots are not corrected to delete a candidate's name, the general registrar shall provide a list of candidates who have withdrawn to be posted in each polling place and made available to the public.

02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1933ER)
02/21/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1933ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1935 Absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person available 21 days prior to election.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person available 21 days prior to election. Allows any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in person in any election in which he is qualified to vote without providing a reason or making a prior application for an absentee ballot. Absentee voting in person will be available in the office of the general registrar or the secretary of the electoral board and may be available at additional locations if approved by the local electoral board. The period for absentee voting in person will begin on the twenty-first day prior to any election and will end at 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately preceding the election. The bill retains the current provisions for voting absentee by mail, including the application process and list of eligibility reasons.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/13/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1935)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 1953 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification.

Summary as introduced:
Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. Adds to the list of accepted forms of identification for purposes of voting a valid identification card that contains a photograph of the voter and is issued by any private entity that is licensed or certified, in whole or in part, by the State Department of Health, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. An employee of any such private entity is currently permitted to use his employee identification card, provided that the card contains a photograph of the voter, for purposes of voting; the bill allows a resident or other person who receives services from such private entity to use a valid identification card issued by the private entity, provided that the card contains a photograph of the voter.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1953)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2068 Absentee voting; eligibility of persons with disabilities and persons age 65 or older.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of persons with disabilities and persons age 65 or older. Entitles (i) persons with disabilities who are not reasonably able to go in person to the polls on election day and (ii) persons who will be age 65 or older on the date of the election to vote absentee. Current law allows persons with disabilities who are unable to go in person to the polls on election day to vote absentee. The bill does not change current law that entitles persons age 65 or older and persons with disabilities to vote outside of the polling place upon request.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2068)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2069 Election district boundaries, local; adjustment subsequent to decennial redistricting.

Summary as introduced:
Adjustment of local election district boundaries subsequent to decennial redistricting. Limits changes in election district boundaries in order to conform them to state legislative or congressional district boundaries to changes that affect no more than one percent of the district population or 250 persons, whichever is greater. The current limit is the lesser of five percent of the district population or 250 persons.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102289D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/28/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2069)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2091 Elections; early voting.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2091)
01/24/17 House: Subcommittee recommends striking from docket
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2133 Recount procedures; initial audit of ballot scanner machines.

Summary as introduced:
Recount procedures; initial audit of ballot scanner machines. Requires an initial audit of the ballot scanner machines to be conducted prior to beginning the redetermination of the vote during a recount. The bill requires recount officials to collect a sample of the machine-readable ballots cast at each precinct in the election district equal to at least one percent of all machine-readable ballots cast at that precinct. Each precinct's sample is then run through a scanner used at that precinct on the night of the election, run through a scanner being used for the recount, and hand counted. If the results calculated by the scanner used at that precinct on the night of the election, the results calculated by the scanner being used for the recount, and the results determined by the hand count are not identical, any party to the recount may request all ballots cast on ballot scanner machines in the election district to be counted by hand. If the results are identical, the redetermination of the vote shall be conducted in accordance with current law.

01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/25/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2133)
01/26/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2160 Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans.

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans. Provides for the establishment of the Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission (Commission) when any congressional or state legislative district drawn as required by Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia is declared unlawful or unconstitutional, in whole or in part, by order of any state or federal court. The Commission is tasked with determining and submitting to the General Assembly and the Governor a redistricting plan remedying such unlawful or unconstitutional district. The bill also provides criteria by which the Commission is to draw remedial districts.

01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/27/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2160)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2179 Form of ballot; order of independent candidates, required paperwork.

Summary as passed House:

Form of ballot; order of independent candidates. Provides that when there is more than one independent candidate for an office, their names shall appear on the ballot in an order determined by the priority of time of filing all required paperwork for the office. In the event that two or more candidates file simultaneously, the order of filing is determined by lot by the electoral board. Currently, this order applies only to the names of candidates for school board, and the names of all other independent candidates appear alphabetically.

02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2179ER)
02/21/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2179ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2180 Absentee voting; eligibility of certain persons.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of certain persons. Entitles a person to vote absentee if he is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for a child or for an ill or disabled individual who is confined at home. The bill also entitles a person to vote absentee if he lacks access to reliable personal transportation.

01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2180)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2275 Absentee voting; eligibility of persons age 65 or older.

01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2275)
01/17/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2280 Voter referendum; independent redistricting commission.

Summary as introduced:
Voter referendum; independent redistricting commission. Provides for a statewide referendum on the question of whether the General Assembly should adopt a resolution to propose an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia that would establish an independent redistricting commission to create and propose redistricting plans for House of Delegates, Senate of Virginia, and congressional districts. The results would be advisory only and are intended only to demonstrate the preference of the citizens of the Commonwealth on the manner in which electoral districts are created. The referendum would be held at the November 2017 general election.

01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/27/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2280)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2315 Instant runoff voting; provided in elections for statewide offices.

Summary as introduced:
Instant runoff voting. Provides for instant runoff voting in elections for statewide offices, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the General Assembly. With instant runoff voting, voters rank the candidates for each office in order of choice, and only the candidate receiving a majority of the votes for such office is declared the winner. Ballots are initially counted as one vote for the first-choice candidate on the ballot; if no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes, additional rounds of ballot counting are required. In subsequent rounds of counting, each ballot is counted as one vote for that ballot's highest-ranked advancing candidate and the candidate receiving the fewest votes is eliminated, until one candidate receives a majority of the valid votes in a round.

01/12/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/26/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2315)
01/26/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2364 Public officers; automatic suspension upon conviction of felony.

Summary as passed House:

Public officers; automatic suspension upon conviction of felony. Provides that any officer who is convicted of a felony under the laws of any state or the United States shall be automatically suspended upon such conviction, regardless of any appeals, pleadings, delays, or motions. The bill contains an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

02/17/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2364ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2405 Voter registration; extended time for new citizens to register to vote.

