SENATE BILL NO. 916 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 8, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-416.2 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-418.1, relating to voter registration procedures; applications and receipts. ----------
Patrons-- Howell; Delegates: Amundson, Callahan, Caputo, Hull, Marsden, Plum, Rust, Scott, J.M., Sickles and Watts
---------- Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 24.2-416.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 24.2-418.1, as follows:

§ 24.2-416.2. Mail voter registration application forms.

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-418 and 24.2-418.1, the national mail voter registration application form promulgated by the Federal Election Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act (42 U.S.C. § 1973gg et seq.) shall be accepted for the registration of otherwise qualified voters to vote in federal, state, and local elections. In addition to the national form promulgated by the Federal Election Commission, the State Board of Elections shall design and distribute a state mail voter registration application form. Such state form shall include the eligibility requirements for registration as provided in this title, shall provide for a receipt for the applicant pursuant to § 24.2-418.1, and shall require each applicant to provide the information required subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016.

Each state form shall be accompanied by the following statement featured prominently in boldface capital letters: "WARNING: INTENTIONALLY MAKING A MATERIALLY FALSE STATEMENT ON THIS FORM CONSTITUTES THE CRIME OF ELECTION FRAUD, WHICH IS PUNISHABLE UNDER VIRGINIA LAW AS A FELONY. VIOLATORS MAY BE SENTENCED TO UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON, OR UP TO 12 MONTHS IN JAIL AND/OR FINED UP TO $2,500."

§ 24.2-418.1. Receipt for voter registration applicants.

A. The state form for the application to register to vote shall contain a receipt that shall be given to the applicant upon his completion of the form. The receipt shall be completed by the person accepting the form and shall include the following information: the name of the office, group, or person accepting the registration application; the date that the office, group, or person received the registration application from the applicant; and the phone number of the general registrar or the toll-free phone number of the State Board of Elections that the applicant may call to confirm his registration.

B. The requirement to complete the receipt as provided in subsection A shall not be applicable when the applicant mails his completed form directly to a general registrar authorized to receive the form.