Virginia Senate Bill SJR37

Virginia 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/22
• Refer: 1/12/22

Caption

Charter & directives for State Board of Elections; SOA to oversee & develop, etc.

Impact

If enacted, the bill could fundamentally change the way military-overseas ballots are submitted in Virginia. Currently, absentee ballots must be returned by mail, which has led to a significant number of unreturned ballots from military members stationed overseas. By enabling electronic submissions, SJR37 would aim to enhance voter accessibility and ensure that all eligible military personnel can effectively participate in elections, potentially increasing voter turnout among this demographic.

Summary

SJR37 proposes the establishment of a working group under the oversight of the Secretary of Administration to study the implementation of electronic return of voted military-overseas ballots. This initiative arises from the recognition that many absentee ballots from overseas voters, particularly those in the military, are often not counted due to delays in mail delivery. The bill seeks to address this issue by potentially allowing for the secure electronic return of ballots, thereby increasing the likelihood that these important votes are counted in elections.

Contention

One notable point of contention revolves around the concerns about security and the integrity of the voting process. Critics may argue that while electronic voting could enhance accessibility, it also introduces risks related to data privacy, ballot tampering, and unauthorized access to voter information. The bill addresses these concerns by mandating a study that focuses on areas such as encryption, authentication, and verification of voter identity. The outcome of this study and the recommendations made by the working group will be crucial in determining the viability and safety of implementing electronic voting for military-overseas ballots.