Absentee voting; witness requirement for absentee ballots. (HB177)

Introduced By

Del. Rob Bloxom (R-Accomack) with support from co-patron Del. Chris Runion (R-Bridgewater)

Progress

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

Description

Elections; absentee voting; witness signature requirement; additional information. Makes an absentee voter's failure to have a witness sign the absentee ballot envelope a material omission that renders the ballot void. Additionally, the bill requires an absentee voter to include the last four number of his social security number and his date of birth with the voter affirmation statement on such ballot envelope. Read the Bill »

Status

03/03/2022: Passed the Senate

History

DateAction
01/10/2022Committee
01/10/2022Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22101654D
01/10/2022Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/10/2022Introduced bill reprinted 22101654D
01/17/2022Impact statement from DPB (HB177)
01/31/2022Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1
02/04/2022House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
02/04/2022Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (14-Y 5-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2022Committee substitute printed 22106054D-H1
02/08/2022Read first time
02/09/2022Read second time
02/09/2022Committee substitute agreed to 22106054D-H1
02/09/2022Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB177H1
02/09/2022Impact statement from DPB (HB177H1)
02/10/2022Read third time and passed House (52-Y 48-N)
02/10/2022VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) (see vote tally)
02/11/2022Constitutional reading dispensed
02/11/2022Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/23/2022House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
03/01/2022Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
03/01/2022Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/01/2022Committee substitute printed 22107254D-S1
03/02/2022Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/03/2022Impact statement from DPB (HB177S1)
03/03/2022Read third time
03/03/2022Reading of substitute waived
03/03/2022Committee substitute agreed to 22107254D-S1
03/03/2022Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB177S1
03/03/2022Passed Senate with substitute (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/07/2022Senate substitute rejected by House 22107254D-S1 (0-Y 98-N)
03/07/2022VOTE: Rejected (0-Y 98-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2022Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2022Senate requested conference committee
03/09/2022House acceded to request
03/10/2022Conferees appointed by House
03/10/2022Delegates: Bloxom, Ransone, Glass
03/10/2022Conferees appointed by Senate
03/10/2022Senators: Ebbin, Boysko, Vogel
03/12/2022Continued to 2022 Sp. Sess. pursuant to HJR 455
03/12/2022Continued to 2022 Sp. Sess. 1 pursuant to HJR455

Comments

ChangeServant, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

OPPOSE. Instead of eliminating the arcane witness requirement that dates back to Jim Crow, this bill strengthens the requirement for a witness without any evidence that this is needed, and despite concern about the impact on people living alone or who continue to be concerned about exposure to COVID.