VirginiaElection results; counting machine-readable ballots, processing absentee ballots.
What it does
Election results; counting machine-readable ballots; processing absentee ballots. Requires ballot scanner machines to be used to count machine-readable ballots and prohibits such ballots from being counted by hand unless (i) the ballot scanner machine is inoperative, (ii) there is no other available scanner, and (iii) it would be unreasonable to wait for (a) the inoperative ballot scanner to be made operative or (b) an operative ballot scanner machine to be delivered to the polling place rather than hand counting the ballots. "Ballot scanner machine" and "machine-readable ballot" are defined terms under current law.
More detail
The bill also provides that if, in the processing and counting of provisional and absentee ballots, any machine-readable ballot is damaged or defective, a team of election officials representing both parties shall make a true duplicate copy of such damaged ballot as a substitute for such damaged ballot. This bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 718 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 14Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 14Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Minor
- Mar 12Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 11Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 11Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
- Mar 11Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB968ER)Major
- Mar 11EnrolledMinor
- Mar 4Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 32-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 2Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to
- Feb 27Passed by for the day
- Feb 27Read third timeMinor
- Feb 26Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Feb 26Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 26Rules suspended
- Feb 25Committee substitute printed 26107343D-S1Major
- Feb 25Senate committee offered
- Feb 24Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Senate committee offered
- Feb 24Senate committee offered
- Feb 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
- Feb 4Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Feb 4Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 3Read third time and passed House (65-Y 33-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 2committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 2Read second timeMinor
- Jan 30Read first timeMinor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 30Committee substitute printed 26106669D-H1Major
- Jan 30Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (16-Y 6-N)Minor
- Jan 30House committee offered
- Jan 27Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
- Jan 26Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 25Assigned HPE sub: Election AdministrationMinor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101436DIntroduced