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2013 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
Subcommittee Campaigns and Elections

Vogel (Chairman), Howell, Martin, Edwards, Petersen, Carrico, Garrett

Clerk: Maribeth Turner, Jocelyn Lance
Staff: M. Spain, D. Cotter, J. Austin
Date of Meeting: January 16, 2013
Time and Place: Wednesday, 10:00 AM, 3rd Floor West Conference Room
UPDATED: ROOM CHANGE, please note

S.B. 690 Presidential elections and primaries; petition requirements.

Patron: Black

Presidential elections and primaries; petition requirements. Reduces the number of signatures required for groups other than the major parties to gain access to the presidential election ballot from 10,000 to 5,000 signatures in the Commonwealth and from 400 to 200 signatures in each congressional district. The bill makes similar reductions to 5,000 and 200 in the number of signatures required for a person to qualify for a presidential primary ballot.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-543 and 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia, relating to presidential elections and primaries; petition requirements.

13100089D

S.B. 719 Polling place procedures; voter identification requirements.

Patron: Black

Elections; polling place procedures; voter identification requirements. Removes several items from the list of acceptable identification documents that a voter must present when voting at the polls on election day: a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck that shows the name and address of the voter. These documents continue to be valid identification for certain first-time voters at federal elections who are required to show identification under the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-643 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; polling place procedures; voter identification requirements.

13101225D

S.B. 723 Electoral College; State's electoral votes shall be allocated by congressional district.

Patron: Carrico

Electoral College. Provides that the Commonwealth's electoral votes shall be allocated by congressional district. Receipt by a slate of presidential electors of the highest number of votes in a congressional district constitutes the election of the congressional district elector of that slate. Receipt by a slate of electors of the highest number of votes in a majority of congressional districts constitutes the election of the two at-large electors of that slate. In the event no slate receives the highest number of votes in a majority of districts, receipt by a slate of the highest number of votes statewide shall constitute election of the two at-large electors of that slate.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-202, 24.2-203, 24.2-542, 24.2-542.1, 24.2-543, and 24.2-673 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electors for President and Vice President.

13100996D

S.B. 739 Mechanical and electronic voting devices; number required.

Patron: Petersen

Voting devices; number required. Provides that there shall be at least one voting device for each 500 registered voters in a precinct. The current requirement is for one device for each 750 registered voters.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-627 of the Code of Virginia, relating to required number of mechanical and electronic voting devices.

13101183D

S.B. 793 Solicitation of election fraud; penalty.

Patron: Garrett

Solicitation of election fraud; penalty. Makes it a Class 6 felony to solicit five or fewer violations of the election law provisions governing illegal voting and illegal registration activities and a Class 5 felony to solicit more than five such violations.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-1004.1, relating to solicitation of election fraud; penalty.

13100713D

S.B. 802 Electoral boards; meetings.

Patron: Garrett

Electoral boards; meetings. Provides that a telephone call between two board members in preparation for a meeting shall not constitute a meeting for Virginia Freedom of Information Act purposes if the discussion otherwise would not constitute a meeting.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-107 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electoral boards; meetings.

13101215D

S.B. 805 Elections; costs of primaries.

Patron: Garrett

Elections; costs of primaries. Provides that the state will reimburse the localities for the costs of primary elections as funded by the general appropriation act.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-518 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; costs of primaries.

13101210D

S.B. 806 Presidential primaries; localities shall be reimbursed by State for all costs incurred.

Patron: Garrett

Presidential primary costs. Provides that localities shall be reimbursed by the state for all costs incurred in conducting the presidential primary.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia, relating to presidential primaries.

13101211D

S.B. 906 Vote centers; pilot program.

Patron: Deeds

Vote centers; pilot program. Authorizes the State Board of Elections to provide for a pilot program in which localities may establish vote centers for use in primary elections instead of having to operate a polling place for every precinct in the locality. A vote center will consist of a location where voters from two or more designated precincts may vote. The State Board shall publish a report on the program by August 15 of any year in which a vote center is used. The provisions of the bill expire on December 31, 2016.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-101 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-307.1, relating to vote centers; pilot program.

13101722D

S.B. 957 Electoral boards; meetings.

Patron: Obenshain

Electoral boards, meetings. Provides that electoral boards need to meet the first week of February only in the year in which terms of officers of election expire and new officers must be appointed. Electoral boards are currently required to meet during the first week of February each year.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-107 and 24.2-115 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electoral boards and officers of election; required meetings.

13102807D

S.B. 958 Voter registration; final day of registration and mail registration application.

Patron: Obenshain

Voter registration; final day of registration and mail registration application. Provides that the principal office of the registrar and other registration sites shall close for registration purposes at 5:00 p.m. on the final day for registration before an election. The same deadline shall apply to receiving mail registration, other than applications returned through the United States Postal Service.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-416.4 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-414.1, relating to closing time of registration sites and mail registration deadline on final day of registration.

13102630D

S.B. 963 Officers of election; multiple precincts.

Patron: Ebbin

Officers of election; multiple precincts. Provides that the local electoral board may designate officers of election who may work in more than one precinct throughout election day if any or all of such precincts are located in the same building.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-115.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to officers of elections; multiple precincts.

13101017D

S.B. 968 Absentee ballots; officers of election shall not reject ballot if middle name is not on envelope.

Patron: Ebbin

Absentee ballots. Provides that officers of election shall not reject an absentee ballot on the basis that the voter failed to include a middle name or initial on the ballot envelope if such failure is not material to determining whether the individual is entitled to vote absentee.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-711 of the Code of Virginia, relating to duties of officers of election; absentee ballots.

13101144D

S.B. 989 Vote centers; Board of Elections to establish pilot program.

Patron: Miller

Vote centers; pilot program. Authorizes the State Board of Elections to provide for a pilot program in no more than 10 localities in which localities may establish vote centers for use in elections instead of having to operate a polling place for every precinct in the locality. A vote center will consist of a location where voters from two or more designated precincts may vote. The State Board shall submit a report on the program by July 1, 2014, to the House and Senate Privileges and Elections Committees. The provisions of the bill expire on July 1, 2014.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-101 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-307.1, relating to vote centers; pilot program.

13101457D

S.B. 1008 Voter registration; registration activities by third parties.

Patron: Stanley

Voter registration; registration activities by third parties. Requires individuals and groups conducting voter registration drives to register with the State Board of Elections or local offices, provide information as required by the State Board, receive training, and execute a sworn affidavit that they will abide by all Virginia voter registration laws and rules. The bill also prohibits pre-populating registration applications with information unless directed by the applicant to do so. Finally, the bill reduces the time limit for mailing or delivering such completed applications from 15 to 10 days.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-416.3, 24.2-416.6, 24.2-418, and 24.2-1002.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter registration; activities by third parties.

13101454D