VirginiaBack-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation.
What it does
Secretary of Administration; work group on automatic voter registration. Directs the Department of Elections to convene a work group for the purpose of studying the implementation of back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration (AVR) in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the Office of the Attorney General, in addition to members of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections, general registrars, and organizations advocating for or working on voting rights and data privacy.
More detail
The work group is tasked with considering the effectiveness, efficiency, and security of back-end, opt-out AVR as compared to Virginia's current front-end, opt-out process and identifying the costs and benefits of moving to such a system. The Secretary of Administration is required to submit a report of the work group's findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 658.
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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 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 589 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB319ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 16Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 31-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 16-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12House Conferees: Hernandez, Price, Cherry
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 10Senate Conferees: Rouse, Deeds, Williams Graves
- Mar 10Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 9House acceded to request
- Mar 6Senate requested conference committeeMinor
- Vote recorded Insist & Request R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 4Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: fail.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
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
- Feb 27Passed by for the day
- Feb 27Read third timeMinor
- Feb 26Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 26Rules suspended
- Feb 24Committee substitute printed 26108498D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Senate committee offered
- Feb 24Senate committee offered
- Feb 24Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 18Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Feb 18Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 17Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Read second time and engrossedMinor
- Feb 15Read first timeMinor
- Feb 13Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Assigned HPE sub: Election AdministrationMinor
- Feb 3Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
- Jan 10Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Jan 10Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101442DIntroduced