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2020 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections

Chair: R. Creigh Deeds

Date of Meeting: February 18, 2020
Time and Place: 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate/Senate Room 3, Capitol
Updated to add HB 1256

H.B. 1 Absentee voting; no excuse required.

Patron: Herring

Absentee voting; no excuse required. Permits any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he is qualified to vote. The bill removes the current list of statutory reasons under which a person may be entitled to vote by absentee ballot and removes references to those reasons from other sections of the Code. The bill incorporates HB 25, HB 208, and HB 209.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-416.1, 24.2-452, 24.2-612, 24.2-700, 24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, 24.2-702.1, 24.2-703.1, 24.2-703.2, 24.2-705.1, 24.2-705.2, 24.2-706, 24.2-709, and 24.2-1004 of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; no excuse required.

20106251D

H.B. 19 Voter identification; signed statement in lieu of required form of identification, penalty.

Patron: Lindsey

Voter identification; signed statement in lieu of required form of identification; penalty. Permits a voter who does not show one of the required forms of identification when offering to vote to sign a statement that he is the named registered voter he claims to be in order to be permitted to cast a ballot. Such statement is signed subject to felony penalties for making false statements, punishable as a Class 5 felony. A voter who does not show one of the required forms of identification and does not complete or sign the statement shall be offered a provisional ballot according to the provisions of current law. The bill adds language regarding identification requirements for certain voters subject to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. The bill incorporates HB 190 and HB 878.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-643, 24.2-653, 24.2-701, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, and 24.2-701.1, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter identification; signed statement in lieu of required form of identification; penalty.

20107618D

H.B. 57 Elections; date of June primary election.

Patron: Fowler

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.

20101716D

H.B. 88 Campaign finance; filing schedule for persons with multiple campaign committees.

Patron: Carter

Elections; campaign finance; filing schedule for persons with multiple campaign committees. Requires any person who is named as the candidate on the statement of organization for more than one campaign committee to file reports for all such committees on the same schedule as any such committee.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-947.9 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-947.10, relating to elections; campaign finance; filing schedule for persons with multiple campaign committees.

20101119D

H.B. 146 Sample ballots; color of paper of unofficial sample ballots.

Patron: Lindsey

Sample ballots; color of paper of unofficial sample ballots. Removes the restriction on unofficial sample ballots being printed on yellow paper. With this bill, unofficial sample ballots are prohibited only from being printed on white paper. The bill contains technical amendments for clarity and readability.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-622 of the Code of Virginia, relating to sample ballots; color of paper of unofficial sample ballots.

20100559D

H.B. 177 Presidential electors; National Popular Vote Compact.

Patron: Levine

Presidential electors; National Popular Vote Compact. Enters Virginia into an interstate compact known as the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote. Article II of the Constitution of the United States gives the states exclusive and plenary authority to decide the manner of awarding their electoral votes. Under the compact, Virginia agrees to award its electoral votes to the presidential ticket that receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The compact goes into effect when states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes have joined the compact. A state may withdraw from the compact; however, a withdrawal occurring within six months of the end of a President's term shall not become effective until a President or Vice President has qualified to serve the next term. This bill incorporates HB 199.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-209.1 and 24.2-209.2, relating to the presidential electors and the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Compact.

20107262D

H.B. 179 Recounts; procedure for certain ballots.

Patron: Levine

Recounts; procedure for certain ballots. Requires recount officials to segregate all ballots for which there is a question regarding the ballot's validity prior to the conclusion of the recount of each precinct. The bill provides that the recount court may not consider the validity of any ballots not set aside prior to the conclusion of the recount of each precinct.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-802, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to recounts; procedure for certain ballots.

20101013D

H.B. 186 Election day page program; central absentee voter precinct.

Patron: Simon

Election day page program; central absentee voter precinct. Removes the prohibition against an election day page program being conducted in a central absentee voter precinct.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-604.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to election day page program; central absentee voter precincts.

20100966D

H.B. 196 Employment discrimination; prohibits against electoral board member, etc., for election day service.

Patron: Gooditis

Employment discrimination; prohibited against electoral board members and assistant general registrars for election day service; penalty. Prohibits discrimination in employment against electoral board members and assistant general registrars on the basis of service on election day or at a meeting of the electoral board following the election to ascertain the results of the election. Current law prohibits such employment discrimination only on the basis of election day service and only against officers of election. A violation of the bill's provisions is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-119.1 and to repeal § 24.2-118.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to employment discrimination against electoral board members and assistant general registrars; prohibition on discrimination in employment; penalty.