Summary as introduced:
Voter registration; extended time for new citizens to register to vote. Provides that any person who becomes a citizen during the period immediately following the close of registration records pursuant to § 24.2-416 and the day of the election and is otherwise qualified to vote shall be entitled to register to vote up to and including the day of the election. The bill requires the Department of Elections to prescribe procedures for the addition to the lists of registered voters of persons registered under the provisions of the bill.

01/18/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/23/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2405)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2415 Ballots; number ordered to be printed.

Summary as passed House:

Ballots; number ordered to be printed. Requires the general registrars to consider the number of active registered voters and historical election data, including voter turnout, when determining the number of ballots to order to be printed for an election.

02/21/17 House: Enrolled
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2415ER)
02/21/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2415ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2421 Central absentee voter precincts; expedited counting of absentee ballots.

Summary as introduced:
Central absentee voter precincts; expedited counting of absentee ballots. Allows the officers of election at a central absentee voter precinct to begin counting those absentee ballots that are counted by hand at any time after 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election. The bill prohibits ballot count totals to be announced or transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the polls. Currently, absentee ballots may be processed at the central absentee voter precinct prior to the closing of the polls, but shall not be counted until after the polls have closed.

01/19/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/24/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2421)
02/02/17 House: Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HB 2443 Electoral fusion; form of ballot, candidate's name appearing more than once for same office.

Summary as introduced:
Electoral fusion; form of ballot; candidate's name appearing more than once for same office. Removes the provision prohibiting a candidate's name from appearing on the ballot more than once for the same office.

01/20/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
01/26/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2443)
02/02/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 541 Constitutional amendment; top two open primary election (first reference).

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); top two open primary election. Provides for a top two open primary election to be conducted to select the candidates for the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General, of the House of Delegates or the Senate of Virginia, and of the United States House of Representatives or Senate. All candidates for the particular office, regardless of the candidate's political party affiliation, appear on a single ballot, and the two candidates receiving the highest and next highest number of votes for that office, regardless of their political party affiliation, are the candidates at the ensuing general election for that office. Every qualified voter may vote for any candidate for an office at a top two open primary election, regardless of the political party affiliation of the candidate or the voter. The amendment further provides that the political parties have the right to endorse, support, or oppose any candidate at a top two open primary election or the ensuing general election, regardless of the political party affiliation of the candidate, but that the parties do not have the right to nominate candidates for an office at the top two open primary election or to have their preferred candidates participate in the general election if such candidates do not receive the highest or next highest number of votes at the top two open primary election for that office.

09/15/16 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100294D
09/15/16 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 576 Study; JLARC to study the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act in Virginia; report.

Summary as introduced:
Study; JLARC to study the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act in Virginia; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act in Virginia and to evaluate the extent to which the procedures implemented comply with the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act.

01/03/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102307D
01/03/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 579 Study; jt committee to study implementation of National Voter Registration Act in Virginia; report.

Summary as introduced:
Study; joint committee to study implementation of the National Voter Registration Act in Virginia; report. Establishes a joint committee of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections to conduct a one-year study of the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act in Virginia. The study will evaluate the extent to which the procedures implemented comply with the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act.

01/03/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102209D
01/03/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/12/17 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 581 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; criteria for electoral districts.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; criteria for electoral districts. Provides the criteria for electoral districts drawn by the General Assembly. The amendment directs that electoral districts are (i) to be composed of contiguous and compact territory, (ii) to be drawn utilizing existing political boundaries, and (iii) to be as nearly equal in population as is practicable but with variations in the size of districts permitted in order to comply with other reapportionment criteria. The amendment prohibits electoral districts being drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or other individual or entity. The amendment authorizes the General Assembly to provide additional standards, definitions, or guidance in order to facilitate the objective interpretation and application of such criteria.

01/04/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103314D
01/04/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 622 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); General Assembly; term limits.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); General Assembly; term limits. Limits members of the Senate to three full terms (12 years) and members of the House of Delegates to six full terms (12 years). The limitations apply to service for both consecutive and nonconsecutive terms. Service for a partial term does not preclude serving the allowed number of full terms. In addition to any partial term, a person may serve 12 years in each house, or a total of 24 years in the General Assembly. The limits apply to terms of service beginning on and after the start of the 2020 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

01/09/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100290D
01/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 628 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. Appointments to the 13-member Commission are to be made as follows: two each by the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the minority leader in each house, and the state chairman of each of the two political parties receiving the most votes in the prior gubernatorial election. The 12 partisan members then select the thirteenth member by a majority vote or, if they cannot agree on a selection, certify the two names receiving the most votes to the Supreme Court of Virginia, which will name the thirteenth member. The standards to govern redistricting plans include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.

01/09/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101547D
01/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 635 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); top two primary election.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); top two primary election. Provides for a top two primary election for the nomination of candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. All candidates for each office shall be listed on a single ballot, regardless of political party affiliation or independent status, and the two candidates receiving the highest and next highest number of votes cast for each office shall be the candidates at the general election for such office. The resolution requires that provision be made to allow votes to be cast at a top two primary election for persons other than the listed candidates, but prohibits such votes from being cast at the general election. Additionally, the resolution provides that the political parties shall not nominate candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General and that the political parties do not have the right to have a preferred candidate on the ballot at the general election for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. However, the political parties will have the right to contribute to, endorse, or otherwise support a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General in accordance withlaw.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100852D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 641 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of Governor; residency requirement.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of Governor; residency requirement. Increases from five to eight the number of years a person must have been a resident of and a registered voter in the Commonwealth in order to be eligible to the office of Governor.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101849D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 651 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Nonpartisan Redistricting Commission created.

