View source for Virginia Election Bills (2026)

'''Virginia Election Bills (2026)''' — Suite of election-related bills introduced by Virginia Democrats in the 2026 General Assembly session.

== Summary ==
Virginia Democrats introduced a sweeping package of election bills after gaining unified control of state government in 2025. Critics describe them as a comprehensive effort to entrench Democratic power; supporters frame them as voting rights protections.

== Bills ==

=== HB111 — Ban Voter Roll Cleanup ===
Bans future attempts to clean up voter rolls. This comes after Governor Glenn Youngkin's administration identified [https://thefederalist.com/2024/08/08/if-democrats-want-proof-non-citizens-are-registering-to-vote-virginia-just-found-6303-examples/ 6,303 non-citizens on Virginia voter rolls] in 2024, and the DOJ sued Virginia for removing them.

=== HB968 — Ban Hand-Counted Ballots ===
Makes it illegal to hand-count ballots in Virginia elections.

=== HJ4 — Congressional Gerrymandering ===
Proposes a new congressional map that would give Democrats a 10-1 or 9-2 advantage in Virginia's Congressional delegation. This is connected to a broader [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Virginia_Redistricting_Amendment redistricting amendment] pushed through by Democrats in October 2025.

=== HB965 — National Popular Vote Compact ===
Joins the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would allocate Virginia's electoral college votes to the winner of the national popular vote rather than the state popular vote.

=== HB493 — Internet Voting ===
Allows votes to be cast "electronically through the internet."

=== HB773 / HB82 — Extend Ballot Counting ===
HB773 allows mail-in ballots to be counted one week after election day. HB82 allows absentee ballots to be received and counted for three days after election day.

=== HB1348 — Hide Late Campaign Contributions ===
Eliminates the requirement that large last-minute campaign contributions be publicly reported at least 24 hours before election day.

=== HB1321 — Weaken Election Enforcement ===
Removes the State Board of Elections' ability to dispatch law enforcement officers to collect vote tallies from a locality that refuses to publish them.

=== HB964, HB963, HB1014 — Felon and Mentally Handicapped Voting ===
Automatic restoration of voting rights for felons after release from prison. Also extends voting rights to the mentally handicapped.

=== HB162 — Public Campaign Funding ===
Public funding of political campaigns at the local level.

== Context ==
These bills follow a 2024 controversy where the DOJ [https://x.com/GlennYoungkin/status/1849826145258148113 sued Virginia] for removing non-citizens from voter rolls under Governor Youngkin's executive order, and a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of over 1,500 individuals just 11 days before the 2024 presidential election.

== Legislative Status (as of Feb 18, 2026) ==
* '''HB82''': Elections; absentee ballot deadline — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Adele Y. McClure
* '''HB111''': Voter registration cancellation — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Amy J. Laufer
* '''HB493''': Electronic absentee voting pilot — ⏸️ Continued to 2027 Session | Patron: Patrick A. Hope
* '''HB773''': Absentee voting cure process — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Virgil Thornton
* '''HB963''': Constitutional amendment; voting rights — ✅ Signed by Governor | Patron: Marcia S. "Cia" Price
* '''HB964''': Voter registration restoration upon release — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Marcia S. "Cia" Price
* '''HB965''': National Popular Vote Compact — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Marcia S. "Cia" Price
* '''HB968''': Election results; machine-readable ballots — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Marcia S. "Cia" Price
* '''HB1321''': Primaries; abstract of votes — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Bonita G. Anthony
* '''HB1348''': Campaign finance; large pre-election contributions — ✅ Passed House (in Senate) | Patron: Holly M. Seibold
* '''HJ4''': Constitutional amendment; redistricting — ✅ Signed by Governor | Patron: Rodney T. Willett
* '''HJ6007''': Constitutional amendment; redistricting (pre-session) — ✅ Signed by Governor | Patron: Rodney T. Willett (D-HD73)

== Sources ==
* [https://x.com/ChristianHeiens/status/2014112122448290086 Christian Heiens bill compilation thread]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Virginia_Redistricting_Amendment Wikipedia: 2026 Virginia Redistricting Amendment]
* [https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2026-01-16/senate-amendments-abortion-voting-rights-marriage-gerrymandering VPM: State Senate approves constitutional amendments]
* [https://lis.virginia.gov/ Virginia Legislative Information System]

[[Category:Virginia Democrats Trifecta (2025)]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Review Pending]]