Third-party voter registration groups; registration, disclosure, and recordkeeping requirements. (SB710)

Introduced By

Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Midlothian)

Progress

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

Description

Third-party voter registration groups; registration, disclosure, and recordkeeping requirements. Requires any individual or group that will be distributing and collecting voter registration applications to register as a third-party registration group with the Department of Elections (the Department) prior to engaging in any voter registration activities. The bill requires volunteers and employees of third-party registration groups to register with the Department. The Department is required to issue a unique identification number to each third-party registration group, and each group shall assign its volunteers and employees a separate identification number. The bill requires these identification numbers to be included on voter registration applications collected by the third-party registration group but prohibits rejection of an application for lack of an identification number. The bill also requires third-party registration groups to maintain a record containing information about all volunteers and employees engaging in voter registration activities on behalf of the group, each of whom is required to receive training and to maintain a log of his registration activities to be submitted with all completed applications collected. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18100767D
01/10/2018Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB710)
01/23/2018Stricken at request of Patron in Privileges and Elections (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

Sue M writes:

I oppose this bill because it would add a substantial administrative burden to groups and individuals who help citizens register to vote, potentially deterring many from undertaking registration activities. It also tracks registration volunteers with personally identifiable numbers, which could discourage individuals from volunteering. The bill does not state how the identifying data would be used to improved the registration process. Furthermore, it would incur significant cost at the state level, requiring the addition of a full-time staffer at the state level to manage the program of unique registration group identification numbers, according to the impact report for a similar bill filed in the 2017 session.

David Pratt writes:

This is a blatant attempt to suppress voter registration in the state of Virginia. My God, are we becoming a fascist state now, tracking activists? It's a citizen's right to be able to encourage people to register to vote and show them the VA government website where they can do it online themselves. And there is a simple process in place where anyone can watch a training video and sign a pledge to abide by the rules should one want to be able to hand out paper registration forms.

I am strongly opposed to any bill whose obvious intent is to suppress voting registration, make it harder to vote, or one that tries to systematically purge voters from the rolls on the falsehood of "voter fraud." Beware of all of these Republican tactics.

Jane Green writes:

I oppose this bill because we need to find ways to make registration easier, not harder. This is an administrative burden not only on volunteers, who are required to operate in a bipartisan manner, but also on the state's department of elections.

Charlene writes:

Opposed. Registrations can already be verified for accuracy, why do we need to impede the registration process? There are many reputable groups that already provide registration education. Let’s focus on election integrity, so another voter never goes to the polls and an election official rips a boundary map from the precinct wall or fails to retrieve absentee ballots from the Post Office by midnight Election Day! No, never decide any future election result pulling canisters out of a blue bowl! How about that?

Laurie writes:

I oppose this bill because it would add a substantial administrative burden for organizations who help citizens register to vote It also tracks volunteers with personally identifiable numbers, which is a privacy concern. The proposed bill does not state how the identifying data would be used to improved the registration process. Furthermore, it would incur significant cost at the state level which will likely require the addition of a full-time staffer at the state level to manage the program of unique registration group identification numbers. We should be focusing on how to engage and encourage all eligible Virginians to participate in the voting process, this proposal does the opposite by impeding the registration process & making it more difficult.

Julie Garrett writes:

OPPOSED! I agree with David Pratt and the other opposed comments above! Registrations are already verified. The process is already complicated enough, especially for citizens who move often. Why are more layers of red tape and bureaucracy being added for no reason? The only reason is voter suppression. I oppose this bill because of the unnecessary added burden it puts on community organizers and average citizens to easily mobilize and inform their communities to exercise their right to vote. We should be encouraging all Virginians to vote, not impeding them.

diana smith writes:

I oppose any action that furthers the cause of voter suppression; placing burdens on potential voters and groups who will help those voters is a clarion call for reducing citizen participation in the electoral system. Shame on those who would vote for this bill.

Rachel Gatwood writes:

This bill would place a pointless burden on voter registration groups. Why should someone who helps another citizen register be forced to jump through hoops to do it? I think it's clear that Senator Chase wants to make it harder for people to register—which is voter suppression, plain and simple.

Rick Galliher writes:

Opposed. You should be making voting easier, not harder. Where is your moral compass?

Katherine Lowry writes:

I oppose this bill because it would create unnecessary administrative work for the Department of Elections while also making it harder for third-party groups to register voters. The Department of Elections should focus on authenticating the voter registration form itself rather than the third-party group conducting the registration. Additionally, most third-party groups that conduct voter registration drives already go through training to make sure they register voters who are eligible to vote and fill out the forms correctly. Adding the additional burden of acquiring a registration with the Department of Elections is unnecessary and would decrease the amount of voter registrations done by third-party groups.

Patricia writes:

We need to make sure SB710 dies in Committee. There is absolutely no reason for this added administrative burden, which is only meant to suppress the vote. Our SBE needs funding to audit and fix the split precinct problems, not more cumbersome voter registration regulations.