Summary as introduced:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Nonpartisan Redistricting Commission created. Provides for a temporary Virginia Nonpartisan Redistricting Commission (the Commission) to prepare redistricting plans in 2021 and each tenth year thereafter for the House of Delegates, Senate of Virginia, and congressional districts. The Virginia Nonpartisan Redistricting Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by majority vote of the Supreme Court of Virginia from a list of retired judges who have indicated their willingness to serve on the Commission. The resolution sets out the standards by which the Commission is required to draw district lines and the procedure for doing so. The resolution requires the Commission to submit the plan to the General Assembly as a bill and to review and make recommendations on any amendments made by the General Assembly or the Governor.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101544D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/12/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 694 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights. Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the restoration of civil rights for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies who have completed service of their sentences, subject to the conditions, requirements, and definitions set forth in that law. The present Constitution provides for restoration of rights by the Governor. The amendment retains the right of the Governor to restore civil rights and adds an alternative for restoration of rights pursuant to law for nonviolent felons.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100101D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/12/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 696 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; certain prohibitions.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; certain prohibitions for electoral districts; scope of legislative privilege. Prohibits electoral districts from being drawn for the purpose of (i) favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or potential candidate or (ii) restricting or denying the ability of any racial or language minority to participate in the political process and elect a preferred candidate of choice. The amendment further provides that the scope of legislative privilege does not extend to communications and documents prepared by a member of the General Assembly or the staff or constituent of a member of the General Assembly in the course of reapportionment and that such communications and documents shall be public records.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102524D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/12/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 2-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 699 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office. Permits a Governor elected in 2021 and thereafter to succeed himself in office. The amendment allows two four-year terms (either in succession or not in succession) but prohibits election to a third term. Service for more than two years of a partial term counts as service for one term.

01/11/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102394D
01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/12/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 701 United States Constitution; application for a convention of the states; free and fair elections.

Summary as introduced:
United States Constitution; application for a convention of the states; free and fair elections. Makes application to the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution to ensure free and fair elections by limiting corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech and declaring that money does not constitute speech and may be regulated.

01/11/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102559D
01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/31/17 House: Tabled in Rules (15-Y 0-N)

HJ 702 Study; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the funding needs of elections.

Summary as introduced:
Study; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the current and future funding needs of modern elections administration in the Commonwealth; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the current and future funding needs of modern elections administration in the Commonwealth. The resolution directs JLARC to (i) evaluate and compare the potential fiscal impact at the state and local level of procuring a new voter registration system to replace the current voter registration system with the potential fiscal impact of modifying the current voter registration system so that it is capable of meeting the current and projected needs of the Department of Elections, elections administrators, voters, and other relevant parties; (ii) review the statutory requirements related to the coordination of voter record management between the Department of Elections and other state agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Social Services, and the Virginia State Police; and (iii) assess the current and projected costs of the security requirements for election and voter data.

01/11/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101227D
01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 703 Study; joint committee to study the streamlining of special elections in the Commonwealth; report.

Summary as introduced:
Study; joint committee to study the streamlining of special elections in the Commonwealth; report. Establishes a joint committee of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections to study the streamlining of special elections in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the joint committee is to (i) review the current laws governing special elections, (ii) evaluate the costs borne in recent years by the localities to conduct special elections as compared to voter turnout at such elections, and (iii) consider options for a cohesive set of laws to govern special elections and for scheduling special elections, including the merits of establishing a uniform schedule. General registrars, members of local electoral boards, and other elections administrators will be invited to participate in the study.

01/11/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101228D
01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/12/17 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 749 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission, established, apportionment.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the seven-member Virginia Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census of the United States. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within 30 days of receipt of the new census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever is earlier, and for the House of Representatives within 60 days of receipt of the census data or by July 1 of the year following the census, whichever is earlier. The amendment requires that districts be drawn using the Shortest Split methodology, which divides the geographic area of the Commonwealth into two halves of approximately equal population based on the official decennial census redistricting numbers, choosing the shortest possible dividing line to split the state. The division of halves shall continue until the required number of districts is achieved. The Commission is required to make adjustments to the resulting maps as may be necessary to achieve compliance with the requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, and is authorized to make adjustments to the resulting maps so that district boundaries coincide with existing political boundaries and take into account geographic features.

01/16/17 House: Presented and ordered printed 17103921D
01/16/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/17/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

HJ 763 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; political considerations prohibited.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; political considerations prohibited. Prohibits any electoral district from being drawn in order to favor or disfavor any political party, incumbent legislator, member of Congress, or other individual or entity.

01/16/17 House: Presented and ordered printed 17103966D
01/16/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/18/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
02/08/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 439 Voter identification; information contained in electronic pollbook.

Summary as introduced:
Voter identification; photograph and identifying information contained in electronic pollbook; challenge of voter. Requires electronic pollbooks to contain a photograph and identifying information received by the Department of Elections from the Department of Motor Vehicles for each registered voter for whom the Department of Motor Vehicles has such a photograph and identifying information. The bill prohibits lists of voters furnished pursuant to current law from containing any voter's photograph or identifying physical information. The bill also provides that if the electronic pollbook contains the voter's photograph and identifying information, the officer of election is required to access that photograph and identifying information and the voter is not required to present one of the statutorily required forms of identification. However, the bill requires the officer of election to challenge the voter's vote if the voter does not appear to be the same person depicted in the photograph or in the pollbook. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2017.

01/12/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101744D
01/12/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/02/16 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB439)
02/02/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (13-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 723 Campaign finance; contributions from out-of-state sources prohibited.

