Absentee voting; no excuse. (HB57)

Introduced By

Del. Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Del. Dawn Adams (D-Richmond), and Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Woodbridge)

Progress

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

Description

Absentee voting; no excuse. Allows any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he is qualified to vote. The bill removes the current list of statutory reasons for which a person may be entitled to vote by absentee ballot and consolidates multiple sections relating to absentee voting by uniformed and overseas voters into one section and multiple sections related to absentee voting by persons with a disability into one section. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/01/2017Committee
12/01/2017Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18100938D
12/01/2017Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/22/2018Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1
01/24/2018Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (HB57)
01/29/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB57)
01/30/2018Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (4-Y 2-N)
02/13/2018Left in Privileges and Elections

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: SB114.

Comments

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

The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill that assures that all voters can vote absentee by mail or in person without having to give the government an excuse. Find out more about how you can join ACLU's PeoplePower and advocate for this legislation at peoplepower.org and download the voting rights advocacy toolkit here, https://acluva.org/en/publications/advocacy-toolkit-voting-rights

Amy Hjerstedt writes:

Yes! This is a good start to reforming VA’s draconian voter laws. Allowing people more flexibility to vote will create a democracy that is more representative. Besides, the list of 21 reason to absentee vote is subjective and open to interpretation. This will create a fairer law for everyone. Other improvements? Early voting! Automatic voter registration! Mail-in ballots!

Rob Waters writes:

This is seriously the beginning of opening the doors of voter engagement and making it easier for people to cast their voice.

Greg Bruno writes:

There never was a good reason to keep citizens from voting absentee, except to make it harder for many to vote at all.

Aaron B Penney writes:

Every vote matters and we need to make it easier to vote not harder. I support this bill.

Linda Pezdirtz writes:

I believe everyone who is a legal citizen should vote, with the information showing their identification ID and voters registration number and address. There has to be a way to not elicit duplications and fraudulent activity. That's since absentee votes have had a part in fraudulent issues.

Linda Pezdirtz writes:

And to make sure they are not dead people voting. A database to double check that with the Death Certificate agency.

Waldo Jaquith writes:

And to make sure they are not dead people voting. A database to double check that with the Death Certificate agency.

Yes, you're describing exactly how things work right now.