Absentee voting; applications and ballots; photo identification required. (SB872)

Introduced By

Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Midlothian) with support from co-patron Sen. Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville)

Progress

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

Description

Absentee voting; applications and ballots; photo identification required. Requires any voter submitting an application for an absentee ballot by mail or by electronic or telephonic transmission to a facsimile device to submit with his application a copy of one of the forms of identification acceptable under current law. The bill also requires any voter to submit a copy of such identification with his voted absentee ballot. The bill exempts military and overseas voters and persons with a disability from these requirements. The bill contains technical amendments. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/12/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102046D
12/12/2016Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB872)
01/24/2017Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
01/24/2017Committee substitute printed 17104631D-S1
01/25/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB872S1)
01/26/2017Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/27/2017Read second time
01/27/2017Reading of substitute waived
01/27/2017Committee substitute agreed to 17104631D-S1
01/27/2017Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB872S1
01/30/2017Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N) (see vote tally)
02/02/2017Placed on Calendar
02/02/2017Read first time
02/02/2017Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/02/2017Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/07/2017Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment (5-Y 2-N)
02/10/2017Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment (13-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2017Read second time
02/14/2017Read third time
02/14/2017Committee amendment agreed to
02/14/2017Engrossed by House as amended
02/14/2017Passed House with amendment (60-Y 38-N)
02/14/2017VOTE: PASSAGE (60-Y 38-N) (see vote tally)
02/16/2017Reconsideration of House amendment agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/16/2017House amendment agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) (see vote tally)
02/20/2017Enrolled
02/20/2017Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB872ER)
02/20/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB872ER)
02/20/2017Signed by Speaker
02/21/2017Signed by President
02/21/2017Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/2017G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017
03/13/2017G Vetoed by Governor
04/05/2017Requires 27 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto
04/05/2017Senate sustained Governor's veto (20-Y 19-N) (see vote tally)
04/05/2017Requires 27 affirmative votes to override veto

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 3 clips in all, totaling 14 minutes.

Transcript

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.

TO AMEND AND REENACT VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE ASSEMBLY OF 1962 RELATED TO PROVIDING A CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF PETERSBERG RELATED TO COUNCIL, CITY OFFICERS AND POWERS.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEWOMAN FROM PETERSBERG, MISS AIRD.

Sen. Lashrecse D. Aird (D-Petersburg): THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, IT IS A COMPANION BILL TO MY HOUSE BILL 2464 AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY OF PETERSBERG AND IS THE RESULT OF A CITY COUNCIL-CREATED CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES JUST TECHNICAL CHANGES AND REMOVES OUTDATED LANGUAGE AND PRO VISIONS. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK THE HOUSE PASS THE BILL.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): SHALL THE BILL PASS? CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

Sen. Lashrecse D. Aird (D-Petersburg): AYE, 98, NO, 0. THE BILLS ARE PASSED.

[Unknown]: CONTINUING WITH TODAY'S CALENDAR, SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING REGULAR CALENDAR. BILL BEFORE US FIRST UP, SENATE BILL 950, A BILL TO AMEND AND REENACT A SECTION OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA RELATED TO NON REPARABLE AND REBUILT VEHICLES REPORTING TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION WITH AN AMENDMENT.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN FROM BOTETOURT.

[Unknown]: THANK YOU, SIR. SENATE BILL 950 IS IDENTICAL TO MY HOUSE BILL 1687 PASSING WITH A VOTE OF 93-2. THE BILL ELIMINATES REQUIREMENTS THAT REBUILT VEHICLES INCURRED DAMAGE THAT REMOVES 90% OF THEIR VALUE.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): SHALL THE BILL PASS? CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

[Unknown]: AYE, 96, NO, TWO. THE BILL IS PASSED.

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB1428.

Comments

Waldo Jaquith writes:

So now homebound people have to somehow photocopy their photo ID? They'd do this...how?

Carolyn Caywood writes:

And who is going to go to the house to see if the ID matches the person?

Carolyn Caywood writes:

And who takes this photo ID to the person's home to check whether it matches the person?

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

The ACLU of Virginia opposes this bill. The ACLU of Virginia strongly opposes the voter photo ID law because it places an unnecessary burden on voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Susana Thomas writes:

In fairness to all, and to improve, uphold and maintain the integrity of voting, every vote cast should be accompanied with an appropriate form of identification.

Bryant Dameron writes:

I oppose this bill and others like it that make participation in the process harder. Virginia should be making voting easier to encourage more participation, not creating further obstacles.

Brad writes:

Photo IDs should not be required to exercise the most fundamental constitutional right, by absentee ballot or in person. This is an impractical and potentially discriminating law. Any representative sincerely supportive of the democratic process should be doing everything he/she can to make voting simple, reliable and easy; not confusing, laborious and difficult.

Eva King writes:

I oppose this bill, as it creates yet another burden, discouraging voters from participating in elections. This country needs MORE of the people eligible to vote to participate in our democracy. Not creating more confusion, requirements and hurdles.

Alison writes:

Another Voting Rights suppression tactic of the republicans. You know going to vote is not like Black Friday. People are generally not rushing to vote. We can barely get the legitimate, eligible, registered voters to go to the polls. The danger of voter fraud is a complete fabrication. We have more problems getting people to turn out to vote. And you know the demographic you are so concerned about turning up to vote? Historically, they've been so marginalized and disenfranchised they don't see the value of participating in the voting process anyway because they never see their lot in life and in this society ever improve regardless of who is in power. So you don't have to expend so much energy and time trying to take away people's voting rights.

Jamie Dunn Swann writes:

Disgusting.