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2015 SESSION

15103197D
SENATE BILL NO. 1418
Offered January 23, 2015
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered §§ 24.2-506.1 and 24.2-521.1, relating to candidate petitions; collection of signatures by electronic means.
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Patron-- McWaters
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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 the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered §§ 24.2-506.1 and 24.2-521.1 as follows:

§ 24.2-506.1. Collection of signatures by electronic means.

A. Any candidate required by § 24.2-506 to file a petition for candidacy may choose to collect the required number of signatures by electronic means as authorized by the State Board. Such a candidate shall notify the Department of Elections that he intends to collect the required signatures by electronic means and the Department of Elections shall promptly make available a petition on its website.

B. An electronic candidate petition completed pursuant to this section shall require that a qualified voter signing the petition:

1. Provide his name and residence address;

2. Provide the last four digits of his social security number, his Department of Motor Vehicles customer number, or his voter identification number;

3. Attest that he is the person he is identifying himself to be; and

4. Sign the petition in a manner consistent with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.).

C. In order for the signature of a qualified voter to be added to the electronic candidate petition, the Department of Elections shall verify that the name, residence address, and identifying number provided by the qualified voter match the information contained in his voter registration record. The Department of Elections shall immediately alert any voter whose signature is not added to the electronic candidate petition.

D. The State Board shall notify any candidate collecting signatures pursuant to this section when the minimum number of qualified signatures required by § 24.2-506 has been collected. However, the State Board shall not close the electronic candidate petition until the applicable deadline prescribed by § 24.2-507.

§ 24.2-521.1. Collection of signatures by electronic means.

A. Any candidate required by § 24.2-521 to file a petition for candidacy may choose to collect the required number of signatures by electronic means as authorized by the State Board. Such a candidate shall notify the Department of Elections that he intends to collect the required signatures by electronic means and the Department of Elections shall promptly make available a petition on its website.

B. An electronic candidate petition completed pursuant to this section shall require that a qualified voter signing the petition:

1. Provide his name and residence address;

2. Provide the last four digits of his social security number, his Department of Motor Vehicles customer number, or his voter identification number;

3. Attest that he is the person he is identifying himself to be; and

4. Sign the petition in a manner consistent with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.).

C. In order for the signature of a qualified voter to be added to the electronic candidate petition, the Department of Elections shall verify that the name, residence address, and identifying number provided by the qualified voter match the information contained in his voter registration record. The Department of Elections shall immediately alert any voter whose signature is not added to the electronic candidate petition.

D. The State Board shall notify any candidate collecting signatures pursuant to this section and the chairman of such candidate's political party when the minimum number of signatures required by § 24.2-521 has been collected. However, the State Board shall not close the electronic candidate petition until 5:00 p.m. on the seventy-fifth day before the primary.

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2017.