Absentee voting; eligibility of persons with disabilities and persons age 65 or older. (HB2068)

Introduced By

Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale) with support from co-patron Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)

Progress

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

Description

Absentee voting; eligibility of persons with disabilities and persons age 65 or older. Entitles (i) persons with disabilities who are not reasonably able to go in person to the polls on election day and (ii) persons who will be age 65 or older on the date of the election to vote absentee. Current law allows persons with disabilities who are unable to go in person to the polls on election day to vote absentee. The bill does not change current law that entitles persons age 65 or older and persons with disabilities to vote outside of the polling place upon request. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2017Committee
01/10/2017Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102287D
01/10/2017Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/2017Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/16/2017Impact statement from DPB (HB2068)
01/17/2017Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/08/2017Left in Privileges and Elections

Comments

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

The ACLU strongly supports legislation that allows all Virginia voters to vote by absentee ballot either by mail or in-person without providing a reason. The ACLU of Virginia continues to be concerned about the effects and limitations of the current excuse-based system and encourages legislators to enact a truly equal “no-excuse” absentee voting law that is available in-person and by mail for all Virginia voters. If Virginia law limits no-excuse absentee voting to in-person only, qualified voters may be excluded from participating based upon a lack of readily accessible transportation, geography, income status, and the constraints of modern-day individuals and families. The “excuse-based” absentee voting law also continues to present concerns that certain classes of voters are being elevated. The excused-based system also continues to threaten the privacy of voters who vote by absentee ballot. The law currently requires voters to disclose private and sensitive information in order to vote by absentee ballot. And, this information is being required by a law that provides no assurance that the information will be held confidential and secure, or that it will be available to defend against allegations of absentee ballot fraud, which is a class 4 felony for which there is no statute of limitations. We strongly advocate that all voters should be permitted to vote by absentee ballot.