Voter registration records; clarifies duties of general registrars and State Board of Elections. (HB1642)

Introduced By

Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk) with support from co-patron Del. Leo Wardrup (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

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

Description

Elections; voter registration records. Clarifies the duties of local electoral boards, general registrars, and the State Board of Elections regarding voter registration records and exceptions from public inspection. Read the Bill »

Status

03/13/2007: signed by governor

History

DateAction
11/28/2006Committee
11/28/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/07 072202208
11/28/2006Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/2007Assigned P & E sub: #2 (Jones, S.C.)
02/02/2007Committee substitute printed 072223208-H1
02/03/2007Read first time
02/05/2007Read second time
02/05/2007Committee substitute agreed to 072223208-H1
02/05/2007Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1642H1
02/06/2007Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N)
02/06/2007Communicated to Senate
02/07/2007Constitutional reading dispensed
02/07/2007Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/15/2007Constitutional reading dispensed (35-Y 0-N)
02/15/2007VOTE: (35-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/16/2007Read third time
02/16/2007Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N)
02/16/2007VOTE: (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/16/2007Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/16/2007Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/16/2007VOTE: (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2007Enrolled
02/23/2007Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1642ER)
02/24/2007Signed by Speaker
02/26/2007Signed by President
03/13/2007G Approved by Governor-Chapter 311 (effective 7/1/07)
03/15/2007G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0311)

Comments

Joe writes:

"In determining domicile, consideration may be given to a person's expressed intent, conduct, and all attendant circumstances including, but not limited to, financial independence, business pursuits, employment, income sources, residence for income tax purposes, marital status, residence of parents, spouse and children, if any, leasehold, sites of personal and real property owned by the person, motor vehicle and other personal property registration, and other factors reasonably necessary to determine the qualification of a person to register or vote."

The intent of this bill is to clarify existing ambiguities in the definitions of words regarding elections. However, by including domicile in said list, it enters a current debate that is growing regarding college students. Currently, college students can vote either in the district of their parents, or in the district of where they live while attending college. This is because to vote in an area, you must demostrate residence as well as domicile. Currently, the definition of domicile is vaguely defined under law, and thus is really up to the registar whether or not to allow dorm students to vote (see: Williamsburg). This clarification is still quite open, but the question is whether it has closed just enough to allow or disallow dorm students to vote in their college areas.