Summary as introduced:
Campaign finance; contributions from out-of-state sources prohibited. Prohibits any candidate for the General Assembly or his campaign committee from soliciting or accepting a contribution from any person, corporation, campaign committee, political committee, out-of-state political committee, or federal political action committee who resides or whose headquarters is located outside of the Commonwealth. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the entity has registered with the State Board of Elections or operates or does business in the Commonwealth.

01/22/16 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 16104268D
01/22/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/29/16 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB723)
02/09/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (13-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 792 Absentee voting; entitles persons age 65 or older on date of an election to vote absentee.

01/24/17 Senate: Committee substitute printed to LIS only 17104747D-S1
01/24/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)
01/25/17 Senate: Incorporates SB827 (Wexton)
01/25/17 Senate: Incorporates SB1016 (Barker)
01/25/17 Senate: Incorporates SB1132 (Mason)

SB 821 Primary elections; adds political party affiliation to information for voter registration.

Summary as introduced:
Voter registration by political party affiliation; primary elections. Adds party affiliation, beginning January 1, 2018, to the information that an applicant is asked to provide when registering to vote. The applicant may indicate that he is an independent. Voters registered prior to January 1, 2018, will be designated as independent unless they provide a political party designation in writing to the general registrar. Voters may change their party affiliation or independent status by written notice at any time before the registration records are closed prior to an election. The state party chairman of each political party must notify the State Board of Elections by January 31 of each year of the rules adopted by the duly constituted authorities of the state political party governing who may participate in the party's primaries held from April 1 of that year through March 31 of the following year.

01/30/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB821)
01/31/17 Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections (7-Y 6-N)
02/02/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
02/03/17 Senate: Read second time and engrossed
02/06/17 Senate: Read third time and defeated by Senate (11-Y 29-N)

SB 826 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification.

11/09/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100200D
11/09/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB826)
01/24/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (6-Y 8-N)

SB 827 Elections; absentee voting by persons age 70 or older.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of persons age 70 or older. Entitles a person who will be age 70 or older on the date of the election for which an absentee ballot is requested to vote absentee.

11/10/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100198D
11/10/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB827)
01/24/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB792-Ebbin) (14-Y 0-N)

SB 837 Electors for President and Vice President; allocation of electoral votes by congressional district.

11/15/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101217D
11/15/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/12/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB837)
01/24/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (5-Y 9-N)

SB 844 Absentee voting; no-excuse in-person available 21 days prior to election.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; no-excuse in-person available 21 days prior to election. Allows for any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in person in any election in which he is qualified to vote without providing a reason or making prior application for an absentee ballot. The bill makes absentee voting in person available beginning the twenty-first day prior to the election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately preceding the election. The bill retains the current provisions for voting an absentee ballot by mail, including the application requirement and the list of statutory reasons.

01/31/17 Senate: Incorporates SB979 (Dance)
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporates SB1002 (Ebbin)
01/31/17 Senate: Committee substitute printed 17105066D-S1
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporates SB1295 (Vogel)
01/31/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)

SB 845 Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers.

02/08/17 House: Read first time
02/08/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/08/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/14/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/21/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 846 Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans.

SB 864 Electoral board appointments; chief judge of the judicial circuit or his designee make appointment.

Summary as passed Senate:

Electoral board appointments; chief judge of the judicial circuit or his designee to make appointment. Provides that appointments to the electoral board of each county and city are to be made by the chief judge of the judicial circuit for the county or city or that judge's designee, who shall be any other judge sitting in that judicial circuit. Currently, such appointments are made by a majority of the circuit judges and if a majority of the judges cannot agree, the senior judge makes the appointment. The bill also contains technical amendments.

02/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB864ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

SB 872 Absentee voting; applications and ballots; photo identification required.

Summary as passed:

02/20/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/20/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB872ER)
02/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB872ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 878 Congressional and state legislative districts.

Summary as introduced:
Congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria for the General Assembly to observe in drawing districts, including respect for political boundaries, equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. The bill prohibits use of political data or election results unless necessary to determine if racial or ethnic minorities can elect candidates of their choice.

12/16/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101113D
12/16/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/28/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB878)
01/31/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)

SB 882 Absentee voting; eligibility of any registered voter.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of any registered voter. Allows any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he is qualified to vote. The bill removes the current list of statutory reasons for which a person may be entitled to vote by absentee ballot but retains the requirement to apply to vote absentee. The bill contains numerous technical amendments that consolidate existing provisions relating to absentee voting by uniformed and overseas voters and absentee voting by persons with a disability.

12/20/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100875D
12/20/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB882)
01/24/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)

SB 892 Absentee voting; deadline for requesting absentee ballot by means other than in person.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; deadline for requesting absentee ballot by means other than in person. Requires an application for an absentee ballot that is submitted by means other than in person in the office of the general registrar to be done so by 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh day prior to the election. Current law requires such application be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on the seventh day prior to the election. The bill amends other related deadlines accordingly.

12/20/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102384D
12/20/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB892)
01/17/17 Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Privileges and Elections (10-Y 0-N)

SB 960 Absentee ballots; expediting counting of absentee ballots returned by mail prior to election day.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee ballots; expediting the counting of absentee ballots returned by mail prior to election day. Provides that if a general registrar has opted to expedite the counting of absentee ballots returned by mail by opening the sealed ballot envelopes in accordance with law, the requirement that the absentee ballot return envelope and unopened ballot envelope be deposited into an appropriate container does not apply. Current law contains a contradiction that absentee ballot return envelopes and unopened ballot envelopes are to be deposited into an appropriate container while also allowing the sealed ballot envelopes to be opened so that they may be inserted into a ballot scanner machine or other secure ballot container.

02/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB960ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 961 Absentee voting; processing of rejected absentee ballots.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; processing of rejected absentee ballots. Provides that when an absentee ballot is rejected, at least two officers of election, one representing each political party, are required to write and sign a statement for the cause of the ballot's rejection. Currently, the law requires that a majority of the officers write and sign such statement.

