Absentee voting and procedures; secure return of voted absentee military-overseas ballots. (SB11)

Introduced By

Sen. Toddy Puller (D-Mount Vernon) with support from co-patron Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

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

Description

Absentee voting and procedures; secure return of voted military-overseas ballots. Requires the State Board of Elections to provide instructions, procedures, and services to enable uniformed-service voters outside of the United States to return voted military-overseas ballots securely by electronic mail or fax. The bill requires the State Board to develop and annually update security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of such votes and requires the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to approve the measures. The State Board is directed to convene a working group for the initial development of the security measures. Additionally, the State Board is directed to work with the U.S. Department of Defense to use smart cards issued to active-duty military personnel to authenticate and enable the return of such military-overseas ballots. The bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
12/04/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14100188D
12/04/2013Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/2014Assigned to P&E sub: Campaigns and Elections
01/21/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB11)
01/21/2014Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (13-Y 0-N)
01/21/2014Committee substitute printed 14104034D-S1
01/22/2014Incorporates SB181
01/23/2014Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N)
01/23/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB11)
01/24/2014Read second time
01/24/2014Reading of substitute waived
01/24/2014Committee substitute agreed to 14104034D-S1
01/24/2014Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB11S1
01/27/2014Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
01/31/2014Placed on Calendar
01/31/2014Read first time
01/31/2014Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/06/2014Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/20/2014Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)
02/21/2014Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/21/2014Committee substitute printed 14105082D-H1
02/24/2014Read second time
02/24/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB11H1)
02/25/2014Read third time
02/25/2014Committee substitute agreed to 14105082D-H1
02/25/2014Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB11H1
02/25/2014Passed House with substitute (95-Y 3-N)
02/25/2014VOTE: PASSAGE (95-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)
02/27/2014House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/27/2014Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/27/2014Passed by for the day
02/28/2014House substitute rejected by Senate (1-Y 39-N)
03/03/2014House insisted on substitute
03/03/2014House requested conference committee
03/04/2014Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N)
03/04/2014Conferees appointed by Senate
03/04/2014Senators: Puller, Martin, Petersen
03/05/2014Conferees appointed by House
03/05/2014Delegates: Rust, Jones, Howell, A.T.
03/07/2014C Amended by conference committee
03/07/2014Conference report agreed to by House (97-Y 1-N)
03/07/2014VOTE: ADOPTION (97-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2014Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
03/17/2014Enrolled
03/17/2014Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB11ER)
03/17/2014Signed by President
03/18/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB11ER)
03/18/2014Signed by Speaker
04/04/2014G Approved by Governor-Chapter 604 (effective - see bill)
04/04/2014G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0604)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 3 clips in all, totaling 3 minutes.

Comments

ACLU-VA Voting Rights, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that expands opportunities for voters located overseas to efficiently and securely exercise their right to vote and to have those ballots counted.