An Act to amend and reenact § 24.2-427 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter registration; cancellation of registration; sources of data.
HB111 amends Virginia’s voter registration cancellation statute, § 24.2-427, to tighten and clarify when a registrar may remove a voter from the rolls and what sources of information may be used. The bill preserves existing grounds for cancellation, including a voter’s own request, death, felony disqualification, adjudication of incapacity, and evidence that a voter has moved or registered elsewhere. It also continues the process for handling reports that a registrant is not a U.S. citizen, including notice and a 14-day opportunity to submit a sworn statement of citizenship before cancellation.
The bill adds or reinforces procedural safeguards around cancellations by limiting reliance on outside data sources. Except for a voter’s written request or a certified/authenticated death certificate, a registrar may not cancel a registration based on data or reports from sources other than the Department of Elections or a state agency approved by the State Board of Elections. It also requires notice of cancellation to be sent by mail and, if available, by email, and it specifies timing for processing felony conviction lists before elections. For move-related cancellations, the bill allows use of DMV Driver License Compact notices but requires notice to both the voter’s new and former addresses.
HB111 would directly affect Virginia election administration by narrowing the sources of data local registrars may use to cancel voter registrations and by adding notice requirements before or after cancellation. It amends § 24.2-427 of the Code of Virginia, so its practical impact falls on general registrars, the Department of Elections, the DMV, and voters whose registrations may be canceled for death, felony conviction, citizenship issues, or relocation. The bill is aimed at reducing erroneous or unsupported removals while preserving the state’s authority to maintain accurate voter rolls.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote breakdown, but the bill was ultimately vetoed by the Governor. Based on the text, the measure appears to reflect a voter-roll integrity and due-process approach, with an emphasis on limiting cancellations to reliable sources and ensuring notice to affected voters. The veto suggests the bill did not become law despite legislative approval.
The main point of contention is likely the balance between voter-roll maintenance and protections against improper cancellation. Supporters would view the bill as a safeguard against overreliance on third-party data and as a way to improve notice and accuracy. Opponents may have been concerned that the restrictions on data sources, added notice steps, or tighter cancellation procedures could make it harder for registrars to remove ineligible voters efficiently, especially in cases involving citizenship, relocation, or felony status. The veto indicates unresolved disagreement over whether the bill’s safeguards were necessary or whether they would impede election administration.