Virginia House Bill HB1847

Virginia 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/23
• Refer: 1/10/23

Caption

Elections; registration, absentee, and conduct of election.

Impact

The bill introduces significant changes to existing laws governing elections in Virginia. One major change includes the mandate for the Department of Elections to operate a centralized recordkeeping system for all registered voters, which is designed to improve the accuracy of voter rolls. Another key feature is the requirement for the Department to undertake risk-limiting audits of contested races, thereby bolstering election integrity and ensuring that election outcomes can be verified against the official results.

Summary

House Bill 1847 aims to revise and clarify several aspects of election processes in Virginia, specifically focusing on voter registration, absentee voting, and election conduct. Notably, it seeks to streamline the process of maintaining the Virginia voter registration system, ensuring compliance with various federal regulations. The bill also aims to enhance the accessibility of voting for certain groups, including members of the military and overseas voters, allowing these individuals to register up to the day of the election in person. This amendments underlines the importance of facilitating voter engagement while ensuring electoral processes remain secure and efficient.

Contention

Despite the focus on improving electoral processes, HB1847 has sparked debate among legislators and advocacy groups. Critics express concerns about the new registration requirements for individuals during their interactions with the DMV, suggesting this may complicate the registration process for those who may not be prepared to affirm their citizenship status. Advocates argue that the measures to verify voter identity are necessary to prevent fraud, yet opponents fear they could disproportionately affect marginalized groups. This ongoing contention reflects the challenges of balancing security and accessibility in the electoral process.