Elections; precincts not to be changed between certain dates. (SB983)
Introduced By
Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) with support from co-patrons Sen. George Barker (D-Alexandria), and Sen. Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Election precincts not to be changed between certain dates. Prohibits counties, cities, and towns from creating, dividing, abolishing, or consolidating any precincts or otherwise changing the boundaries of any precinct between February 1, 2019, and May 15, 2021, except in certain specified circumstances. Precinct ordinances may be adopted after January 1, 2021, but may not be implemented before May 15, 2021. This bill incorporates SB 322 and SB 522 and is identical to HB 767. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Passed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/19/2018 | Presented and ordered printed 18105336D |
01/19/2018 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
01/30/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB983) |
01/30/2018 | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/30/2018 | Committee substitute printed 18106429D-S1 |
01/30/2018 | Incorporates SB322 (Peake) |
01/30/2018 | Incorporates SB522 (Barker) |
02/01/2018 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/01/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB983S1) |
02/02/2018 | Passed by for the day |
02/05/2018 | Passed by for the day |
02/06/2018 | Passed by for the day |
02/07/2018 | Read second time |
02/07/2018 | Reading of substitute waived |
02/07/2018 | Committee substitute agreed to 18106429D-S1 |
02/07/2018 | Reading of amendments waived |
02/07/2018 | Amendments by Senator Barker rejected (19-Y 21-N) (see vote tally) |
02/07/2018 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB983S1 |
02/08/2018 | Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/14/2018 | Placed on Calendar |
02/14/2018 | Read first time |
02/14/2018 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
02/15/2018 | Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1 |
02/20/2018 | Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N) |
02/23/2018 | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (12-Y 9-N) (see vote tally) |
02/23/2018 | Committee substitute printed 18107617D-H1 |
02/26/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB983H1) |
02/27/2018 | Read second time |
02/28/2018 | Passed by for the day |
03/01/2018 | Read third time |
03/01/2018 | Committee substitute agreed to 18107617D-H1 (51-Y 49-N) |
03/01/2018 | VOTE: ADOPTION (51-Y 49-N) (see vote tally) |
03/01/2018 | Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB983H1 |
03/01/2018 | Passed House with substitute (100-Y 0-N) |
03/01/2018 | VOTE: PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
03/05/2018 | House substitute rejected by Senate (1-Y 39-N) (see vote tally) |
03/05/2018 | Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
03/05/2018 | House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N) (see vote tally) |
03/06/2018 | House insisted on substitute |
03/06/2018 | House requested conference committee |
03/07/2018 | Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
03/07/2018 | Conferees appointed by Senate |
03/07/2018 | Senators: Obenshain, Barker, Cosgrove |
03/08/2018 | Conferees appointed by House |
03/08/2018 | Delegates: Cole, Jones, S.C., Sickles |
03/10/2018 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (32-Y 7-N) (see vote tally) |
03/10/2018 | Reconsideration of conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
03/10/2018 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (32-Y 8-N) (see vote tally) |
03/10/2018 | C Amended by conference committee |
03/10/2018 | Conference report agreed to by House (99-Y 0-N) |
03/10/2018 | VOTE: ADOPTION (99-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
03/20/2018 | Enrolled |
03/20/2018 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB983ER) |
03/20/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB983ER) |
03/20/2018 | Signed by Speaker |
03/22/2018 | Signed by President |
03/26/2018 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 26, 2018 |
03/26/2018 | G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018 |
04/04/2018 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 779 (effective 7/1/18) |
04/04/2018 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0779) |
Comments
Of the two bills offered to solve the split precinct problem, I much prefer SB983 over HB158. The Senate bill would require localities to adjust local district and precinct lines so that each precinct fits wholly inside congressional or state district lines. Localities that found that impossible could apply for a waiver either to maintain a split precinct or to draw a precinct with fewer than the usual minimum number of voters. The House bill, on the other hand, would give precedence to local precinct boundaries and adjust districts to match, which makes no sense to me, given that voting precincts are set according to local needs and don't necessarily reflect the larger concerns that go into drawing congressional and General Assembly districts.