Elections; absentee voting by persons age 65 or older. (SB719)
Introduced By
Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach) with support from co-patron Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Elections; absentee voting by persons age 65 or older. Entitles persons age 65 or older on the day of an election for which an absentee ballot is requested to vote absentee. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 12/08/2014 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15100753D |
| 12/08/2014 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
| 01/20/2015 | Assigned to P&E sub: Elections |
| 01/20/2015 | Impact statement from DPB (SB719) |
| 01/27/2015 | Committee substitute printed 15104078D-S1 |
| 01/27/2015 | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/28/2015 | Incorporates SB708 |
| 01/28/2015 | Incorporates SB758 |
| 01/28/2015 | Incorporates SB822 |
| 01/28/2015 | Incorporates SB910 |
| 01/28/2015 | Impact statement from DPB (SB719S1) |
| 01/29/2015 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/30/2015 | Read second time |
| 01/30/2015 | Reading of substitute waived |
| 01/30/2015 | Committee substitute agreed to 15104078D-S1 |
| 01/30/2015 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB719S1 |
| 02/02/2015 | Read third time and passed Senate (33-Y 5-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/06/2015 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/06/2015 | Read first time |
| 02/06/2015 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
| 02/06/2015 | Assigned P & E sub: Elections |
| 02/12/2015 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
| 02/24/2015 | Left in Privileges and Elections |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that expands the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot without having to provide a reason or excuse to all voters by in-person and by mail methods. Voters should not have to provide a statutory permitted reason or excuse to justify voting by absentee ballot. Disclosure of voters' confidential or sensitive information on absentee ballot applications raises privacy concerns because the information is not required to be kept secure or confidential. No-excuse absentee voting should be available to all qualified voters through the mail and by in-person methods.