Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that authorizes any registered voter to apply to receive absentee ballots for all elections in which they are eligible to vote, and establishes a permanent absentee voter list.

Highlights:

• Authorizes any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in an election (Sec. 1).

• Requires any registered voter to be eligible to file a special application to receive absentee ballots for all elections in which they are eligible to vote (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that such an application must be on a form approved by the State Board of Elections, and the absentee ballots sent to a voter on the permanent absentee voter list must be sent to the address in the voter’s registration record (Sec. 1).

• Requires the general registrar to retain the application, enroll the applicant on a permanent absentee ballot list, and process the applicant’s request for each succeeding election (Sec. 1).

• Requires the applicant to specify by party designation the primary ballot they are requesting (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board to prescribe the process by which a voter on the permanent absentee voter list can (Sec. 1):

• Request that their absentee ballot for a single election or a primary election and the following general election be sent to an address other than the one on their voter registration record; 

• Request a primary ballot for a political party other than the one they specified on their application for permanent absentee voter status for a single primary election; and

• Change their political party selection for all succeeding primary elections.

• Requires that a voter be removed from the permanent absentee voter list if (Sec. 1):

• The voter requests in writing to be removed; 

• The voter’s registration is canceled; 

• The voter’s registration is placed on inactive status; or

• The voter movies to a different address not in the same county or city of their registration.

• Authorizes a person with a disability or illness who has applied for and has been sent an absentee ballot who did not receive or lost the absentee ballot on or before the Saturday before the election to obtain a replacement absentee ballot (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that authorizes any registered voter to apply to receive absentee ballots for all elections in which they are eligible to vote, and establishes a permanent absentee voter list.

Highlights:

• Authorizes any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in an election (Sec. 1).

• Requires any registered voter to be eligible to file a special application to receive absentee ballots for all elections in which they are eligible to vote (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that such an application must be on a form approved by the State Board of Elections, and the absentee ballots sent to a voter on the permanent absentee voter list must be sent to the address in the voter’s registration record (Sec. 1).

• Requires the general registrar to retain the application, enroll the applicant on a permanent absentee ballot list, and process the applicant’s request for each succeeding election (Sec. 1).

• Requires the applicant to specify by party designation the primary ballot they are requesting (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board to prescribe the process by which a voter on the permanent absentee voter list can (Sec. 1):

• Request that their absentee ballot for a single election or a primary election and the following general election be sent to an address other than the one on their voter registration record; 

• Request a primary ballot for a political party other than the one they specified on their application for permanent absentee voter status for a single primary election; and

• Change their political party selection for all succeeding primary elections.

• Requires that a voter be removed from the permanent absentee voter list if (Sec. 1):

• The voter requests in writing to be removed; 

• The voter’s registration is canceled; 

• The voter’s registration is placed on inactive status; or

• The voter movies to a different address not in the same county or city of their registration.

• Authorizes a person with a disability or illness who has applied for and has been sent an absentee ballot who did not receive or lost the absentee ballot on or before the Saturday before the election to obtain a replacement absentee ballot (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Ralph Northam