SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2016 SESSION

16101891D
HOUSE BILL NO. 937
Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled January 12, 2016
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-307.1, relating to vote centers; pilot program.
----------
Patrons-- Wilt and Simon
----------
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 24.2-307.1 as follows:

§ 24.2-307.1. Requirements for county and city vote centers; pilot program.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Vote center" means the structure at which any qualified voter who is a resident of the vote center precinct may vote in a June primary election.

"Vote center precinct" means the territory established by a county or city pursuant to the pilot program, to be served by one or more vote centers.

B. The State Board shall be authorized to establish pilot programs in one or more counties or cities permitting the use of vote centers in June primary elections, in order to study the efficacy and cost savings of vote centers in such elections. The State Board shall promulgate guidelines for vote center selection criteria and administrative procedures to be followed by any county or city applying to participate in the vote center pilot program.

C. The governing body of a county or city applying to participate in the pilot program shall, subject to the unanimous consent of the local electoral board, submit to the State Board a plan for its participation in the pilot program. Any such plan shall include:

1. The number of vote center precincts to be established in the county or city and the boundaries of such precincts; and

2. The number of vote centers to be established in each vote center precinct and the location of each such vote center. In selecting the number of vote centers to be established, the plan shall provide for (i) no less than one vote center for each 25,000 registered voters in the vote center precinct and (ii) no less than one vote center per 400 square miles of the vote center precinct.

The governing body of any county or city whose plan for participation in the vote center pilot program has been unanimously approved by the State Board shall establish such vote center precincts and vote centers by ordinance.

D. The provisions of § 24.2-307 shall not apply to the vote center precincts established for purposes of participation in the pilot program. The provisions of subsection A of § 24.2-310 shall not apply to the vote centers established for purposes of participation in the pilot program, but all provisions of this title governing polling places shall apply to such vote centers unless otherwise provided in this section.

E. The Department of Elections shall publish a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program by August 15 of any year in which one or more counties or cities participate in the pilot program.

2. That the provisions of this act shall expire on December 31, 2020.