SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2001 SESSION

015504564
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 447
Offered January 19, 2001
Proposing an amendment to Section 3 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to the right to vote and the voting process.
----------
Patron-- Whipple
----------
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
----------

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:

Amend Section 3 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:

ARTICLE II
FRANCHISE AND OFFICERS

Section 3. Method of voting.

In The right to vote is a fundamental right, and in elections by the people, the following safeguards shall be maintained. Voting shall be by ballot or by machines voting equipment for receiving, recording, and counting votes cast. No ballot or list of candidates upon any voting machine equipment shall bear any distinguishing mark or symbol, other than words identifying political party affiliation; and their form, including the offices to be filled and the listing of candidates or nominees, shall be as uniform as is practicable throughout the Commonwealth or smaller governmental unit in which the election is held.

The General Assembly shall provide by law for uniformity, accuracy, and reliability as nearly as is practicable in the voting equipment used in the conduct of elections throughout the Commonwealth and for appropriations by the state to pay for the costs of such voting equipment.

In elections other than primary elections, provision shall be made whereby votes may be cast for persons other than the listed candidates or nominees. Secrecy in casting votes shall be maintained, except as provision may be made for assistance to handicapped voters, but the ballot box or voting machine equipment shall be kept in public view and shall not be opened, nor the ballots canvassed nor the votes counted, in secret. Votes may be cast in person or by absentee ballot as provided by law.