Absentee voting and procedures; secure return of voted absentee military-overseas ballots. (HB759)

Introduced By

Del. Tom Rust (R-Herndon) with support from co-patron Del. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk)

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
01/07/2014Committee
01/07/2014Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14103085D
01/07/2014Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/2014Assigned P & E sub: Elections Subcommittee
01/21/2014Impact statement from DPB (HB759)
01/23/2014Impact statement from DPB (HB759)
02/06/2014Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 0-N)
02/07/2014Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/07/2014Committee substitute printed 14104901D-H1
02/08/2014Read first time
02/10/2014Read second time
02/10/2014Committee substitute agreed to 14104901D-H1
02/10/2014Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB759H1
02/11/2014Read third time and passed House (96-Y 2-N)
02/11/2014VOTE: PASSAGE (96-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2014Constitutional reading dispensed
02/12/2014Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/18/2014Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)
02/20/2014Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/2014Amendment by Senator Martin agreed to
02/21/2014Read third time
02/21/2014Reading of amendment waived
02/21/2014Amendment by Senators Puller and Martin agreed to
02/21/2014Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/21/2014Passed Senate with amendment (40-Y 0-N)
02/24/2014Placed on Calendar
02/24/2014Impact statement from DPB (HB759H1)
02/25/2014Senate amendment rejected by House (1-Y 97-N)
02/25/2014VOTE: REJECTED (1-Y 97-N) (see vote tally)
02/27/2014Senate insisted on amendment (40-Y 0-N)
02/27/2014Senate requested conference committee
02/28/2014House acceded to request
03/03/2014Conferees appointed by Senate
03/03/2014Senators: Puller, Martin, Petersen
03/04/2014Conferees appointed by House
03/04/2014Delegates: Rust, Jones, Howell, A.T.
03/08/2014Conference report agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N)
03/08/2014VOTE: ADOPTION (98-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 House and Senate (HB759ER)
03/17/2014Signed by President
03/18/2014Impact statement from DPB (HB759ER)
03/18/2014Signed by Speaker
04/03/2014G Approved by Governor-Chapter 506 (effective - see bill)
04/03/2014G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0506)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 5 clips in all, totaling 8 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.