02/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB961ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 979 Elections; absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person.

01/03/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102132D
01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB979)
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB844-Howell) (13-Y 0-N)

SB 1002 Absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person available 21 days prior to election.

01/03/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102185D
01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1002)
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB844-Howell) (13-Y 0-N)

SB 1016 Absentee voting; entitles persons age 65 or older on date of an election to vote absentee.

01/04/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102887D
01/04/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1016)
01/24/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB792-Ebbin) (14-Y 0-N)

SB 1093 Campaign finance; contribution limits, civil penalty.

Summary as introduced:
Campaign contribution limits; civil penalty. Prohibits a person, other than a political party committee or political action committee, from making any single contribution, or any combination of contributions, that exceeds $10,000 to any one candidate for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, or the General Assembly in any one election cycle, of which no more than $5,000 may be contributed for the primary election or other nominating process. Political action committees are prohibited from making any single contribution or any combination of contributions that exceeds $20,000 to any one candidate for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, or the General Assembly in any one election cycle, of which no more than $10,000 may be contributed for the primary election or other nominating process. No limits are placed on contributions made by political party committees, the candidate, or the candidate's family to the candidate's campaign. Civil penalties for violations of the limits may equal up to two times the excess contribution amounts.

01/06/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101884D
01/06/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1093)
01/24/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (4-Y 10-N)

SB 1104 Form of ballot; order of independent candidates, required paperwork.

Summary as passed:

02/20/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/20/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1104ER)
02/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1104ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1105 Registered voters and persons voting; reports of persons voting at elections.

Summary as passed Senate:

Reports of registered voters and persons voting at elections. Requires the local electoral boards to direct the general registrars to investigate the list of registered voters whenever the number of registered voters in a county or city exceeds the population of persons age 18 years or older, based on the most recent population estimate of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia. The bill also requires the local electoral boards to direct the general registrars to investigate the list of persons voting at an election whenever the number of persons voting at any election in a county or city exceeds the number of persons registered to vote in that county or city. The Department of Elections is required to provide certain data to any general registrar conducting such an investigation for the registrar's use during the investigation. The local electoral boards are required to make reports of the findings to the State Board. These reports are public documents.

02/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1105ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

SB 1131 Absentee voting; eligibility of certain persons.

01/09/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101480D
01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1131)
01/24/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N)

SB 1132 Absentee voting; entitles persons age 65 or older on date of an election to vote absentee.

01/09/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102815D
01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1132)
01/24/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB792-Ebbin) (14-Y 0-N)

SB 1133 Voter referendum; independent redistricting commission.

01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/27/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1133)
01/31/17 Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections (11-Y 2-N)
01/31/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 1142 Campaign finance; filing and reporting requirements applicable to certain tax-exempt organizations.

Summary as introduced:
Campaign finance; filing and reporting requirements applicable to certain tax-exempt organizations. Removes the exemption of organizations holding tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(4) of the United States Internal Revenue Code from the filing and reporting requirements of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006.

01/09/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101557D
01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1142)
02/08/17 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 1200 Voter identification requirements; repeal of photo identification requirements.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101485D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1200)
01/24/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)

SB 1206 Redistricting process.

Summary as introduced:
Redistricting process. Provides a new method for the preparation of state legislative and congressional redistricting plans. The bill spells out standards for developing plans, including population equality, compactness, maintenance of cores of existing districts, and respect for locality boundaries; precludes consideration of incumbency and political data in developing plans; assigns responsibility to the Division of Legislative Services (the Division) to prepare plans for submission to the General Assembly; and establishes a temporary redistricting advisory commission to advise the Division, disseminate information on plans, and hold hearings for public reaction to plans. The bill provides that the General Assembly may reject the Division's plans and may ultimately amend the plans. This bill is patterned after the Iowa redistricting process.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103776D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/31/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)
02/01/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1206)

SB 1236 Candidate petitions; reduces number of signatures required for statewide candidates.

Summary as introduced:
Candidate petitions; number of signatures required for statewide candidates. Reduces the number of signatures that an independent candidate or a candidate for nomination by primary is required to gather on the candidate petition when seeking to qualify as a candidate for the United States Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General from 10,000 signatures, including at least 400 from each congressional district, to 5,000 signatures, including at least 200 from each congressional district.

01/23/17 Senate: Read second time and engrossed
01/24/17 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (19-Y 19-N 1-A)
01/24/17 Senate: Chair votes Yes
01/24/17 Senate: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (34-Y 5-N)
01/24/17 Senate: Defeated by Senate (18-Y 21-N)

SB 1252 Absentee voting; signature verification.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; signature verification. Requires the officers of election to compare the signature on an absentee ballot envelope with the signature on that voter's voter registration application. Three officers, including one representative of each political party, are required to agree that the signatures match in order for the absentee ballot to be accepted. If less than three agree, the ballot and application are later reviewed by the electoral board at its meeting held on the day after election day. If the electoral board determines that the signature on the ballot envelope and the voter's voter registration application match, the ballot is counted. However, if the electoral board determines that the signatures do not match, the ballot is not counted. The bill requires that, when the electoral board determines the signatures do not match, copies of the ballot envelope and the voter registration application are to be provided to the appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth. The voter is required to be notified in writing of the decision of and actions taken by the electoral board.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103095D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1252)
01/24/17 Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N)

SB 1253 Voter identification; photograph contained in electronic pollbook.

