Absentee ballot; persons applying to provide reason cannot vote at polling place, etc. (SB967)

The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that would remove the requirement that voters provide confidential supporting information to vote by absentee ballot. We have privacy and due process concerns with this bill though because it does not include language that keeps the mere disclosure of a voter's disability or other sensitive information to be kept in a secure physical or electronic file. Current Virginia law does not prohibit the disclosure of a voter's confidential information on an absentee ballot application. Additionally, if a voter is accused of voter fraud and the information is not securely kept, a voter may lack a record that shows that he or she provided proof that he or she was qualified to vote by absentee ballot. As a result, a voter can be prosecuted with a felony.