Javascript is required to run this page

HB1888

Absentee voting; procedural and process reforms, availability and accessibility reforms, penalty.

Status:
Passed

Chief Patron:
Schuyler VanValkenburg (D)

Session:
2021 Regular Session

Summary

As Passed Both Chambers. Absentee voting; procedural and process reforms; availability and accessibility reforms; penalty.

Makes various reforms to absentee voting processes and procedures, including those related to availability and accessibility. The bill requires certain actions to be taken to process absentee ballots returned before the day of an election, including verifying the correct completion of the voter affirmation statement, and provides for an opportunity for an absentee voter to make corrections to the statement in certain circumstances. The bill requires the establishment of drop-off locations for the return of voted absentee ballots. Additionally, a central absentee voter precinct is required to be established in each locality; currently, establishment is optional. On the day of the election, officers of election are required to begin processing absentee ballots in the central absentee voter precincts prior to the close of polls, but no ballot vote counts are permitted to be transmitted outside of the central absentee voter precinct before the close of polls; a violation of such prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor. When reporting election results to the Department of Elections, the general registrars are required to report absentee ballots cast early in person separately from all other absentee ballots. Additionally, a voter who has applied for and received an absentee ballot may choose to instead vote at his polling place on election day, and such voter shall be entitled to cast a provisional ballot. The bill requires a ballot marking tool with screen reader assistive technology to be made available for absentee voters with a print disability. Restrictions on the availability of absentee voting for first-time voters who registered by mail are repealed. The bill contains technical amendments for organizational and readability purposes. (Less)

  • Bill History

  • 01/08/2021 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21101608D
  • 01/08/2021 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
  • 01/13/2021 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1888)
  • 01/13/2021 - House: House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
  • 01/13/2021 - House: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (13-Y 9-N)
  • 01/15/2021 - House: Read first time
  • 01/18/2021 - House: Read second time
  • 01/18/2021 - House: Committee amendments agreed to
  • 01/18/2021 - House: Engrossed by House as amended HB1888E
  • 01/18/2021 - House: Printed as engrossed 21101608D-E
  • 01/19/2021 - House: Read third time and passed House (55-Y 43-N)
  • 01/19/2021 - House: VOTE: Passage (55-Y 43-N)   Close Floor Vote
  • 01/19/2021 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1888E)
  • 01/20/2021 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
  • 01/20/2021 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
  • 01/22/2021 - House: Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (HB1888)
  • 02/05/2021 - Senate: Continued to 2021 Sp. Sess. 1 in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)
  • 02/16/2021 - Senate: Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
  • 02/16/2021 - Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
  • 02/16/2021 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 21200269D-S1
  • 02/18/2021 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
  • 02/19/2021 - Senate: Read third time
  • 02/19/2021 - Senate: Reading of substitute waived
  • 02/19/2021 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 21200269D-S1
  • 02/19/2021 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB1888S1
  • 02/19/2021 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 17-N)   Close Floor Vote
  • 02/19/2021 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1888S1)
  • 02/23/2021 - House: Placed on Calendar
  • 02/23/2021 - House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 21200269D-S1 (53-Y 43-N)
  • 02/23/2021 - House: VOTE: Adoption (53-Y 43-N)   Close Floor Vote
  • 02/25/2021 - House: Enrolled
  • 02/25/2021 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1888ER)
  • 02/25/2021 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1888ER)
  • 02/25/2021 - Senate: Signed by President
  • 02/25/2021 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate reprinted (HB1888ER)
  • 02/26/2021 - House: Signed by Speaker
  • 03/01/2021 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2021
  • 03/01/2021 - Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 31, 2021
  • 03/31/2021 - Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 471 (effective 7/1/21)
  • 03/31/2021 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0471)
  • 03/31/2021 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text reprinted (CHAP0471)

Full text and vote history:

Virginia Legislative Information System

RichmondSunlight.com

See other bills related to: