Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers. (SB845)
Introduced By
Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston) with support from co-patron Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers. Entitles a person to vote absentee if the person is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled individual who is confined at home. Currently, such caregivers are entitled to vote absentee only if the ill or disabled individual who is confined at home is a family member of the caregiver. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
11/23/2016 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101251D |
11/23/2016 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
01/17/2017 | Impact statement from DPB (SB845) |
01/31/2017 | Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/02/2017 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/03/2017 | Read second time and engrossed |
02/03/2017 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/03/2017 | Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/08/2017 | Placed on Calendar |
02/08/2017 | Read first time |
02/08/2017 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
02/08/2017 | Assigned P & E sub: Elections |
02/14/2017 | Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
02/21/2017 | Left in Privileges and Elections |
Comments
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.