20100919D

H.B. 201 Elections; same-day registration, same-day registration.

Patron: Ayala

Elections; voter registration; extended time for persons to register in person. Provides any person who is qualified to vote is entitled to register to vote in person up to and including the day of the election at the office of the general registrar in the locality in which the person resides or at the polling place for the precinct in which the person resides. Under current law, registration records close for registration purposes, whether in person or by other means, 21 days prior to a primary or general election. The bill has a delayed effective date of October 1, 2022. The bill incorporates HB 187.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-420.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to election day voter registration.

20106843D

H.B. 202 Officers of election; timing of additional training following change in law or regulation.

Patron: Tran

Officers of election; timing of additional training following change in law or regulation. Requires the additional training for officers of elections occurring after a change in an election law or regulation to take place not less than three days prior to the first election occurring in the locality after the law or regulation has taken effect. Under current law, such training is required to take place not later than three days prior to the November general election following the enactment of the law or regulation.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-115.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to officers of election; timing of additional training following change in law or regulation.

20103596D

H.B. 207 Absentee voting; no excuse required, permanent absentee voter list.

Patron: VanValkenburg

Absentee voting; no excuse; permanent absentee voter list. Permits any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he is qualified to vote. The bill removes the current list of statutory reasons under which a person may be entitled to vote by absentee ballot and removes references to those reasons from other sections of the Code. The bill also provides for a special application by which any registered voter may apply to receive absentee ballots for all elections in which he is eligible to vote. A voter on the permanent absentee voter list remains on the list until the voter requests in writing to be removed from the list, the voter's registration is canceled or placed on inactive status pursuant to law, an absentee ballot sent to the voter is returned as undeliverable, or the voter moves to a different address not in the same county or city of his registration. The provisions of the bill providing for a permanent absentee voter list do not become effective until July 1, 2021. 

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-416.1, 24.2-452, 24.2-612, 24.2-700, 24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, 24.2-702.1, 24.2-703.1, 24.2-703.2, 24.2-705.1, 24.2-705.2, 24.2-706, 24.2-709, and 24.2-1004 of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; no excuse required; permanent absentee voter list.

20102060D

H.B. 213 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification, out-of-state student identification card.

Patron: Sullivan

Voter identification; accepted forms of identification; student identification card issued by out-of-state institution of higher education. Adds to the list of acceptable forms of voter identification a valid student photo identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in any other state or territory of the United States. Current law allows students from any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth to use their student photo identification cards for purposes of voting.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-643 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter identification; accepted forms of identification; student identification card issued by out-of-state institution of higher education.

20101656D

H.B. 220 Absentee voting; postage prepaid on return envelope.

Patron: Krizek

Absentee voting; postage prepaid on return envelope. Requires the envelope provided to an absentee voter for the return of the absentee ballot to include prepaid postage.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-706, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; postage prepaid on return envelope.

20100609D

H.B. 235 Voter registration; automatic voter registration.

Patron: Cole, J.G.

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 person indicates that he is a United States citizen and is 17 years of age or older and, 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 not already registered to vote, the Department of Elections 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.

20106926D

H.B. 236 Elections, State Board of; increasing membership and terms, role and eligibility, report.

Patron: Sickles

State Board of Elections; increasing membership; Commissioner of Elections; role and eligibility; report. Increases the membership of the State Board of Elections from three members to five members. Representation is given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth at the preceding gubernatorial election, with three Board members being of the party of the Governor. Terms are initially staggered. The bill provides that a Commissioner of Elections, who acts as the principal administrative officer of the Department of Elections, shall be appointed by the Governor. Persons engaging in certain partisan activities, persons related to persons engaging in certain partisan activities, and persons related to members of the State Board are prohibited from serving as the Commissioner of Elections.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-102 and 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State Board of Elections; increasing membership and terms; Commissioner of Elections; role and eligibility; report.

20100375D

H.B. 237 Electoral boards, local; terms to begin January 1.

Patron: Sickles

Local electoral boards; terms to begin January 1. Provides for terms of local electoral board members to begin on January 1. If the results of an election have not been certified by the board or a recount of an election has not concluded, the term will expire at midnight on the day the results are certified or the recount is concluded, instead of December 31. Currently, terms begin March 1.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-106 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local electoral boards; terms to begin January 1.

