HB2648: Absentee ballots; methods for counting.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 24.2-709.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 24.2-709.1. Alternative procedures for counting absentee ballots.
A. The electoral board may
authorize a general registrar at his its
option to may take
one or more of the following measures as needed to expedite counting absentee
ballots capable of being read with optical scan counting devices and returned
by mail before election day: (i) examine the ballot envelopes to verify
completion of the required voter affirmation; or (ii)
mark the pollbook, or the absentee voter applicant list if the pollbook is not
available, that the voter has voted; or (iii). If
the electoral board exercises option (i) or (ii), it shall exercise the option
no more often than twice in
advance of the election day; and it shall notify
the political parties or candidates entitled to have
representatives in the polling place on election day and allow their representatives to be present when such measures are taken. Whether
or not such representatives are
present, the electoral board shall report
to the political parties or candidates the results of such
measures.
B. The
electoral board at its option may also take
the following measures to
expedite counting absentee ballots capable of being read with optical scan
counting devices and returned by mail before election day: open
the sealed ballot envelopes and insert the ballots in the optical scan counting
equipment without initiating any ballot count totals. If the board authorizes
optical scanning as provided in clause (iii), this subsection, at
least two officers of election, one representing each political party, shall be
present during all hours when a general registrar the
electoral board uses the expedited procedures authorized in this section subsection. Additionally, the
electoral board shall notify the political parties or candidates
entitled to have representatives in the polling place on election day and allow
their representatives to be present when such measures are taken. If
the electoral board exercises the option provided in this subsection, it shall
exercise the option no more often
than five times prior to election day and no earlier than 10 days prior to the
election day. No person present while sealed ballot envelopes are
opened and ballots are inserted into counting equipment pursuant to clause (iii) this subsection shall purposely
notice how any particular ballot is voted for any
office or on any question, nor shall he disclose
any information concerning the ballots.