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

DateAction
01/19/2018Presented and ordered printed 18105336D
01/19/2018Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/30/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB983)
01/30/2018Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/30/2018Committee substitute printed 18106429D-S1
01/30/2018Incorporates SB322 (Peake)
01/30/2018Incorporates SB522 (Barker)
02/01/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB983S1)
02/02/2018Passed by for the day
02/05/2018Passed by for the day
02/06/2018Passed by for the day
02/07/2018Read second time
02/07/2018Reading of substitute waived
02/07/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18106429D-S1
02/07/2018Reading of amendments waived
02/07/2018Amendments by Senator Barker rejected (19-Y 21-N) (see vote tally)
02/07/2018Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB983S1
02/08/2018Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/14/2018Placed on Calendar
02/14/2018Read first time
02/14/2018Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/15/2018Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1
02/20/2018Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N)
02/23/2018Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (12-Y 9-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2018Committee substitute printed 18107617D-H1
02/26/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB983H1)
02/27/2018Read second time
02/28/2018Passed by for the day
03/01/2018Read third time
03/01/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18107617D-H1 (51-Y 49-N)
03/01/2018VOTE: ADOPTION (51-Y 49-N) (see vote tally)
03/01/2018Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB983H1
03/01/2018Passed House with substitute (100-Y 0-N)
03/01/2018VOTE: PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2018House substitute rejected by Senate (1-Y 39-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2018Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2018House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N) (see vote tally)
03/06/2018House insisted on substitute
03/06/2018House requested conference committee
03/07/2018Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/07/2018Conferees appointed by Senate
03/07/2018Senators: Obenshain, Barker, Cosgrove
03/08/2018Conferees appointed by House
03/08/2018Delegates: Cole, Jones, S.C., Sickles
03/10/2018Conference report agreed to by Senate (32-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
03/10/2018Reconsideration of conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/10/2018Conference report agreed to by Senate (32-Y 8-N) (see vote tally)
03/10/2018C Amended by conference committee
03/10/2018Conference report agreed to by House (99-Y 0-N)
03/10/2018VOTE: ADOPTION (99-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/20/2018Enrolled
03/20/2018Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB983ER)
03/20/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB983ER)
03/20/2018Signed by Speaker
03/22/2018Signed by President
03/26/2018Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 26, 2018
03/26/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
04/04/2018G Approved by Governor-Chapter 779 (effective 7/1/18)
04/04/2018G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0779)

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 2 minutes.

Comments

Sue Mosher writes:

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.