Voter identification requirements; may vote a provisional ballot if can't provide proof of ID. (HB498)

Introduced By

Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge)

Progress

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

Description

Elections; voter identification requirements; provisional ballots.  Eliminates the provision that allows a voter to sign a sworn statement that he is the named registered voter he claims to be in lieu of showing identification. Requires a photo ID and provides that the voter may vote a provisional ballot if he cannot provide the required proof of identification. The bill also provides that, in order to determine whether a person who cast a provisional ballot is a qualified voter, an electoral board may rely on a faxed copy of a person's proof of identification. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/12/2010Committee
01/12/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10100342D
01/12/2010Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/15/2010Assigned P & E sub: #2 Elections
01/18/2010Impact statement from DPB (HB498)
01/19/2010Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 2-N)
01/22/2010Reported from Privileges and Elections (16-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2010Read first time
01/26/2010Passed by for the day
01/28/2010Passed by for the day
01/29/2010Passed by for the day
02/01/2010Passed by for the day
02/02/2010Motion to rerefer to committee agreed to
02/02/2010Rereferred to Privileges and Elections
02/09/2010Assigned P & E sub: #2 Elections
02/09/2010Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 2-N)
02/09/2010Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (12-Y 8-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2010Committee substitute printed 10105222D-H1
02/11/2010Read first time
02/12/2010Read second time
02/12/2010Committee substitute agreed to 10105222D-H1
02/12/2010Engrossed by House - committee substitute (49-Y 45-N) HB498H1
02/12/2010VOTE: --- ENGROSSMENT (49-Y 45-N) (see vote tally)
02/15/2010Impact statement from DPB (HB498H1)
02/15/2010Motion to rerefer to committee agreed to
02/15/2010Rereferred to Privileges and Elections
02/16/2010Left in Privileges and Elections

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 12 clips in all, totaling 14 minutes.

Comments

VACOLAO, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Despite the absence of any evidence of voter fraud in Virginia, this bill imposes an unfunded mandate on local registrars by requiring them to require specific proof of citizenship to register and vote and to maintain copies in records for two years. This will require additional staffing. Virginia residents born outside of hospitals may lack birth certificates needed to prove citizenships; residents will have to pay either to get a copy of a birth certificate or a passport to register to vote. In the absence of any proof of a real problem to solve, these requirements are nothing more than additional impediments to the right to vote.