20101266D

H.B. 238 Absentee voting; deadline for returning absentee ballot.

Patron: Sickles

Absentee voting; deadline for returning absentee ballot. Provides that any absentee ballot that is returned to the general registrar after the closing of the polls on election day but before noon on the third day after the election and postmarked on or before the date of the election shall be counted if the voter is found entitled to vote. The bill contains technical amendments.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-709, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; deadline for returning absentee ballot.

20101272D

H.B. 239 Absentee voting; extends deadline for applying for an absentee ballot to cast other than in person.

Patron: Sickles

Absentee voting; deadline for applying for an absentee ballot to cast other than in person. Adjusts the deadline for a voter to apply for an absentee ballot that is to be cast by mail from the seventh day prior to the election to the eleventh day prior to the election. The bill also adjusts the deadline for applications for multiple elections for uniformed and overseas voters and for emergency applications and absentee ballots for persons incapacitated or hospitalized.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-701, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 24.2-703, 24.2-705, 24.2-706, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, and 24.2-707, as it is currently effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; deadline for applying for an absentee ballot to cast other than in-person.

20101270D

H.B. 240 Absentee voting; annual applications for eligible absentee voters.

Patron: Sickles

Absentee voting; annual applications for eligible absentee voters. Provides that any person who is eligible for an absentee ballot pursuant to law and who is likely to remain so eligible for the remainder of the calendar year shall be eligible to file a special annual application to receive ballots for all elections in which he is eligible to vote in that calendar year. This application requires a statement signed by the voter that he is eligible for an absentee ballot pursuant to law and is likely to remain so eligible for the remainder of the calendar year. Under current law, such a special annual application is available to persons who are eligible to vote absentee due to a disability or illness and are likely to remain eligible to vote absentee due to such disability or illness.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-703.1, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; annual applications for eligible absentee voters.

20101466D

H.B. 242 Absentee voting; emergency voting.

Patron: Sickles

Absentee voting; emergency voting. Provides a process by which a qualified voter is permitted to vote by absentee ballot when an emergency either prevented him from applying for an absentee ballot by the deadline or will prevent him from voting in person on election day. The bill also provides for the Commissioner of Elections to take administrative action to facilitate absentee voting by those persons providing emergency or other services in an area in which a state of emergency has been declared. The bill contains technical amendments that consolidate current Code sections regarding emergency absentee voting.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-705 and 24.2-710 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 24.2-705.1 and 24.2-705.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to absentee voting; emergency voting.

20102154D

H.B. 500 Registered voters; lists provided at no charge to courts of the Commonwealth.

Patron: Krizek

Lists of registered voters; provided at no charge to courts of the Commonwealth and the United States for jury selection purposes. Directs the Department of Elections to provide, at no charge, the courts of the Commonwealth and the United States with the lists of registered voters in their districts for jury selection purposes no more than two times in a 12-month period. At any other time in the same 12-month period, the lists shall be provided for a reasonable price.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-405 of the Code of Virginia, relating to lists of registered voters; provided at no charge to courts of the Commonwealth and the United States for jury selection purposes.

20102693D

H.B. 506 County manager plan; election of board members by instant runoff voting.

Patron: Hope

County manager plan; election of board members by instant runoff voting. Provides that, in a county operating under the county manager plan of government (Arlington County), elections to nominate candidates for and to elect candidates to the board of supervisors may be conducted by instant runoff voting, which the bill describes as the method of casting and tabulating votes in which (i) voters rank candidates in order of preference, (ii) tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds in which last-place candidates are defeated, and (iii) the candidate or candidates with the most votes in the final round are elected. The bill provides that any costs incurred by the Department of Elections related to technological changes necessary for the implementation of ranked choice voting pursuant to the bill shall be charged to the localities exercising the option to proceed with ranked choice voting.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-705 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-705.1, relating to county manager plan; election of board members by instant runoff voting.

20100883D

H.B. 539 Elections, State Board.

Patron: Carr

State Board of Elections; activities related to the supervision of local electoral boards and general registrars. Requires that the State Board of Elections' supervision of the work of the local electoral boards and general registrars ensure that major risks to election integrity are identified and assessed and addressed as necessary to promote election uniformity, legality, and purity. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State Board of Elections; activities related to the supervision of local electoral boards and general registrars.

20102244D

H.B. 540 Elections administration; Department of Elections to employ a Director of Operations.

