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2019 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections

Chairman: Jill Holtzman Vogel

Clerk: Hobie Lehman
Staff: Meg Lamb
Date of Meeting: January 15, 2019
Time and Place: 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate / Senate Room 3

S.B. 1002

Patron: Chase

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.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-202, 24.2-203, 24.2-542, 24.2-542.1, and 24.2-673 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electors for President and Vice President; allocation of electoral votes by congressional district.

19100065D

S.B. 1016

Patron: Chase

Form of ballot; optional party identification of certain candidates. Allows a candidate for a constitutional office who has been nominated by a political party or in a primary election to choose whether to be identified on the ballot by the name of his political party.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-613 of the Code of Virginia, relating to form of ballot; optional party identification of certain candidates.

19100069D

S.B. 1018

Patron: Chase

Review of voter assignments in districts throughout the Commonwealth. Directs each county, city, and town to review the assignment of voters within its jurisdiction to ensure that voters are assigned to the correct districts. The electoral board and general registrar of each county, city, or town shall conduct this review by comparing the information in the voter registration system with the boundaries of the districts and precincts set out in a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of the locality and shall make corrections to incorrect assignments as necessary, assisted by the State Board of Elections upon request. The bill requires this review to be completed not later than the 2019 November general election. After the conclusion of its review and after making any necessary corrections, each locality is required to submit to the State Board a report of the results of its review and any corrections to voter assignments that were made. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to report the statewide results to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 2020 Session.

A BILL to direct a review of the district assignment of voters throughout the Commonwealth.

19100071D

S.B. 1038

Patron: Peake


Voter registration; verification of social security numbers; provisional registration status. 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 in the Social Security Administration database or other database approved by the State Board of Elections (State Board) before registering such applicant. If the information provided by the applicant does not match the information in such a database, the applicant (i) is provisionally registered to vote and notified as to what steps are needed to be fully registered to vote and (ii) is permitted to vote by provisional ballot, but such ballot shall not be counted until the voter presents certain information. The bill also requires the general registrars to verify annually no later than August 1 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 and, in accordance with current law, to initiate the cancellation of the registration of any voter whose registration record information does not match the database information. 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 measure and to promulgate rules for the use of such database. The Department of Elections is required to provide to the general registrars access 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 to facilitate such access.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-653 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 24.2-418.01 and 24.2-653.2, relating to voter registration; verification of social security numbers; provisional registration status.

19100267D

S.B. 1042

Patron: Marsden

Voter registration; notification of denial. Requires the general registrars to notify a person whose registration has been denied within 14 days of the denial and provides that a person denied registration may appeal such denial by filing a petition within 10 days of being notified of the denial. Currently, the law simply requires that such notice be made promptly and that the appeal be filed within 10 days after the denial.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-114 and 24.2-422 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter registration; notification of denial.

19101184D

S.B. 1051

Patron: Peake

Precincts; wholly contained within single election district. Requires each precinct to be wholly contained within a single congressional or state legislative district, except where splitting a precinct among two or more districts is necessary to ensure the population of each district is as nearly equal to the population of every other district as practicable. This requirement is in addition to the requirement that county, city, and town precincts established by the respective governing bodies are wholly contained within an election district used for the election of one or more members of the governing body or school board.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-305.1, relating to precincts; required to be wholly contained within single election district.

19101144D

S.B. 1063

Patron: Marsden


Voter registration; automatic voter registration. Provides for the automatic electronic transmission by the Department of Motor Vehicles to the Department of Elections of certain information for any person coming into an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or accessing its website in order to (i) apply for, replace, or renew a driver's license, (ii) apply for, replace, or renew a special identification card, or (iii) change an address on an existing driver's license or special identification card if the Department of Motor Vehicles records indicate that he (a) is a United States citizen, (b) is 17 years of age or older, and (c) at the time of the transaction does not decline to have his information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes. The option to decline to have his information so transmitted shall be presented at the time of one of the specified transactions with the Department of Motor Vehicles and shall be accompanied by a warning that intentionally making a materially false statement during the transaction is punishable under Virginia law as a felony. Upon receipt of the information collected to ensure that the person meets all voter registration eligibility requirements, the Department of Elections is required to determine whether the person is already registered to vote. If the person is already registered to vote, the Department of Elections is required to take certain steps to update the voter's registration records. If the person is not already registered to vote, the Department of Elections is required to verify that the person meets all voter eligibility requirements and, if so finding, is required to transmit the information to the appropriate general registrar. The bill repeals the requirement that the Department of Motor Vehicles offer, accept, receive, and send voter registration applications.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-410.1, 24.2-412, 24.2-413, 24.2-415.1, 24.2-418, and 24.2-653 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-411.3; and to repeal § 24.2-411.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to automatic voter registration.