Summary as passed Senate:

Voter identification; photograph contained in electronic pollbook. Requires electronic pollbooks to contain the photographs of registered voters that are obtained by the general registrars in the production of voter photo identification cards or contained in a voter's Department of Motor Vehicles record. The bill also provides that if the electronic pollbook contains the voter's photograph, the officer of election is required to access that photograph and the voter is not required to present one of the statutorily required forms of identification. The bill prohibits lists of voters furnished pursuant to current law from containing any voter's photograph. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2018.

02/17/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/20/17 House: Reported from Appropriations (14-Y 7-N)
02/21/17 House: Read second time
02/22/17 House: Read third time
02/22/17 House: Passed House (65-Y 34-N)

SB 1254 Voting machines; Department of Elections shall coordinate post-election risk-limiting audit, report.

Summary as passed:

Department of Elections; annual audit of ballot scanner machines. Requires the Department of Elections to coordinate a post-election risk-limiting audit annually of ballot scanner machines in use in the Commonwealth. The localities selected for the audit are to be chosen at random with every locality participating in the Department's annual audit at least once during a five-year period. The audits are required to be conducted by the local electoral boards and general registrars in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Department. The local electoral boards report the results of the audit to the Department and the Department shall submit a report on the audits to the State Board of Elections. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2018.

02/20/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/20/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1254ER)
02/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1254ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1295 Early voting; any registered voter allowed to vote early in any election in which he is qualified.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103008D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1295)
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB844-Howell) (13-Y 0-N)

SB 1302 Write-in votes; duties of local electoral boards.

Summary as passed Senate:

Write-in votes; duties of local electoral boards. Provides that when no person is elected to an office by write-in votes and the difference between the total number of votes cast for the candidate elected or the candidate elected with the fewest number of votes and the total number of write-in votes cast for that office is more than five percent of the total number of write-in votes and the number of votes cast for such candidate elected, the electoral board is required only to ascertain and the abstract of votes is required only to contain the total number of write-in votes cast for that office.

01/31/17 House: Read first time
01/31/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/31/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/14/17 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 1304 Municipal elections; local option for timing of elections, effective date.

Summary as introduced:
Local option for timing of municipal elections; effective date. Provides that the statutory authority allowing a city or town to move its local elections to the November general election date by ordinance notwithstanding a charter provision to the contrary shall be retroactively effective beginning on July 1, 2000, in keeping with the intent of the General Assembly when first granting such authority.

02/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1304ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

SB 1410 Congressional and state legislative districts; compactness standard.

Summary as introduced:
Congressional and state legislative districts; compactness standard. Requires congressional and state legislative districts to be composed of compact territory, meaning districts are not to be oddly shaped or have irregular or contorted boundaries, unless justified because the district adheres to political subdivision lines. Fingers or tendrils extending from a district core are to be avoided, as are thin and elongated districts and districts with multiple core populations connected by thin strips of land or water. The bill requires the General Assembly to employ one or more standard numerical measures of individual and average district compactness to provide an objective assessment of a districting plan's compactness, both statewide and district by district.

01/11/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100427D
01/11/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/28/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1410)
01/31/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (6-Y 8-N)

SB 1441 Absentee voting; eligibility of persons whose polling place prohibits firearms.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of persons whose polling place prohibits firearms. Entitles any person who may otherwise lawfully carry a firearm to vote absentee if his polling place is located in a building or on property where such possession is prohibited by law or is prohibited by the owner of private property.

02/06/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/06/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/06/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1441)
02/07/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/21/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 1467 Central absentee voter precincts; expedited counting of absentee ballots.

Summary as passed Senate:

Central absentee voter precincts; expedited counting of absentee ballots. Allows the officers of election at a central absentee voter precinct to begin counting those absentee ballots that are counted by hand at any time after 6:00 a.m. on the day of the election. Currently, absentee ballots may be processed at the central absentee voter precinct prior to the closing of the polls, but shall not be counted until after the polls have closed. The bill prohibits ballot count totals to be announced or transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct until after the closing of the polls and requires each officer of election to sign a statement under oath that he will not transmit any counts prior to the closing of the polls. An officer who transmits any counts prior to the closing of the polls is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

02/21/17 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB1467H1
02/21/17 House: Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 House: VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Title replaced 17105257D-H1

SB 1490 Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act; applying for and casting military-overseas ballots.

Summary as passed Senate:

Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act; applying for and casting military-overseas ballots. Requires the Commissioner of Elections to establish and supervise a pilot program to permit an active duty member of a uniformed service who has been called to duty for deployment without access to the United States mail and who is applying for or casting a military-overseas ballot to sign the military-overseas ballot application, the statement of voter accompanying the military-overseas ballot, and any other related documents using his digital signature associated with his Common Access Card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense or any replacement to the Common Access Card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense. The bill also requires the system through which a covered voter may apply for and receive voter registration materials, military-overseas ballots, and other information to be capable of accepting the submission of voted military-overseas ballots cast by any active duty member of a uniformed service who has been called to duty for deployment without access to the United States mail. The bill does not become effective unless an appropriation effectuating the purposes of the bill is included in an appropriation act passed in 2017 by the General Assembly that becomes law. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2019.

02/09/17 House: Read first time
02/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/09/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/10/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1490ES1)
02/21/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 1503 Central absentee voter precincts; expedited counting of absentee ballots.

01/18/17 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 17103941D
01/18/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1503)
01/24/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SB1467-Marsden) (14-Y 0-N)

SB 1547 Campaign finance; prohibited personal use, penalty.

