Absentee voting; allows qualified voters to vote absentee in person without an excuse. (HB75)

Introduced By

Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church) with support from 7 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston), Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond), Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Elections; no-excuse in-person absentee voting. Allows qualified voters to vote absentee in person without providing an excuse for not being able to vote in person on election day. The bill retains the statutory list of specific reasons allowing a voter to cast an absentee ballot by mail. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/09/2013Committee
12/09/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14101074D
12/09/2013Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/2014Assigned P & E sub: Elections Subcommittee
01/16/2014Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/12/2014Left in Privileges and Elections

Comments

ACLU-VA Voting Rights, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that expands the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot without having to provide a reason, however this bill only applies to in-person absentee ballot voters. There are too many Virginia voters who do not have access to in-person absentee voting sites because of lack of transportation. Additionally, requiring voters to disclose sensitive or confidential information on an absentee ballot by-mail application imposes significant concerns about the privacy rights of voters. No-excuse absentee voting should be available to all qualified voters through the mail and by in-person methods.

ACLU of Virginia writes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that expands the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot without having to provide a reason, however this bill only applies to in-person absentee ballot voters. There are too many Virginia voters who do not have access to in-person absentee voting sites because of lack of transportation. Additionally, requiring voters to disclose sensitive or confidential information on an absentee ballot by-mail application imposes significant concerns about the privacy rights of voters. No-excuse absentee voting should be available to all qualified voters through the mail and by in-person methods.

Bob Lindsey writes:

All absentee votes should be added to the total of votes cast on election day in the absentee voter's precinct.

ACLU-VA Legislative Agenda, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that expands the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot without having to provide a reason, however this bill only applies to in-person absentee ballot voters. There are too many Virginia voters who do not have access to in-person absentee voting sites because of lack of transportation. Additionally, requiring voters to disclose sensitive or confidential information on an absentee ballot application imposes significant concerns about the privacy rights of voters because the applications are not required to be kept secure or shielded from public disclosure. No-excuse absentee voting should be available to all qualified voters through the mail and by in-person methods.