Virginia HB 41: Elections; procedures for removal of electoral board members and general registrars.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100455D

HOUSE BILL NO. 41

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled December 23, 2025

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-103 and 24.2-109 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; administration; procedures for removal of electoral board members and general registrars.

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Patron—Simon

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Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 24.2-103 and 24.2-109 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 24.2-103. Powers and duties in general; report.

A. The State Board, through the Department of Elections, shall supervise and coordinate the work of the county and city electoral boards and of the registrars to obtain uniformity in their practices and proceedings and legality and purity in all elections. Its supervision shall ensure that major risks to election integrity are (i) identified and assessed and (ii) addressed as necessary to promote election uniformity, legality, and purity. It shall make rules and regulations and issue instructions and provide information consistent with the election laws to the electoral boards and registrars to promote the proper administration of election laws. Electoral boards and registrars shall provide information requested by the State Board and shall follow (a) the elections laws and (b) the rules and regulations of the State Board insofar as they do not conflict with Virginia or federal law. The State Board shall post on the Internet within three business days any rules or regulations made by the State Board. Upon request and at a reasonable charge not to exceed the actual cost incurred, the State Board shall provide to any requesting political party or candidate, within three days of the receipt of the request, copies of any instructions or information provided by the State Board to the local electoral boards and registrars.

B. The State Board, through the Department of Elections, shall ensure that the members of the electoral boards are properly trained to carry out their duties by offering training annually, or more often, as it deems appropriate, and without charging any fees to the electoral boards for the training.

C. The State Board, through the Department of Elections, shall conduct a certification program for the general registrars and shall require each general registrar to receive certification through such program from the Department within 12 months of his initial appointment or any subsequent reappointment. The State Board may grant a waiver requested by a local electoral board to extend, on a case-by-case basis, this deadline by up to three months. The State Board shall develop a training curriculum for the certification program and standards for completing the program and maintaining certification, including required hours of annual training. No fees shall be charged to a general registrar for any required training as part of the certification program. The State Board shall review the certification program every four years, or more often as it deems appropriate.

D. The State Board shall set the training standards for the officers of election and shall develop standardized training programs for the officers of election to be conducted by the local electoral boards and the general registrars. Training of the officers of election shall be conducted and certified as provided by § 24.2-115.2. The State Board shall provide standardized training materials for such training and shall also offer on the Department of Elections website a training course for officers of election. The content of the online training course shall be consistent with the standardized training programs developed pursuant to this section. The State Board shall review the standardized training materials and the content of the online training course every two years in the year immediately following a general election for federal office.

E. The State Board may institute proceedings pursuant to § 24.2-234.1 for the removal of any member of an electoral board or general registrar who fails to discharge the duties of his office in accordance with law. Such action shall require by a recorded majority vote of the Board after a public hearing on related matters.

The State Board may remove any member of an electoral board or general register by a recorded two-thirds majority vote of all its members after a public hearing on related matters. Such decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.

The State Board shall prescribe standards and procedures for the conduct of public hearings conducted pursuant to this subsection.

An electoral board member or general registrar may be removed or have removal proceedings instituted against him pursuant to this subsection for (i) neglect of a clear, ministerial duty of the office, misuse of the office, or incompetence in the performance of the duties of the office where such neglect, misuse, or incompetence has a material