Absentee voting; absentee voting in person; available beginning 10 days prior to election.
Summary
HB1573 would change Virginia’s absentee voting rules by moving the start of in-person absentee voting from 45 days before an election to 10 days before an election, while also adjusting related deadlines and office hours tied to absentee ballot applications and in-person absentee voting. The bill revises Code sections 24.2-701 and 24.2-701.1 to update when absentee ballot applications may be accepted, when registrars’ offices must be open on the two Saturdays before an election, and when in-person absentee voting is available. It also preserves existing procedures for absentee applications, voter identification, assistance for voters with disabilities or literacy limitations, and provisional ballots when identification is not provided.
The measure also maintains special rules for covered voters and first-time federal election voters under the Help America Vote Act, including alternative identification options and provisional ballot procedures. In addition, it keeps the ability for eligible voters to request absentee applications electronically and clarifies that absentee voting in person does not require a separate application for registered voters. Overall, the bill narrows the in-person absentee voting window and updates administrative timing provisions for local election officials and the Department of Elections.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Virginia election law governing absentee voting, specifically the timing and administration of absentee ballot applications and in-person absentee voting. It would directly affect general registrars, electoral boards, the Department of Elections, and voters who use absentee voting, especially those relying on early in-person voting. The bill would also alter statutory deadlines and office-hour requirements in the election code, while leaving intact identification, assistance, and provisional ballot safeguards.
Sentiment
The limited available voting history suggests mixed but somewhat favorable committee-level support, with the subcommittee recommending that the bill be laid on the table by a 5-3 vote. No transcript discussion was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate broader sentiment. Based on the bill’s content, the proposal appears to be a significant change to absentee voting access, which typically draws both reform support and access concerns.
Contention
The main point of contention is the proposed reduction in the absentee voting window from 45 days to 10 days before an election, which would likely be viewed by supporters as tightening election administration and by opponents as reducing voter access and convenience. Related issues include the revised office-hour requirements for registrars, the continued use of provisional ballots when identification is not shown, and the balance between voter access and election integrity. The 5-3 subcommittee vote to lay the bill on the table indicates at least some resistance, but no specific arguments or named opponents were provided in the record.