Virginia House Bill HB1532

Virginia 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/24
• Refer: 1/19/24

Caption

Voter registration; digital list of registered voters and persons voting at elections.

Impact

The bill is expected to have a significant impact on how voter data is accessed and utilized by various stakeholders in the electoral process, including candidates and political committees. By facilitating the provision of voter lists, the legislation could improve the ability of these organizations to engage with potential voters and bolster their campaign outreach efforts. However, it also raises important questions regarding data privacy and the safeguarding of sensitive voter information, as these lists must not include personal identifiers like social security numbers.

Summary

House Bill 1532 aims to amend specific sections of the Code of Virginia relating to voter registration and the distribution of digital lists of registered voters and individuals who have voted in elections. The bill stipulates that the Department of Elections will provide digital lists of all registered voters and those who have voted in recent elections, under certain conditions, supporting political activities while ensuring some level of privacy for voters. The intent is to enhance electoral transparency and accessibility for candidates and political organizations.

Contention

Notably, the bill outlines specific restrictions on the usage of the provided lists, including prohibiting the publication of this information in searchable formats online. This aspect of the bill may lead to contention among privacy advocates who argue that the sharing of voter data, even with restrictions, could lead to potential misuse. Additionally, the discussion around the bill shows differing opinions regarding how much information should be freely available for political purposes versus the need to protect voter privacy, which could be a point of debate among legislators and the public.