Patron: Carr

Elections administration; Department of Elections; position of Director of Operations. Directs the Department of Elections to employ a Director of Operations, who will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations at the Department and ensuring (i) fulfillment of the Department's mission and responsibilities; (ii) compliance with state and federal election laws and regulations; and (iii) compliance with the Department's business, administrative, and financial policies. The bill provides that the Director of Operations position is a full-time classified position subject to the Virginia Personnel Act. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections administration; Department of Elections; position of Director of Operations.

20102246D

H.B. 849 Political campaign advertisements; disclosure requirements, advertisements placed, etc.

Patron: Simon

Political campaign advertisements; disclosure requirements; advertisements placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform. Subjects any message that is placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform to the same disclosure requirements to which print media, television, and radio advertisements are subject. The bill defines "online platform" as any public-facing website, web application, or digital application, including a social network, ad network, or search engine, that sells advertisements. The bill expands the definition of "print media" to include any non-video or non-audio message placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform, subjects advertisements in video format that are placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform to the same disclosure requirements to which television advertisements are subject, and subjects advertisements in audio format that are placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform to the same disclosure requirements to which radio advertisements are subject.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-955, 24.2-955.1, 24.2-957, and 24.2-958 of the Code of Virginia, relating to political campaign advertisements; applicability of disclosure requirements to advertisements placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform.

20101292D

H.B. 1053 Voting systems; voter-verifiable paper record.

Patron: Levine

Voting systems; voter-verifiable paper record. Requires any electronic voting system approved by the State Board of Elections to retain each printed ballot cast. Printed ballots are currently defined to include machine-readable ballots, and the bill amends the definition of a machine-readable ballot to mean a tangible ballot that is marked by a voter or by a system or device operated by voter, is available for verification by the voter at the time the ballot is cast, and is then fed into and scanned by a separate counting machine. The bill amends the requirements for sealing and delivering ballots after an election to include printed ballots; current law only addresses paper ballots.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-101, 24.2-629, and 24.2-668 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voting systems; voter-verifiable paper record.

20107096D

H.B. 1061 Campaign finance; committee depositories and reimbursement.

Patron: Adams, D.M.

Elections; campaign finance; committee depositories and reimbursement. Clarifies that committee treasurers may pay expenses by electronic debit drawn on a designated committee depository. Current law only allows for a check drawn on such depository. The bill also clarifies that reimbursements may be made for electronic debit payments made by an authorized committee representative. The bill contains technical amendments.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-947.2, 24.2-949.4, 24.2-950.3, 24.2-951.2, and 24.2-952.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; campaign finance; committee depositories and reimbursement.

20101981D

H.B. 1062 Political campaign advertisements; definition of campaign telephone calls, etc.

Patron: Adams, D.M.

Elections; political campaign advertisements; definition of campaign telephone calls and telephone call; text messages. Adds text messages to the definition of campaign telephone calls. The bill also defines "telephone call" as any single telephone call or text message, electronic or otherwise, that when combined with other telephone calls constitutes campaign telephone calls.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-955.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; political campaign advertisements; definition of campaign telephone calls and telephone call; text messages.

20101982D

H.B. 1086 Voting; restrictions on the basis of race.

Patron: Price

Voting restrictions on the basis of race. Repeals several Acts of Assembly that implemented and enforced a state poll tax and provided for separate registration records on the basis of race.

A BILL to repeal Chapter 346 of the Acts of Assembly of 1903, Chapter 130 of the Acts of Assembly of 1908, and Chapters 216 and 224 of the Acts of Assembly of 1950, relating to voting restrictions; poll taxes; registration records separated on the basis of race.

20102511D

H.B. 1103 Ranked choice voting; elections for local governing bodies, local option pilot program.

Patron: Hudson

Ranked choice voting; elections for local governing bodies; local option pilot program. Provides that elections for local governing bodies may be conducted by ranked choice voting, which the bill defines as the method of casting and tabulating votes in which (i) voters rank candidates in order of preference, (ii) tabulation proceeds in rounds in each of which either a candidate or candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated, (iii) votes for voters' next-ranked candidates are transferred from elected or defeated candidates, and (iv) tabulation ends when the number of candidates elected equals the number of offices to be filled. The bill allows any local governing body to decide to conduct such election by ranked choice voting and requires any such decision to be made in consultation with the local electoral board and general registrar and by a majority vote of the governing body. The bill authorizes the State Board of Elections to promulgate regulations for the proper and efficient administration of elections determined by ranked choice voting. The bill provides that any costs incurred by the Department of Elections related to technological changes necessary for the implementation of ranked choice voting pursuant to the bill shall be charged to the localities exercising the option to proceed with ranked choice voting. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021, and sunsets on July 1, 2031.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-673.1, relating to ranked choice voting; elections for local governing bodies; local option pilot program.

