SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2017 SESSION

17101096D
SENATE BILL NO. 1256
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled January 10, 2017
A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-416.6 of the Code of Virginia, relating to third-party registration groups; registration and disclosure.
----------
Patron-- Ebbin
----------
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 24.2-416.6 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 24.2-416.6. Third-party registration groups; registration and disclosure requirements.

A. Prior to engaging in any voter registration activities, any individual or organization that will be distributing and collecting voter registration applications for delivery or transmittal to a general registrar or other appropriate entity authorized to receive completed applications shall be required to register with the Department of Elections as a third-party registration group. The Department shall issue a unique identification number to each such individual or organization. Persons volunteering with or employed by a third-party registration group shall be assigned by the group's organizer a unique identification number, which shall be in a format approved by the State Board. Each group shall maintain a record of all volunteers and employees engaging in voter registration activities on behalf of the group. Such record shall include the name and contact information of each such person and his unique identification number. Each person engaging in voter registration activities shall include on the voter registration applications he collects the identification number issued by the Department and, in the case of a volunteer or employee of a third-party registration group, the identification number assigned to him by his group's organizer. No application for registration shall be rejected for the failure of the third-party registration group to put such identification number on the application.

B. Whenever the Department of Elections, local electoral board, or general registrar's office furnishes registers individuals or groups multiple copies of the voter registration application as a third-party registration group, it shall provide accompanying instructions that contain a copy and explanation of § 24.2-1002.01 and the penalty for destruction of, or failure to mail or deliver, voter registration applications that have been signed. Any like instructions furnished to the public by whatever means shall contain a copy and explanation of § 24.2-1002.01 and the penalty for destruction of, or failure to mail or deliver, voter registration applications. When obtaining 25 or more voter registration applications, such individuals or groups shall be required to register with and provide to the Department, local electoral board, or general registrar's office such information as required by the Department. Such individuals or agents representing a group Any person engaging in voter registration activities pursuant to this section shall be required to receive training as approved by the State Board prior to engaging in such voter registration activities and sign a sworn affidavit on a form prescribed by the State Board attesting that such individuals or organizations he will abide by all Virginia laws and rules regarding the registration of voters.