An Act to amend and reenact § 24.2-124.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; administration; acceptance of certain gifts and funding; approval required.
HB639 amends Virginia election law to place new limits on the acceptance of private money, grants, property, or services used for voter education and outreach, voter registration, and other election administration expenses. Under the bill, the State Board of Elections, the Department of Elections, local electoral boards, and general registrar offices may not solicit, accept, use, or dispose of such private support if its annual value exceeds $1,000 unless the acceptance is approved by a two-thirds vote of the State Board.
The bill also requires recipients to report any covered private funding or in-kind support to the Department through a process the Department establishes. It expressly preserves the ability to use private facilities as polling places or voter satellite offices if they otherwise meet legal requirements, and it does not restrict federal grants even when those grants are funded in whole or in part by private donations. In addition, the Department of Elections must issue guidance to local election officials by October 1, 2026, on acceptable acceptance and use of these funds and services.
HB639 would amend § 24.2-124.1 of the Code of Virginia and tighten oversight of private contributions to election administration by requiring supermajority approval before election agencies can accept covered private funding above the $1,000 annual threshold. The bill would affect the State Board of Elections, the Department of Elections, local electoral boards, and general registrars, and would add reporting and guidance obligations for the Department. It would not bar federally funded grants or the use of privately furnished polling locations that otherwise comply with law.
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote breakdown, so there is no documented floor or committee debate in the materials provided. The bill’s structure suggests a policy preference for greater transparency and centralized control over outside funding in elections, but the absence of recorded discussion prevents a firm assessment of broader legislative sentiment. The presence of a gubernatorial substitute indicates the measure was actively revised at the executive level.
The main point of contention is likely the balance between preventing undue private influence in election administration and preserving flexibility for election officials to obtain outside support for voter outreach, registration, and operational needs. Supporters would likely favor the approval requirement and reporting rules as safeguards against conflicts of interest or perceived partisan influence. Opponents would likely argue that the $1,000 threshold and two-thirds State Board approval could make it harder for election offices to secure timely resources, especially for nonpartisan voter education and local election operations. The bill also draws a distinction between private funding and federal grants, which may have been intended to limit the scope of the restriction while still leaving room for disagreement over implementation.