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1999 SESSION

996519758
SENATE BILL NO. 1125
Offered January 21, 1999
A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-444 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter registration records open to public inspection.
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Patrons-- Whipple, Hanger, Howell, Lambert and Ticer; Delegates: Keating and Van Landingham
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Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 24.2-444 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 24.2-444. Registration records open to public inspection.

A. Except for records relating to the declinations to register to vote or the identity of a voter registration agency through which a particular voter is registered, registration records shall be kept and preserved by the general registrar and shall be opened to inspection by any registered voter person at the office of the general registrar when the office is open for business. The registration records shall be available for inspection by appointment, made by the general registrar for any reasonable time requested. No voter registration record containing an individual's social security number shall be made available for inspection or copying by anyone. The general registrar, in his discretion, may respond to a written request for information from the registration records by letter or facsimile response.

B. The general registrars shall maintain for at least two years and shall make available for public inspection and copying and, where available, photocopying at a reasonable cost, all records concerning the implementation of programs and activities conducted for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency of the registration records, except to the extent that the records relate to the declination to register to vote or the identity of a voter registration agency through which any particular voter is registered. The records maintained shall include lists of the names and addresses of all persons to whom notices are sent pursuant to §§ 24.2-428 and 24.2-428.1 and information concerning whether each person has responded to the notice as of the date that inspection of the records is made.

C. The State Board shall provide to each general registrar, for each precinct in his county or city, lists of registered voters for inspection. The lists shall contain the name, addresses, date of birth, gender and all election districts applicable to each registered voter. New lists shall be provided not less than two times each year, and supplements containing additions, deletions and changes shall be provided not less than (i) weekly during the sixty days preceding any general election and (ii) monthly at other times. Notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the retention of records, upon receipt of any new complete list, the general registrar shall destroy the obsolete list and its supplements.