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

DateAction
11/23/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101251D
11/23/2016Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/17/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB845)
01/31/2017Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/02/2017Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2017Read second time and engrossed
02/03/2017Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2017Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/08/2017Placed on Calendar
02/08/2017Read first time
02/08/2017Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/08/2017Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/14/2017Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely
02/21/2017Left in Privileges and Elections

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB1603.

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.