19101341D

S.B. 1087

Patron: Obenshain


Election districts; requirements for precincts; remedying split precincts. Requires counties, cities, and towns to adjust local election district lines to coincide with congressional or state legislative district lines established by the General Assembly. Precincts are required to be wholly contained within a single congressional district, Senate district, House of Delegates district, or local election district, and local governing bodies are directed to establish precinct boundaries immediately after the completion of the General Assembly's decennial redistricting so that each precinct is so wholly contained. The bill provides that if a locality is unable to comply with this requirement it shall apply to the State Board of Elections for a waiver to administer a split precinct and the State Board may grant that waiver or direct the locality to create a precinct with fewer than the required number of registered voters, as it deems appropriate.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-304.1, 24.2-307, and 24.2-308 of the Code of Virginia, relating to election districts; requirements for precincts; remedying split precincts.

19102401D

S.B. 1243

Patron: Reeves

Elections; date of June primary election. Changes the date of the primary election held in June from the second Tuesday in June to the third Tuesday in June. The bill also changes candidate filing deadlines to reflect the change of date.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-311, 24.2-503, 24.2-507, 24.2-510, 24.2-515, and 24.2-515.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; date of June primary election.

19103147D

S.B. 1284

Patron: Barker

County and city precincts; required to be wholly contained within election districts; waiver for administration of split precinct. Requires each county and city precinct to be wholly contained within a single congressional district, Senate district, House of Delegates district, or local election district. The governing body of each county and city is required to establish its precincts immediately following the completion of the decennial redistricting by the General Assembly so that each precinct is wholly contained as required. If a governing body is unable to establish a precinct with the minimum number of registered voters without splitting the precinct between two or more congressional districts, Senate districts, House of Delegates districts, or local election districts, it is required to apply to the State Board of Elections for a waiver to administer a split precinct. The State Board is authorized to grant the waiver or to direct the establishment of a precinct with less than the minimum number of registered voters as permitted by current law.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-307 of the Code of Virginia, relating to county and city precincts; required to be wholly contained within election districts; waiver for administration of split precinct.

19101561D

S.B. 1453

Patron: Vogel

Elections; date of June primary election. Changes the date of the primary election held in June from the second Tuesday in June to the third Tuesday in June. The bill also changes candidate filing deadlines to reflect the change of date.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-311, 24.2-503, 24.2-507, 24.2-510, 24.2-515, and 24.2-515.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; date of June primary election.

19100852D

S.B. 1577

Patron: Suetterlein

Elections; form of ballot; ballot order. Requires that on any ballot all offices to be elected shall appear before any questions presented to the voters.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-613 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; form of ballot; ballot order.

19101824D

S.J.R. 275

Patron: Chase

Reaffirming equal protection under the law. Reaffirms that all persons residing in Virginia are afforded equal protection under the law. The resolution cites numerous guarantees of equality that currently exist in both federal and state law while refuting the necessity, utility, and viability of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Reaffirming that all persons residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia are afforded equal protection under the law.

19103264D

S.J.R. 292

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments; May 17. Confirms appointments of certain persons made by Governor Ralph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly May 17, 2018.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated May 17, 2018.

19100025D

S.J.R. 293

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments; June 1 and June 13. Confirms appointments of agency heads and certain persons made by Governor Ralph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly June 1, 2018, and June 13, 2018.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated to the General Assembly June 1, 2018, and June 13, 2018.

19100040D

S.J.R. 294

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments; August 1. Confirms appointments of agency heads and certain persons made by Governor Ralph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly August 1, 2018.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated August 1, 2018.

19100268D

S.J.R. 295

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments; October 1. Confirms appointments of certain persons made by Governor Ralph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly October 1, 2018.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated to the General Assembly October 1, 2018.

19100679D

S.J.R. 296

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments; December 1. Confirms appointments of certain persons made by Governor Ralph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly December 1, 2018.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated to the General Assembly December 1, 2018.

19102508D