HOUSE BILL NO. 799 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-105.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; information to be provided to voters. ---------- Patron-- Englin ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 24.2-105.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 24.2-105.1. Election and voter participation information by mail and on the Internet.

A. Beginning with the general election in November 1998, the State Board shall implement a system by which it shall furnish lists of candidates for all elections in the Commonwealth, and information on proposed constitutional amendments and statewide referenda prepared pursuant to §§ 30-19.9 and 30-19.10, electronically through the Internet. The Board may list other referenda issues on the Internet. The lists and information shall be made available on the Internet as far in advance of the election as practicable and remain available on the Internet at least until the day after the election.

B. Beginning with the general election in November 2008, the State Board shall implement a system by which it shall mail to each registered voter a voter guide. The guide shall contain information on proposed constitutional amendments and statewide referenda prepared pursuant to §§ 30-19.9 and 30-19.10 in the years that such amendments and statewide referenda will be on the November ballot. The guide shall contain information on each candidate for statewide office and each candidate for the General Assembly in the district in which the voter resides in the years when there is a November election for statewide office, state Senate, or House of Delegates. The information on each candidate shall be prepared by the candidate, be limited to no more than 500 words, and be provided by the candidate to the State Board no later than September 15 before the election.

C.  The State Board shall provide election results and statistical information on its website. The information shall include voter turnout information which shall be calculated as the percentage of active voters who voted excluding voters assigned to inactive status pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 24.2-400 et seq.). The information shall also include the total number of registered voters and the number assigned to inactive status.

D.  Beginning with the general election in November 2008, the governing body of any county, city, or town by ordinance may approve a system by which the general registrar of the locality shall mail to each registered voter of the locality a voter guide. The guide shall contain information on proposed local referenda prepared pursuant to § 24.2-687 in the years that such referenda will be on the November ballot. The guide shall contain information on each candidate for local office in the years when there is a November election for the office. The information on each candidate shall be prepared by the candidate, be limited to no more than 500 words, and be provided by the candidate to the general registrar no later than September 15 before the election.