Summary as introduced:
Campaign finance; prohibited personal use; penalty. Prohibits the conversion of any contributed moneys, securities, or like intangible personal property by any person to the personal use of a candidate or member of the candidate's immediate family or an intimate partner of the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family, if (i) such use yields a grossly disproportionate and unreasonable benefit to the recipient or candidate relative to the benefit realized by the candidate's campaign or public office, (ii) the fair market value of converted property grossly exceeds the benefit realized by the candidate's campaign or public office, (iii) a reasonable and prudent person would not ordinarily authorize such expenditure as beneficial to the campaign, and (iv) such use is made with a knowing, willing, reckless, or negligent disregard for the financial interests of the campaign. Complaints of alleged violations may be made by any person to the State Board of Elections. The subject of the complaint has 30 days to provide to the State Board documentation or other evidence that the use of the campaign funds was permissible. The State Board shall call a hearing if it determines, after reviewing any response made by the subject of the complaint, that the use of campaign funds was impermissible. A person found by the State Board to have willfully and knowingly violated this section shall repay to the campaign committee the amount unlawfully converted. The State Board may also assess an additional civil penalty, in an amount not to exceed the amount unlawfully converted. Complaints may be declared factually meritless by the State Board when, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the complaining party, it finds there is no credible allegation of a violation and such complaints shall be exempt from public disclosure for a period of time immediately preceding an election.

01/20/17 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 17104093D
01/20/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/30/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1547)
02/02/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)

SB 1552 Ballots; number ordered to be printed.

Summary as passed Senate:

02/16/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1552ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

SB 1567 Absentee ballots; eligibility of persons age 65 or older.

Summary as introduced:
Absentee voting; eligibility of persons age 65 or older; photo identification requirement for certain absentee voters. Entitles a person who will be age 65 or older on the date of the election for which an absentee ballot is requested to vote absentee. Such person is required to submit with his application for an absentee ballot a copy of one of the forms of photo identification required for in-person voting. Students attending a school or institution of learning who are entitled to vote absentee are also required to submit with their application a copy of one of the forms of photo identification required for in-person voting.

01/20/17 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 17103156D
01/20/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/25/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1567)
01/31/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)

SB 1571 Special elections; provisional ballots, determination of results.

Summary as introduced:
Special elections; provisional ballots; determination of results. Provides that in the case of a special election, the local electoral boards shall ascertain the results of the election, make out the abstract of votes, and make out the certificate of election regardless of any provisional ballots whose validity is yet to be determined, unless the number of outstanding provisional ballots is sufficient to change the outcome of the election. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to ascertain the results of the special election in the same manner. The bill also provides that in the case of special elections, the local electoral boards shall meet to process the provisional ballots regardless of any state or federal holiday.

02/08/17 House: Read first time
02/08/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/08/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
02/16/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/21/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SB 1581 Voter registration; verification of social security numbers.

Summary as passed Senate:

Voter registration; verification of social security numbers. Requires the general registrars to verify that the name, date of birth, and social security number provided by an applicant on the voter registration application match the information on file with the Social Security Administration or other database approved by the State Board before registering such applicant. The bill also requires the general registrars to verify annually that the name, date of birth, and social security number in the registration record of each registered voter in the registrar's jurisdiction match the information on file with the Social Security Administration or other database approved by the State Board. The State Board is authorized to approve the use of any government database to the extent required to enable each general registrar to carry out the provisions of this section and to promulgate rules for the use of such database. The Department of Elections is required to provide access to the general registrars to the Social Security Administration database and any other database approved by the State Board. The Department of Elections is further required to enter into any agreement with any federal or state agency in order to facilitate such access.

SB 1585 Form of ballot; party identification of candidates.

Summary as introduced:
Form of ballot; party identification of candidates. Provides that any candidate nominated by a political party or at a primary election shall be identified on the ballot by the name of his political party. Currently, only candidates for federal, statewide, and General Assembly offices are so identified.

02/20/17 House: Read second time
02/21/17 House: Passed by for the day
02/22/17 House: Read third time
02/22/17 House: Amendment by Delegate agreed to
02/22/17 House: Defeated by House (44-Y 54-N)

SJ 4 Constitutional amendment; Governor's term of office.

12/03/15 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16100527D
12/03/15 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/19/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 34 Constitutional amendment; Governor's term of office.

01/04/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101496D
01/04/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/19/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 50 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office.

01/06/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16102246D
01/06/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/19/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 60 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission established, criteria.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. Appointments to the 13-member Commission are to be made in the census year as follows: two each by the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the minority leader in each house, and the state chairman of each of the two political parties receiving the most votes in the prior gubernatorial election. The 12 partisan members then select the thirteenth member by a majority vote or, if they cannot agree on a selection, they certify the two names receiving the most votes to the Supreme Court of Virginia, which will name the thirteenth member. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within one month of receipt of the new census data or by April 1 of the year following the census, whichever is later, and for the House of Representatives within three months of receipt of the census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever is later. The standards to govern redistricting plans include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.

01/11/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16102044D
01/11/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/19/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 68 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission established.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission; partisan balance of districts. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission, an eight-member commission tasked with establishing the districts for the United States House of Representatives and for the Senate and the House of Delegates of the General Assembly and apportioning the members of the House of Representatives and the members of the Senate and the House of Delegates among the districts, respectively. The districts are to be drawn to reflect the voting patterns of the Commonwealth with, to the extent practicable, half of the districts more favorable than statewide totals to each of the two political parties most often receiving the most votes cast in statewide elections. The bill also provides that redistricting is to happen in 2021 and every 10 years thereafter and at no other time, unless ordered by a court.

01/12/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16102467D
01/12/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/19/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 79 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission established.

01/12/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16100928D
01/12/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/19/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (12-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 113 Constitutional amendment; term limits for members of General Assembly.

Summary as introduced:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); General Assembly; term limits. Limits members of the Senate to three full terms (12 years) and members of the House of Delegates to six full terms (12 years). The limitations apply to service for both consecutive and nonconsecutive terms. Service for a partial term does not preclude serving the allowed number of full terms. In addition to any partial term, a person may serve 12 years in each house, or a total of 24 years in the General Assembly. The limits apply to terms of service beginning on and after the start of the 2020 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

01/20/16 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 16104265D
01/20/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/02/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (9-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 119 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission established.