20101509D

H.B. 1238 Political campaign advertisements; print media requirements.

Patron: Wilt

Elections; political campaign advertisements; print media requirements. Changes the requirement that print media disclosures be displayed in a minimum font size of seven point to a requirement that such disclosures be displayed in a font size proportionate to the size of the advertisement. The bill tasks the State Board of Elections with creating standards for meeting the requirement that disclosure statements be displayed in a conspicuous manner in a size proportionate to the size of the advertisement and requires such standards to be promulgated no later than July 1, 2021, with enforcement delayed until January 1, 2024. The provisions of the bill affecting regulants also have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024. Print media advertisements paid for or distributed prior to July 1, 2024, will not be subject to the State Board of Elections regulations promulgated pursuant to the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-956 and 24.2-956.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; political campaign advertisements; print media requirements.

20102971D

H.B. 1256 Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission; established.

Patron: Price

Redistricting; Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission; standards and criteria. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission (the Commission), a statutory legislative commission tasked with proposing districts for the United States House of Representatives and for the Senate and the House of Delegates of the General Assembly that adhere to certain constitutional and statutory criteria and that will be submitted for consideration and adoption by the General Assembly. The Commission will consist of eight legislative commissioners and eight citizen commissioners. The legislative commissioners consist of four members of the Senate of Virginia and four members of the House of Delegates, with equal representation given to the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members in their respective houses. The citizen commissioners are chosen by a selection committee consisting of five retired judges of the circuit courts of Virginia, from lists submitted to the selection committee by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the leader in the House of Delegates of the political party having the next highest number of members in the House of Delegates, the President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia, and the leader in the Senate of the political party having the next highest number of members in the Senate. The bill contains eligibility requirements for the citizen commissioners, including restrictions on holding or having held partisan national or state public office. As part of the application process for service on the Commission, the Division of Legislative Services acts as a repository for applications submitted by interested persons and is tasked with screening out applicants who are ineligible or submit incomplete applications. The applications of the citizen candidates selected by political leadership and submitted for consideration to the selection committee are public records.

The bill also directs the Division of Legislative Services to provide staff support to the Commission in the redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts. The Commission is required to submit to the General Assembly plans of districts within certain time periods, and the bill sets out criteria by which the districts are to be drawn, including equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, communities of interest, contiguity, and compactness. The bill prohibits a map of districts from unduly favoring or disfavoring any political party when considered on a statewide basis.

The bill provides for the preparation and use of adjusted population data for redistricting and reapportionment purposes to reflect the reallocation of persons incarcerated in federal, state, and local correctional facilities. Persons incarcerated in such a facility whose address at the time of incarceration was in the Commonwealth are to be counted at that address and persons incarcerated in such a facility whose address at the time of incarceration was outside of the Commonwealth or cannot be determined are to be counted at the facility.

Provisions to ensure public participation in the redistricting process are included, including requirements that meetings are video recorded and transcribed and the archived videos and transcripts be made available on the Commission's website. The bill also requires a series of public hearings to be conducted prior receipt of Census data and at least public hearings to be held prior to voting to submit any plan to the General Assembly.

The General Assembly may reject initial plans developed by the Commission and provide information to the Commission regarding the reasons for rejecting such plans. The General Assembly is limited in its ability to amend plans until multiple plans have been submitted and rejected.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-304.1, 24.2-306, 24.2-309.2, 30-263, 30-264, 30-265, and 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 60, consisting of sections numbered 30-376 through 30-386, and by adding a section numbered 53.1-5.2, relating to redistricting; Virginia Redistricting Commission; congressional and state legislative districts; standards and criteria; population data.

20107764D

H.B. 1268 Constitutional amendment; personal property tax exemption for motor vehicle of a disable veteran.

Patron: Helmer

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); personal property tax exemption; motor vehicle owned by a veteran who is disabled. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2020, election to approve or reject a personal property tax exemption for a motor vehicle that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the armed forces of the United States or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability.

