Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the general registrar to contract with third parties for the printing, assembly, and mailing of absentee ballots.

Highlights:

• Requires the general registrar to enroll the name and address of each registered applicant on an absentee voter applicant list that will be maintained in the office of the general registrar with a file of the applications received (Sec. 1.A).

• Prohibits a list or application from containing an individual's social security number, or any part thereof, or the individual's day and month of birth, from being made available for inspection or copying by anyone. The Department of Elections will prescribe procedures for general registrars to make the information in the lists and applications available in a manner that does not reveal social security numbers or parts thereof, or an individual's day and month of birth (Sec. 1.A).

• Requires the general registrar to note on each application received whether the applicant is or is not a registered voter (Sec. 1.B).

• Specifies if the application has been properly completed and signed and the applicant is a registered voter of the precinct in which he offers to vote, the general registrar will, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available, send by the deadline, obtaining a certificate or other evidence of either first-class or expedited mailing or delivery from the United States Postal Service or other commercial delivery provider, or deliver to him in person in the office of the registrar (Sec. 1.C).

• Authorizes the general registrar to contract with a third party for the printing, assembly, and mailing of the items previously stated. The general registrar will provide to the contractor in a timely manner the names, addresses, precincts, and ballot styles of voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail. The vendor will provide to the general registrar a report of the voters to whom the absentee ballot materials have been sent (Sec. 1.D).

• Establishes requests have to be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh day prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote, and the general registrar shall send those items to the applicant by mail, obtaining a certificate or other evidence of mailing (Sec. 1.E).

• Specifies if the applicant is a covered voter, the general registrar, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available, will mail by the deadline or deliver in person to the applicant in the office of the general registrar the items and, if necessary, an application for registration (Sec. 1.F).

• Requires the circuit courts to have jurisdiction to issue an injunction to enforce the provisions of this law upon the application of the following (Sec. 1.G):

• Any aggrieved voter;

• Any candidate in an election district in whole or in part in the court's jurisdiction where a violation of this law has occurred, or is likely to occur; or

• The campaign committee or the appropriate district political party chairman of such a candidate.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the general registrar to contract with third parties for the printing, assembly, and mailing of absentee ballots.

Highlights:

• Requires the general registrar to enroll the name and address of each registered applicant on an absentee voter applicant list that will be maintained in the office of the general registrar with a file of the applications received (Sec. 1.A).

• Prohibits a list or application from containing an individual's social security number, or any part thereof, or the individual's day and month of birth, from being made available for inspection or copying by anyone. The Department of Elections will prescribe procedures for general registrars to make the information in the lists and applications available in a manner that does not reveal social security numbers or parts thereof, or an individual's day and month of birth (Sec. 1.A).

• Requires the general registrar to note on each application received whether the applicant is or is not a registered voter (Sec. 1.B).

• Specifies if the application has been properly completed and signed and the applicant is a registered voter of the precinct in which he offers to vote, the general registrar will, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available, send by the deadline, obtaining a certificate or other evidence of either first-class or expedited mailing or delivery from the United States Postal Service or other commercial delivery provider, or deliver to him in person in the office of the registrar (Sec. 1.C).

• Authorizes the general registrar to contract with a third party for the printing, assembly, and mailing of the items previously stated. The general registrar will provide to the contractor in a timely manner the names, addresses, precincts, and ballot styles of voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail. The vendor will provide to the general registrar a report of the voters to whom the absentee ballot materials have been sent (Sec. 1.D).

• Establishes requests have to be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh day prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote, and the general registrar shall send those items to the applicant by mail, obtaining a certificate or other evidence of mailing (Sec. 1.E).

• Specifies if the applicant is a covered voter, the general registrar, at the time when the printed ballots for the election are available, will mail by the deadline or deliver in person to the applicant in the office of the general registrar the items and, if necessary, an application for registration (Sec. 1.F).

• Requires the circuit courts to have jurisdiction to issue an injunction to enforce the provisions of this law upon the application of the following (Sec. 1.G):

• Any aggrieved voter;

• Any candidate in an election district in whole or in part in the court's jurisdiction where a violation of this law has occurred, or is likely to occur; or

• The campaign committee or the appropriate district political party chairman of such a candidate.

Full Bill Text