Virginia HB 1: Absentee voting; no excuse required, voting by absentee ballot.

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2020 SESSION

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CHAPTER 1149 

An Act to amend and reenact �� 24.2-416.1, 24.2-452, 24.2-612, 
24.2-700, 24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, 24.2-702.1, 24.2-703.1, 24.2-703.2, 24.2-705.1, 
24.2-705.2, 24.2-706, 24.2-709, and 24.2-1004 of the Code of Virginia, relating 
to absentee voting; no excuse required. 

[H 1] 

Approved April 11, 2020 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That �� 24.2-416.1, 24.2-452, 24.2-612, 24.2-700, 
24.2-701, 24.2-701.1, 24.2-702.1, 24.2-703.1, 24.2-703.2, 24.2-705.1, 
24.2-705.2, 24.2-706, 24.2-709, and 24.2-1004 of the Code of Virginia are 
amended and reenacted as follows:

� 24.2-416.1. Voter registration by mail.

A. A person may apply to register to vote by mail by 
completing and returning a mail voter registration application form in the 
manner and time provided by law.

B. Any person, who applies to register to vote by mail 
pursuant to this article and who has not previously voted in the county or city 
in which he registers to vote, shall be required to vote in person, either at 
the polls on election day or in-person absentee. However, this requirement to 
vote in person shall not apply to a person so long as he (i) is entitled to 
vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting Act (52 U.S.C. � 20302 et seq.); (ii) is provided the right to vote 
otherwise than in person under � 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for 
the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. � 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)), including any 
disabled voter and any voter age 65 or older who is otherwise qualified to 
vote absentee under � 24.2-700; (iii) is entitled to vote otherwise than in 
person under other federal law; (iv) is a full-time student in an institution 
of higher education; or (v) requests to vote an absentee ballot by mail for 
presidential and vice-presidential elections only, for any reason, as entitled 
by federal law.

� 24.2-452. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a 
different meaning:

1. "Covered voter" means:

a. A uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is 
registered to vote in this state;

b. A uniformed-service voter defined in subdivision 9 a whose 
voting residence is in this state and who otherwise satisfies this state's 
voter eligibility requirements, including subdivision A 2 of � 24.2-700;

c. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, 
was last eligible to vote in this state and, except for a state residency 
requirement, otherwise satisfies this state's voter eligibility requirements;

d. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, 
would have been last eligible to vote in this state had the voter then been of 
voting age and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies