HB1787: Polling places; identification required to vote.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1787
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That 24.2-643, 24.2-653, 24.2-701, 32.1-252, and 32.1-273 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 24.2-643.1 and by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-345.1 as follows:
24.2-643. Qualified voter permitted to vote; procedures at polling place; voter identification.
A. After the polls are open, each qualified voter at a precinct shall be permitted to vote. The officers of election shall ascertain that a person offering to vote is a qualified voter before admitting him to the voting booth and furnishing an official ballot to him.
B. An officer of election shall ask the voter for his full
name and current residence address and repeat, in a voice audible to party and
candidate representatives present, the full name and address stated by the
voter. The officer shall ask the voter to present any
one of the following forms of identification: his Commonwealth of Virginia
voter registration card, his social security card, his valid Virginia driver's
license, his concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to 18.2-308, or any
other identification card issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth,
one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; any valid student
identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in
the Commonwealth of Virginia; any valid employee identification card containing
a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the
ordinary course of the employer's business; or a copy of a current utility
bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck that shows the name and
address of the voter proof of
identification. Proof of
identification means a document that satisfies all of the following:
1. The document shows the name of the individual to whom the document was issued, and the name conforms to the name in the individual's voter registration record.
2. The document shows a photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued.
3. The document includes the individual's date of birth.
4. The document includes an expiration date, and the document:
a. Is not expired; or
b. Expired after the date of the most recent general election.
5. The document was issued by the United States or the Commonwealth.
Any voter who does not show one
of the forms proof
of identification as
specified in this subsection shall be offered a provisional ballot under the
provisions of 24.2-653. The State Board of Elections shall provide an ID-ONLY
provisional ballot envelope that requires no follow-up action by the registrar
or electoral board other than matching submitted identification documents from
the voter for the electoral board to make a determination on whether to count
the ballot.
If the voter's name is found on the pollbook, if he presents one of the forms proof of identification as listed above, if he is
qualified to vote in the election, and if no objection is made, an officer
shall enter, opposite the voter's name on the pollbook, the first or next
consecutive number from the voter count form provided by the State Board, or
shall enter that the voter has voted if the pollbook is in electronic form; an
officer shall provide the voter with the official ballot; and another officer shall
admit him to the voting booth. Each voter whose name has been marked on the
pollbooks as present to vote and entitled to a ballot shall remain in the
presence of the officers of election in the polling place until he has voted.
If a line of voters who have been marked on the pollbooks as present to vote
forms to await entry to the voting booths, the line shall not be permitted to
extend outside of the room containing the voting booths and shall remain under
observation by the officers of election.
A voter may be accompanied into the voting booth by his child age 15 or younger.
C. If the current residence address stated by the voter is different from the address shown on the pollbook, the officer of election shall furnish the voter with a change of address form prescribed by the State Board. Upon its completion, the voter shall sign the prescribed form, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to 24.2-1016, which the officer of election shall then place in an envelope provided for such forms for transmission to the general registrar who shall then transfer or cancel the registration of such voter pursuant to Chapter 4 ( 24.2-400 et seq.).
D. At the time the voter is asked his full name and current residence address, the officer of election shall ask any voter for whom the pollbook indicates that an identification number other than a social security number is recorded on the Virginia voter registration system if he presently has a social security number. If the voter is able to provide his social security number, he shall be furnished with a voter registration form prescribed by the State Board to update his registration information. Upon its completion, the form shall be placed by the officer of election in an envelope provided for such forms for transmission to the general registrar. Any social security numbers so provided shall be entered by the general registrar in the voter's record on the voter registration system.
E. For federal elections held after January 1, 2004, this subsection shall apply in the case of any voter who is required by subparagraph (b) of 42 U.S.C.S. 15483 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to show identification the first time the voter votes in a federal election in the state. At such election, such voter shall present (i) a current and valid photo identification or (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Such individual who desires to vote in person but who does not show one of the forms of identification specified in this subsection shall be offered a provisional ballot under the provisions of 24.2-653. Neither the identification requirements of subsection B, nor the identification requirements of subsection A of 24.2-653, shall apply to such voter at that election. The State Board of Elections shall provide instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to subsection B of 24.2-653 and this section.
24.2-643.1. Implementation of photo identification requirements.
The State Board of Elections shall develop an educational program for distribution by various media and means throughout the Commonwealth to inform voters of the photo identification requirements of the law. A voter may obtain a special identification card, free of charge, from the Department of Motor Vehicles in accordance with 46.2-345.1.
24.2-653. Voter whose name does not appear on pollbook or who is marked as having voted; handling of provisional ballots; ballots cast after normal close of polls due to court order extending polling hours.
A. When a person offers to vote pursuant to 24.2-652 and the general registrar is not available or cannot state that the person is registered to vote, then such person shall be allowed to vote by paper ballot in the manner provided in this section. This procedure shall also apply when required by 24.2-643 or 24.2-651.1.
Such person shall be given a paper ballot and provide, subject
to the penalties for making false statements pursuant to 24.2-1016, on a
green envelope supplied by the State Board, the identifying information
required on the envelope, including his social security number, if any, full name
including the maiden or any other prior legal name, date of birth, complete
address, and signature. Such person shall be asked to present one of the forms proof of identification as specified in subsection B
of 24.2-643. The officers of election shall note on the green envelope
whether or not the voter has presented one of the specified
forms proof
of identification. The officers of election shall enter the appropriate
information for the person in the precinct provisional ballots log in
accordance with the instructions of the State Board but shall not enter a
consecutive number for the voter on the pollbook nor otherwise mark his name as
having voted. The officers of election shall provide an application for
registration to the person offering to vote in the manner provided in this
section.
The voter shall then, in the presence of an officer of election, but in a secret manner, mark the ballot as provided in 24.2-644 and seal it in the green envelope. The envelope containing the ballot shall then be placed in the ballot container by an officer of election.
An officer of election, by a written notice given to the
voter, shall (i) inform him that a determination of his right to vote shall be
made by the electoral board, (ii) advise the voter of the beginning time and
place for the board's meeting and of the voter's right to be present at that
meeting, and (iii) inform a voter voting provisionally when required by
24.2-643 that he may submit a copy of one of the forms proof of identification as specified in subsection B
of 24.2-643 to the electoral board by facsimile, electronic mail, in-person
submission, or timely United States Postal Service or commercial mail delivery,
to be received by the electoral board no later than noon on the third day after
the election. At the meeting, the voter may request an extension of the
determination of the provisional vote to the following day in order to provide
information to prove that the voter is entitled to vote in the precinct
pursuant to 24.2-401. The electoral board shall have the authority to grant
such extensions which it deems reasonable to determine the status of a
provisional vote.
B. The provisional votes submitted pursuant to subsection A, in their unopened envelopes, shall be sealed in a special envelope marked "Provisional Votes," inscribed with the number of envelopes contained therein, and signed by the officers of election who counted them. All provisional votes envelopes shall be delivered either (i) to the clerk of the circuit court who shall deliver all such envelopes to the secretary of the electoral board or (ii) to the general registrar in localities in which the electoral board has directed delivery of election materials to the general registrar pursuant to 24.2-668.
The electoral board shall meet on the day following the election and determine whether each person having submitted such a provisional vote was entitled to do so as a qualified voter in the precinct in which he offered the provisional vote. If the board is unable to determine the validity of all the provisional ballots offered in the election, or has granted any voter who has offered a provisional ballot an extension to the following day as provided in subsection A, the meeting shall stand adjourned from day to day, not to exceed seven calendar days from the date of the election, until the board has determined the validity of all provisional ballots offered in the election.
One authorized representative of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election or one authorized representative of each candidate in a primary election shall be permitted to remain in the room in which the determination is being made as an observer so long as he does not participate in the proceedings and does not impede the orderly conduct of the determination. Each authorized representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. Each representative, who is not himself a candidate or party chairman, shall present to the electoral board a written statement designating him to be a representative of the party or candidate and signed by the county or city chairman of his political party, the independent candidate, or the primary candidate, as appropriate. Such statement, bearing the chairman's or candidate's original signature, may be photocopied and such photocopy shall be as valid as if the copy had been signed.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act ( 2.2-3700 et seq.), attendance at meetings of the electoral board to determine the validity of provisional ballots shall be permitted only for the authorized representatives provided for in this subsection, for the persons whose provisional votes are being considered and their representative or legal counsel, and for appropriate staff and legal counsel for the electoral board.
If the electoral board determines that such person was not
entitled to vote as a qualified voter in the precinct in which he offered the
provisional vote, is unable to determine his right to vote, or has not been
provided one of the forms proof of identification as specified in subsection B
of 24.2-643, the envelope containing his ballot shall not be opened and his
vote shall not be counted. The provisional vote shall be counted if (a) such
person is entitled to vote in the precinct pursuant to 24.2-401 or (b) the
State Board or the voter presents proof that indicates the voter submitted an
application for registration to the Department of Motor Vehicles or other
state-designated voter registration agency prior to the close of registration
pursuant to 24.2-416 and the registrar determines that the person was
qualified for registration based upon the application for registration submitted
by the person pursuant to subsection A. The general registrar shall notify in
writing pursuant to 24.2-114 those persons found not properly registered or
whose provisional vote was not counted.
If the electoral board determines that such person was entitled to vote, the name of the voter shall be entered in a provisional votes pollbook and marked as having voted, the envelope shall be opened, and the ballot placed in a ballot container without any inspection further than that provided for in 24.2-646.
On completion of its determination, the electoral board shall proceed to count such ballots and certify the results of its count. Its certified results shall be added to those found pursuant to 24.2-671. No adjustment shall be made to the statement of results for the precinct in which the person offered to vote.
The certification of the results of the count together with all ballots and envelopes, whether open or unopened, and other related material shall be delivered by the electoral board to the clerk of the circuit court and retained by him as provided for in 24.2-668 and 24.2-669.
C. Whenever the polling hours are extended by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, any ballots marked after the normal polling hours by persons who were not already in line at the time the polls would have closed, notwithstanding the court order, shall be treated as provisional ballots under this section. The officers of election shall mark the green envelope for each such provisional ballot to indicate that it was cast after normal polling hours due to the court order, and when preparing the materials to deliver to the registrar or electoral board, shall separate these provisional ballots from any provisional ballots used for any other reason. The electoral board shall treat these provisional ballots as provided in subsection B; however, the counted and uncounted provisional ballots marked after the normal polling hours shall be kept separate from all other ballots and recorded in a separate provisional ballots pollbook. The State Board of Elections shall provide instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to this section.
24.2-701. Application for absentee ballot.
A. The State Board shall furnish each general registrar with a sufficient number of applications for official absentee ballots. The registrars shall furnish applications to persons requesting them.
The State Board shall implement a system that enables eligible persons to request and receive an absentee ballot application electronically through the Internet. Electronic absentee ballot applications shall be in a form approved by the State Board.
Except as provided in 24.2-703, a separate application shall be completed for each election in which the applicant offers to vote. An application for an absentee ballot may be accepted the later of (i) 12 months before an election or (ii) the day following any election held in the twelfth month prior to the election in which the applicant is applying to vote.
An application that is completed in person at the same time that the applicant registers to vote shall be held and processed no sooner than the fifth day after the date that the applicant registered to vote; however, this requirement shall not be applicable to any person who is qualified to vote absentee under subdivision 2 of 24.2-700.
Any application received before the ballots are printed shall be held and processed as soon as the printed ballots for the election are available.
For the purposes of this chapter, the general registrar's office shall be open a minimum of eight hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the first and second Saturday immediately preceding all general elections, except May general elections held in towns, and on the Saturday immediately preceding any primary election, May general election held in a town, or special election.
Unless the applicant is disabled, all applications for absentee ballots shall be signed by the applicant who shall state, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to 24.2-1016, that to the best of his knowledge and belief the facts contained in the application are true and correct and that he has not and will not vote in the election at any other place in Virginia or in any other state. If the applicant is unable to sign the application, a person assisting the applicant will note this fact on the applicant signature line and provide his signature, name, and address.
B. Applications for absentee ballots shall be completed in the following manner:
1. An application completed in person shall be made not less
than three days prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote and
completed only in the office of the general registrar. The applicant shall sign
the application in the presence of a registrar or a member of the electoral
board. The applicant shall provide one of the forms proof of identification as specified in subsection B
of 24.2-643. Any applicant who does not show one
of the forms proof
of identification as
specified in subsection B of 24.2-643 shall be offered a provisional ballot
under the provisions of 24.2-653. The State Board of Elections shall provide
instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such
provisional ballots pursuant to subsection B of 24.2-653 and this section.
For federal elections held after January 1, 2004, this paragraph shall apply in the case of any voter who is required by subparagraph (b) of 42 U.S.C.S. 15483 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to show identification the first time that voter votes in a federal election in the state. After completing an application for an absentee ballot in person, such voter shall present (i) a current and valid photo identification or (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Such individual who desires to vote in person but who does not show one of the forms of identification specified in this subdivision shall be offered a provisional ballot under the provisions of 24.2-653. Neither the identification requirements of subsection B of 24.2-643, nor the identification requirements of subsection A of 24.2-653, shall apply to such voter at that election. The State Board of Elections shall provide instructions to the electoral boards for the handling and counting of such provisional ballots pursuant to subsection B of 24.2-653 and this section.
2. Any other application may be made by mail, electronic or telephonic transmission to a facsimile device if one is available to the office of the general registrar or the office of the State Board if a device is not available locally, or other means. The application shall be on a form furnished by the registrar or, if made under subdivision 2 of 24.2-700, may be on a federal postcard application prescribed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1973ff(b)(2). The federal postcard application may be accepted the later of (i) 12 months before an election or (ii) the day following any election held in the twelfth month prior to the election in which the applicant is applying to vote. The application shall be made to the appropriate registrar no later than 5:00 p.m. on the seventh day prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote.
C. Applications for absentee ballots shall contain the following information:
1. The applicant's printed name, the last four digits of the applicant's social security number, and the reason the applicant will be absent or cannot vote at his polling place on the day of the election;
2. A statement that he is registered in the county or city in which he offers to vote and his residence address in such county or city. Any person temporarily residing outside the United States shall provide the last date of residency at his Virginia residence address, if that residence is no longer available to him. Any person who makes application under subdivision 2 of 24.2-700 who is not a registered voter may file the applications to register and for a ballot simultaneously;
3. The complete address to which the ballot is to be sent directly to the applicant, unless the application is made in person at a time when the printed ballots for the election are available and the applicant chooses to vote in person at the time of completing his application. The address given shall be (i) the address of the applicant on file in the registration records; (ii) the address at which he will be located while absent from his county or city; or (iii) the address at which he will be located while temporarily confined due to a disability or illness. No ballot shall be sent to, or in care of, any other person; and
4. In the case of a person, or the spouse or dependent of a person, who is on active duty as a member of the uniformed services as defined in 24.2-452, the branch of service to which he or the spouse belongs, and his or the spouse's rank, grade, or rate, and service identification number; or
5. In the case of a student, or the spouse of a student, who is attending a school or institution of learning, the name and address of the school or institution of learning; or
6. In the case of any duly registered person with a disability, as defined in 24.2-101, who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because of his disability, illness, or pregnancy, the nature of the disability, illness, or pregnancy; or
7. In the case of a person who is confined awaiting trial or for having been convicted of a misdemeanor, the name and address of the institution of confinement; or
8. In the case of a person who will be absent on election day for business reasons, the name of his employer or business; or
9. In the case of a person who will be absent on election day for personal business or vacation reasons, the name of the county or city in Virginia or the state or country to which he is traveling; or
10. In the case of a person who is unable to go to the polls on the day of election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled family member who is confined at home, the name of the family member and the nature of his illness or disability; or
11. In the case of a person who is unable to go to the polls on the day of election because of an obligation occasioned by his religion, his religion and the nature of the obligation; or
12. In the case of a person who, in the regular and orderly course of his business, profession, or occupation, will be at his place of work and commuting to and from his home to his place of work for 11 or more hours of the 13 hours that the polls are open pursuant to 24.2-603, the name of his business or employer, address of his place of work, and hours he will be at the workplace and commuting on election day; or
13. In the case of a law-enforcement officer, as defined in 18.2-51.1; firefighter, as defined in 65.2-102; volunteer firefighter, as defined in 27-42; search and rescue personnel, as defined in 18.2-51.1; or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in 32.1-111.1, that he is a first responder; or
14. In the case of a person who has been designated by a political party, independent candidate, or candidate in a primary election to be a representative of the party or candidate inside a polling place on the day of the election pursuant to subsection C of 24.2-604 and 24.2-639, the fact that he is so designated and the name of the party chairman or candidate who designated him.
32.1-252. State Registrar; duties.
A. The State Registrar, under the supervision of the Commissioner, shall:
1. Administer the provisions of this chapter and the regulations of the Board in a manner that will ensure the uniform and efficient administration of the system of vital records.
2. Direct and supervise the system of vital records and be custodian of its records.
3. Direct, supervise, and control the activities of all persons when pertaining to the operation of the system of vital records.
4., 5. [Repealed.]
6. Conduct training programs to promote uniformity of policy and procedures throughout the Commonwealth in matters pertaining to the system of vital records.
7. Inspect vital records which have been sealed as provided by law whenever such inspection will facilitate the administration of this chapter without violating the confidentiality of such records.
8. Perform such other duties as may be required by law.
9. Develop, furnish, and distribute, in accordance with the regulations of the Board, forms as required by this chapter and such other means for transmission of data as may be necessary for the purpose of complete and accurate reporting and registration.
10. Develop and provide a means for obtaining a social security number in conjunction with the issuance of a birth certificate.
11. Develop, furnish, and distribute a surrogate consent and report form as described in 20-162.
12. Verify the existence of and information contained in a birth certificate in response to a request by the Department of Motor Vehicles made pursuant to 46.2-345.1.
13. Develop, furnish, and distribute to the Department of Motor Vehicles a list of and contact information for similar agencies in other states that maintain vital records and a schedule of the fees charged by such agencies for a certified copy of a birth certificate. The State Registrar shall update this schedule on an annual basis.
B. The State Registrar may delegate functions and duties vested in him to designated assistants and to county, city and special registrars as he deems necessary or expedient.
32.1-273. Fees for certified copies, searches of files, etc.; disposition.
A. The Board shall prescribe the fee, not to exceed eight dollars, for a certified copy of a vital record or for a search of the files or records when no copy is made and may establish a reasonable fee schedule related to its cost for information or other data provided for research, statistical or administrative purposes. Whenever any veteran or his survivor requires a certified copy of a vital record to obtain service-connected benefits, one copy of such record shall be provided directly to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs upon their request and one copy shall be provided to the veteran or his surviving spouse, upon request. No charge shall be imposed upon a veteran or his survivor for a copy related to obtaining service-connected benefits. Whenever any person requires a certified copy of a birth certificate to obtain from the Department of Motor Vehicles a photo identification pursuant to 46.2-345.1, one copy of such certificate shall be provided to the person upon request if the person (i) does not have a form of photo identification required under subsection B of 24.2-643, (ii) does not have a certified copy of his birth certificate, and (iii) is unable to otherwise afford a certified copy of his birth certificate. No charge shall be imposed upon the person for a copy related to obtaining such identification, provided that the person shall affirm by signing a statement, subject to the penalties for making false statements pursuant to 24.2-1016, that he meets the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii).
B. Fees collected under this section by the State Registrar shall be transmitted to the Comptroller for deposit. Four dollars of each fee collected by the State Registrar shall be deposited by the Comptroller into the Vital Statistics Automation Fund established pursuant to 32.1-273.1 for so long as shall be authorized. Four dollars of each fee shall be credited to a special fund to be appropriated by the General Assembly, as it deems necessary, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter. When the Vital Statistics Automation System is completed, no further deposits into the fund shall be made and all fees collected under this section not credited to the special fund created by this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund of the state treasury.
C. Fees collected under this section by county and city registrars shall be deposited in the general fund of the county or city except that counties or cities operating health departments pursuant to the provisions of 32.1-31 shall forward all such fees to the Department for deposit in the cooperative local health services fund.
D. Fees assessed against local departments of social services for furnished copies of vital records as needed to administer public assistance and social services programs, as defined in 63.2-100, shall be payable on a quarterly basis.
46.2-345.1. Issuance of free special identification cards to certain voters.
A. Provided a person otherwise meets the requirements to be issued a special identification card pursuant to 46.2-345, the Department shall issue a special identification card free of charge to such person who (i) does not have a form of photo identification required under subsection B of 24.2-643 and (ii) is unable to otherwise afford a special identification card issued by the Department. In order to be issued a free special identification card, the person shall affirm by signing a statement, subject to the penalties for making false statements pursuant to 24.2-1016, that he meets the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii).
B. If a person requesting a free special identification card pursuant to subsection A does not possess a certified copy of his birth certificate and was born in the Commonwealth, the Department shall contact the State Registrar of Vital Records to verify the existence of and information contained in the person's birth certificate. If the State Registrar verifies the existence of a birth certificate that confirms the information provided by the person requesting the special identification card, the Department shall issue a special identification card provided all other requirements of 46.2-345 are met. If the State Registrar cannot verify the existence of a birth certificate that confirms the information provided by the person requesting the special identification card, the Department shall contact the person who applied for the card and notify him that a card will not be issued. The State Registrar shall respond to a request by the Department under this section within seven business days of receiving the request.
C. If a person requesting a free special identification card pursuant to subsection A does not possess a certified copy of his birth certificate and was born in a state other than the Commonwealth, the person may request the Department's assistance in obtaining a certified copy of his birth certificate from the appropriate agency that maintains vital records in that state using the list and fee schedule furnished by the State Registrar pursuant to subdivision A 13 of 32.1-252. If the person requests the Department's assistance, the Department shall pay the costs associated with obtaining a certified copy of the person's birth certificate from the other state, provided that the person completes and submits his request for a certified copy of his birth certificate with the appropriate agency in the other state in the presence of an agent of the Department. Upon receipt of a certified copy of the person's birth certificate from the other state, the Department shall issue a special identification card provided all requirements of 46.2-345 are met.
2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2014.
3. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 3 of the Acts of Assembly of 2012, Special Session I, requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.