01/21/16 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 16104319D
01/21/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/02/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (9-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 120 Constitutional amendment; qualifications of Governor, residency requirement (first reference).

Summary as introduced:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of Governor; residency requirement. Increases from five to eight the number of years a person must have been a resident of and a registered voter in the Commonwealth in order to be eligible to the office of Governor.

01/21/16 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 16104263D
01/21/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/02/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Privileges and Elections (9-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 217 Constitutional amendment; Governor's term of office (first reference).

07/18/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Committee substitute printed 17104945D-S1
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporates SJ227 (Surovell)
01/31/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)

SJ 222 Constitutional amendment; qualifications to vote, restoration of civil rights.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights. Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the restoration of civil rights for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies who have completed service of their sentences subject to the conditions, requirements, and definitions set forth in that law. The present Constitution provides for restoration of rights by the Governor. The amendment retains the right of the Governor to restore civil rights and adds an alternative for restoration of rights pursuant to law for nonviolent felons.

08/30/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100282D
08/30/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ223-Norment) (9-Y 5-N)

SJ 223 Constitutional amendment; qualification of voters and executive clemency (first reference).

Summary as passed Senate:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualification of voters and executive clemency. Amends the authority of the Governor to remove the political disabilities of persons convicted of felonies, thus restoring their civil rights. The resolution requires the Governor to automatically remove the political disabilities of a person convicted of a felony, other than a violent felony, who has completed service of his sentence and any modification of that sentence, and has met any other conditions that may be set by the General Assembly. The Governor retains the discretion to remove the political disabilities of persons convicted of violent felonies. A person convicted of a violent felony shall become eligible for the removal of his political disabilities once he has completed (i) the payment in full of any restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed against him as a result of his conviction and (ii) service of his sentence and any modification of that sentence, including any period or condition of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, and at least five years have passed since he completed such payment and service of sentence without any new felony convictions or any misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude.

02/09/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/09/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Campaigns
02/16/17 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 3-N)
02/21/17 House: Left in Privileges and Elections

SJ 224 Constitutional amendment; General Assembly term limits (first reference).

09/07/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100367D
09/07/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (11-Y 3-N)

SJ 225 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of Governor; residency requirement.

09/07/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100375D
09/07/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (13-Y 1-N)

SJ 227 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office.

10/12/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100612D
10/12/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ217-Ebbin) (14-Y 0-N)

SJ 230 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission, criteria to redraw certain districts.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission; criteria for legislative and congressional districts. Establishes the seven-member Virginia Redistricting Commission (the Commission) to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within 30 days of receipt of the new census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever occurs later, and for the House of Representatives within 60 days of receipt of the census data or by July 1 of the year following the census, whichever occurs later. The amendment also establishes the standards to govern redistricting plans, which include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.

11/15/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100194D
11/15/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ231-Hanger) (14-Y 0-N)

SJ 231 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission, criteria to redraw certain districts.

Summary as passed Senate:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission; criteria for legislative and congressional districts. Establishes the seven-member Virginia Redistricting Commission (the Commission) to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within 30 days of receipt of the new census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever occurs later, and for the House of Representatives within 60 days of receipt of the census data or by July 1 of the year following the census, whichever occurs later. The amendment also establishes the standards to govern redistricting plans, which include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.

02/09/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/09/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/09/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/14/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (5-Y 2-N)
02/17/17 House: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 7-N)

SJ 243 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights.

12/27/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101023D
12/27/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ223-Norment) (9-Y 5-N)

SJ 253 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of voters and executive clemency.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of voters and executive clemency. Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the automatic restoration of civil rights for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies who have completed service of their sentences. The amendment retains the Governor's authority to restore the civil rights of persons convicted of violent felonies who have completed service of their sentences.

01/03/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102134D
01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N)

SJ 260 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission.

01/04/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102917D
01/04/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ231-Hanger) (14-Y 0-N)

SJ 269 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission.

01/06/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101816D
01/06/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ231-Hanger) (14-Y 0-N)

SJ 272 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights. Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the restoration of civil rights for any person who has been convicted of a felony not designated by the General Assembly as a barrier crime for these purposes and who has completed service of his sentence and paid in full any restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed against him as a result of his conviction.

01/06/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102967D
01/06/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ223-Norment) (9-Y 5-N)

SJ 274 Study; JLARC; Department of Elections; report.

Summary as introduced:
Study; JLARC; Department of Elections; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the Department of Elections. In conducting its study, JLARC is directed to (i) review the Department's operations and expenditures, including its organizational structure, compensation, staffing, productivity, and efficiency; (ii) review the operation and functionality of VERIS, the state's online voter registration system; (iii) evaluate the costs of the continuing operation and maintenance of VERIS and whether such costs could be reduced by contracting with an outside vendor; and (iv) review any other issues and make recommendations as appropriate.

01/07/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102909D
01/07/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Rules

SJ 280 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; political considerations prohibited.

Summary as introduced:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; political considerations prohibited. Prohibits electoral districts from being drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or potential candidate. The amendment also prohibits the use of political data when drawing electoral districts, except as may be necessary to ensure that racial or ethnic minorities are able to elect a preferred candidate of choice in a district drawn pursuant to the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102725D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/20/17 Senate: Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/31/17 Senate: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (SJ231-Hanger) (14-Y 0-N)

SJ 290 Constitutional amendment; criteria for electoral districts (first reference).

02/08/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/08/17 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/08/17 House: Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/14/17 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (5-Y 2-N)
02/17/17 House: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 7-N)

Counts: HB: 40 HJ: 17 SB: 47 SJ: 25