Absentee ballots; expediting counting of absentee ballots returned by mail prior to election day. (SB960)

Introduced By

Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake) with support from co-patron Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-Jarratt)

Progress

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

Description

Absentee ballots; expediting the counting of absentee ballots returned by mail prior to election day. Provides that if a general registrar has opted to expedite the counting of absentee ballots returned by mail by opening the sealed ballot envelopes in accordance with law, the requirement that the absentee ballot return envelope and unopened ballot envelope be deposited into an appropriate container does not apply. Current law contains a contradiction that absentee ballot return envelopes and unopened ballot envelopes are to be deposited into an appropriate container while also allowing the sealed ballot envelopes to be opened so that they may be inserted into a ballot scanner machine or other secure ballot container. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/02/2017Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103086D
01/02/2017Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/16/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB960)
01/17/2017Reported from Privileges and Elections (9-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/19/2017Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/20/2017Passed by for the day
01/23/2017Read second time and engrossed
01/24/2017Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2017Placed on Calendar
01/31/2017Read first time
01/31/2017Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/31/2017Assigned P & E sub: Elections
02/07/2017Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
02/10/2017Reported from Privileges and Elections (19-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2017Read second time
02/14/2017Passed by for the day
02/15/2017Read third time
02/15/2017Passed House (99-Y 0-N)
02/15/2017VOTE: PASSAGE (99-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/17/2017Enrolled
02/17/2017Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB960ER)
02/17/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB960ER)
02/17/2017Signed by Speaker
02/20/2017Signed by President
02/21/2017Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/2017G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017
03/03/2017G Approved by Governor-Chapter 275 (effective 7/1/17)
03/03/2017G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0275)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 5 minutes.

Transcript

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

RICHMOND COUNTY 4H -- RICHMOND CITY 4H CLUB THE WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE. [APPLAUSE] THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY, SENATOR SASLAW.

Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-Springfield): I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD INQUIRE IN THE GALLERY IF THERE ARE 4H MEMBERS FROM FAIRFAX, ALEXANDRIA.

[Unknown]: THE ANSWER, SENATOR, IS NO

Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-Springfield): THE SENATOR FROM RUSSELL COUNTY, I THINK WE HAVE SOME

[Unknown]: I BELIEVE WE DO, MORE 4H MEMBERS. MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE THEM. I RISE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A GROUP FROM TAXEL COUNTY, SMITH COUNTY AND BLAND COUNTIES, THEY VISITED WITH ME THIS MORNING, MAKING UP THE LARGER PART OF MY DISTRICT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THOSE FIVE COUNTIES. I HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE THE PLEASURE OF THE SENATE TO GIVE THEM THE WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SENATOR. WOULD MEMBERS FROM TAXWELL, SMITH AND BLAND COUNTIES 4H PLEASE RISE? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE COME A ALONG WAY BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE YOU COME AND VISIT US AND TELL US WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU IN OUR AREA OF THE COMMONWEALTH, AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL AREA YOU COME FORECLOSURE AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE WISH YOU SAFE TRAIFLS. I WOULD ASK MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN OFFERING MEMBERS OF THE TAXWELL, SMITH AND BLAND COUNTY 4H THE WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH US IN THE GALLERY THAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, OUR FIRST LADY, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS, AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN WITH US IN THE CAPITOL TODAY, BUT TO OUR FIRST LADY, DOROTHY MCAULIFFE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR EDUCATION, AND ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT HAVE NOT HAD MEALS BEFORE THEY GO TO SCHOOL EACH MORNING. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND WE WANT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN TO GET OFF TO A HEALTHY START IN THE MORNING. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR ACCOMPANYING MY WIFE, PAM. WOULD PAL AND DOROTHY PLEASE RISE? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. LET'S GIVE THEM THE WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE. [APPLAUSE] THE SENATOR FROM GRACESON. -- FROM GRAYSON. IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR THE MORNING HOUR? THE CLERK WILL PLEASE CALL THE CAR DAR. SENATE CALENDAR FOR TUESDAY JANUARY 24, 2017, UNCONTESTED CALENDAR, SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING. THE SENATOR FROM JAMES CITY COUNTY, SENATOR NORMENT.

Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg): THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, I RESPECTFULLY MOVE THAT ALL THE SENATE BILLS ON THE THIRD READING ON THE UNCONTESTED CALENDAR WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ALL SENATE BILLS ON PAGES 1-15 INCLUDING SENATE BILL 786 THROUGH SENATE BILL 1368 BE PUBLISHED ON THE FINAL PASSAGE IN THE BLOCK, ANY SENATOR WHO DESIRES TO REMOVE A BILL FROM THE BLOCK AND TO INTRODUCE ANYONE ELSE IN THE GALLERY, PLEASE DO SO AFTER THE CLERK HAS READ THE NUMBER.

[Unknown]: THANK YOU SENATOR, THE QUESTION IS, SHALL THE SENATE BILLS ON THE UNCONTESTED CALENDAR, THIRD READING -- THIRD READING, PAGES 1-15, SENATE BILLS 786 THROUGH SENATE BILL 1366, BE PLACED UPON THEIR FINAL PASSAGE IN THE BLOCK WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY SENATOR DESIRING A BILL REMOVED FROM THE BLOCK WILL DO SO AFTER THE CLERK HAS READ THE NUMBER OF THE BILL?

Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg): ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WILL SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED, NO, THE AYES HAVE IT, THE MOTION IS AGREED TO, THE BILLS WILL BE IN THE BLOCK, THE CLERK WILL PLEASE READ THE NUMBER OF THE BILL.

[Unknown]: SENATE BILL 786, SENATE BILL 804, SENATE BILL 843, SALOMON SMITH BARNEY 864, SALOMON SMITH BARNEY -- SENATE BILL 912, SENATE BILL 919, SENATE BILL 926, SENATE BILL 936, SENATE BILL 960. THE SENATOR FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY, SENATOR STANLEY.

Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta): THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ACTUAL OUT 960 FROM THE BLOCK, WI

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): WITHOUT OBJECTION, SENATE APPRECIATE IT. BILL 960 WILL COME OUT OF THE BLOCK.

Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta): SENATE BILL 961, SENATE BILL 964, SENATE BILL 977, SENATE BILL 1001, SENATE BILL 225, SENATE BILL 1083, SENATE BILL 1104, SEN --

[Unknown]: MR. PRESIDENT? YES, THE SENATOR FROM ROANOKE COUNTY. CAN SB919 COME OUT OF THE BLOCK?