A BILL to provide for the submission to the voters of a proposed amendment to Section 6 of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to personal property tax exemption; motor vehicle owned by a veteran who is disabled.

20102109D

H.B. 1285 Local electoral boards; office vacated if board member ceases to be qualified voter of county, etc.

Patron: Wilt

Local electoral boards; office vacated if board member ceases to be qualified voter of county or city. Provides that if a member of a local electoral board ceases to be a qualified voter of the county or city for which he was appointed, his office is vacated and such vacancy is to be filled as provided by law. The bill clarifies that a person must be a qualified voter of the county or city in order to be eligible to serve as an electoral board member of that county or city.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-106 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local electoral boards; office vacated if board member ceases to be qualified voter of county or city.

20100224D

H.B. 1362 General registrars; certification requirement, removal from office.

Patron: Aird

General registrars; certification requirement; removal from office. Provides for a certification program to be conducted by the State Board of Elections for the general registrars. The bill requires each general registrar to complete the certification program and receive his certification within the 12 months following initial appointment or any subsequent reappointment; failure to do so shall result in removal from office. The State Board is authorized to grant a waiver requested by a local electoral board to extend, on a case-by-case basis, the 12-month deadline. The State Board is required to develop a training curriculum for the certification program and standards for completing the program and maintaining certification, including required hours of annual training. No fees shall be charged to a general registrar for any required training as part of the certification program.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-103, 24.2-109, 24.2-111, 24.2-114, and 24.2-115.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to general registrars; certification requirement; removal from office.

20102712D

H.B. 1402 Polling place procedures; election officer shall verify with voter his full name and address, etc.

Patron: Ward

Polling place procedures; residence address of voter not announced. Removes the requirement that the officer of election audibly repeat the residence address of a voter offering to vote. The bill provides that the officer of the election is required to verify with the voter his full name and address and to audibly repeat the voter's full name.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-643 of the Code of Virginia, relating to polling place procedures; residence address of voter not announced.

20102067D

H.B. 1421 Pollbooks; requirement for printed copies of pollbooks.

Patron: Carter

Pollbooks; requirement for printed copies of pollbooks. Requires general registrars to produce and distribute printed copies of pollbooks to each precinct for any primary and general election. The bill also contains technical adjustments to reflect the current administrative responsibilities of the Department of Elections.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-610 and 24.2-611 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pollbooks; requirement for printed copies of pollbooks.

20102714D

H.B. 1556 Political campaign advertisements; disclosures, authorization statement.

Patron: Watts

Political campaign advertisements; disclosures; authorization statement, name of candidate as it appears on the ballot; name of candidate campaign committee as it appears on statement of organization. Requires that when a disclosure statement for any political campaign advertisement includes the candidate's name for the purpose of meeting the disclosure requirement, the name must be the same as it appears on the ballot. When a disclosure statement includes the name of a campaign committee, the name must be the same as it appears on the statement of organization. The bill also requires candidates, when filing a statement of qualification, to state how he would like his name to appear on the ballot; currently, this is optional. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021, and further provides that any print media advertisement paid for or distributed prior to the effective date of the bill shall not be subject to the requirements of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-501, 24.2-956, 24.2-956.1, 24.2-957.1, 24.2-958.1, and 24.2-959 of the Code of Virginia, relating to political campaign advertisements; disclosures; authorization statement, name of candidate as it appears on the ballot; name of candidate campaign committee as it appears on statement of organization.

20107246D

H.J.R. 103 Constitutional amendment; personal property tax exemption for motor vehicle of a disabled veteran.

Patron: Helmer

Constitutional amendment (second resolution); personal property tax exemption; motor vehicle owned by a veteran who is disabled. Provides that one motor vehicle of a veteran who has a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability shall be exempt from state and local taxes. The amendment provides that only automobiles and pickup trucks qualify for the exemption. Additionally, the exemption is only applicable on the date the motor vehicle is acquired or the effective date of the amendment, whichever is later, and is not applicable for any period of time prior to the effective date of the amendment.

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to personal property tax exemption; motor vehicle owned by a veteran who is disabled.

20101916D

S.J.R. 110 Confirming Governor's appointments; February 3.

Patron: Deeds

Confirming Governor's appointments; February 3. Confirming appointments of certain persons made by Governor Ralph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly February 3, 2020.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated to the General Assembly February 3, 2020.

20107613D