Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires the establishment of ballot drop boxes and makes various changes to absentee ballot processing, including verifying the voter affirmation statement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a ballot marked with the electronic ballot marking tool from being rejected because the ballot was printed on regular paper. No ballot marked with the electronic ballot marking tool will be rejected based on of the position of the voter's signature or address on the ballot return envelope as long as the voter's signature or address is anywhere on the ballot return envelope (Sec. 24.2-704).

• Requires the general registrar of each county or city to create at the office of the general registrar and each voter satellite office in operation for an election a drop-off location to allow the deposit of completed absentee ballots for such election. On the day of the election, there will also be a drop-off location at each polling place in operation for the election (Sec. 24.2-707.1.A).

• Requires absentee ballots to be collected from drop-off locations following the instructions provided by the Department. Such instructions will include a chain of custody requirements and recordkeeping requirements. Absentee ballots shall be collected at least daily by (Sec. 24.2-707.1.D):

• Two officers of election or electoral board members representing the two major political parties where practicable; or

• Two employees from the office of the general registrar, unless the drop-off location is in the office of the general registrar, in which case the general registrar or an assistant general registrar may collect the absentee ballots.

• Requires the registrar receiving the ballot to do the following (Sec. 24.2-709):

• Seal the ballot in an envelope with the statement or declaration of the voter, or both, attached to the outside; and

• Mark on each envelope the date, time, and manner of delivery.

• Specifies if the voter affirmation has been completed as required, the general registrar may open the sealed ballot envelope and insert the ballot in optical scan counting equipment or another secure ballot container without initiating any ballot count totals (Sec. 24.2-709.1).

• Authorizes a voter to, on the day of the election, offer to vote at his proper polling place or a central absentee voter precinct without returning his unused ballot, and he shall be entitled to cast a provisional ballot (Sec. 24.2-708-3).

• Specifies the provisions of this law will apply only to those localities not using an electronic poll book (Sec. 24.2-710).

• Requires the registrar to notify the voter in writing or by email of the error or failure and to provide information to the voter on how to correct the issue so the ballot will be counted. The voter will be entitled to make such necessary corrections before noon on the third day after the election, and his ballot shall then be counted according to the procedures outlined in this law if he is found to be entitled to vote (Sec. 24.2-709.1).

• Requires the general registrar to deliver all applications for absentee ballots for the election, under seal, to the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, except that the general registrar may retain all applications for absentee ballots until the electoral board has ascertained the results of the election, and has determined the validity of and counted all provisional ballots, at which point all applications will then be delivered, under seal, to the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city (Sec. 24.2-711.B).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires the establishment of ballot drop boxes and makes various changes to absentee ballot processing, including verifying the voter affirmation statement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a ballot marked with the electronic ballot marking tool from being rejected because the ballot was printed on regular paper. No ballot marked with the electronic ballot marking tool will be rejected based on of the position of the voter's signature or address on the ballot return envelope as long as the voter's signature or address is anywhere on the ballot return envelope (Sec. 24.2-704).

• Requires the general registrar of each county or city to create at the office of the general registrar and each voter satellite office in operation for an election a drop-off location to allow the deposit of completed absentee ballots for such election. On the day of the election, there will also be a drop-off location at each polling place in operation for the election (Sec. 24.2-707.1.A).

• Requires absentee ballots to be collected from drop-off locations following the instructions provided by the Department. Such instructions will include a chain of custody requirements and recordkeeping requirements. Absentee ballots shall be collected at least daily by (Sec. 24.2-707.1.D):

• Two officers of election or electoral board members representing the two major political parties where practicable; or

• Two employees from the office of the general registrar, unless the drop-off location is in the office of the general registrar, in which case the general registrar or an assistant general registrar may collect the absentee ballots.

• Requires the registrar receiving the ballot to do the following (Sec. 24.2-709):

• Seal the ballot in an envelope with the statement or declaration of the voter, or both, attached to the outside; and

• Mark on each envelope the date, time, and manner of delivery.

• Specifies if the voter affirmation has been completed as required, the general registrar may open the sealed ballot envelope and insert the ballot in optical scan counting equipment or another secure ballot container without initiating any ballot count totals (Sec. 24.2-709.1).

• Authorizes a voter to, on the day of the election, offer to vote at his proper polling place or a central absentee voter precinct without returning his unused ballot, and he shall be entitled to cast a provisional ballot (Sec. 24.2-708-3).

• Specifies the provisions of this law will apply only to those localities not using an electronic poll book (Sec. 24.2-710).

• Requires the registrar to notify the voter in writing or by email of the error or failure and to provide information to the voter on how to correct the issue so the ballot will be counted. The voter will be entitled to make such necessary corrections before noon on the third day after the election, and his ballot shall then be counted according to the procedures outlined in this law if he is found to be entitled to vote (Sec. 24.2-709.1).

• Requires the general registrar to deliver all applications for absentee ballots for the election, under seal, to the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, except that the general registrar may retain all applications for absentee ballots until the electoral board has ascertained the results of the election, and has determined the validity of and counted all provisional ballots, at which point all applications will then be delivered, under seal, to the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city (Sec. 24.2-711.B).

Full Bill Text