Virginia HB 89: Candidates for office; electronic filing of forms, petitions, etc., with Department of Elections.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26101907D

HOUSE BILL NO. 89

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 1, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-105, 24.2-241, 24.2-242, 24.2-501, 24.2-502, 24.2-503, 24.2-505, 24.2-506, 24.2-509, 24.2-511, 24.2-516, 24.2-517, 24.2-520, 24.2-521, 24.2-522, 24.2-525, 24.2-527, and 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of a section numbered 24.2-546, relating to elections; candidates for office; electronic filing of required forms filed with Department of Elections.

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Patrons—Cole, J.G., Clark, Cole, N.T., Guzman, Keys-Gamarra, Martinez, Schmidt and Shin; Senators: Marsden and Salim

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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 §§ 24.2-105, 24.2-241, 24.2-242, 24.2-501, 24.2-502, 24.2-503, 24.2-505, 24.2-506, 24.2-509, 24.2-511, 24.2-516, 24.2-517, 24.2-520, 24.2-521, 24.2-522, 24.2-525, 24.2-527, and 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of a section numbered 24.2-546, as follows:

§ 24.2-105. Prescribing various forms.

A. The State Board shall prescribe appropriate forms and records for the registration of voters, conduct of elections, and implementation of this title, which shall be used throughout the Commonwealth.

B. The State Board shall prescribe voting and election materials in languages other than English for use by a county, city, or town that is subject to the requirements of § 24.2-128. For purposes of this subsection, voting and election materials mean registration or voting notices, forms, and instructions. For purposes of this subsection, registration notices mean any notice of voter registration approval, denial, or cancellation, required by the provisions of Chapter 4 (§ 24.2-400 et seq.).

The State Board may make available voting and election materials in any additional languages other than those required by subsection A of § 24.2-128 as it deems necessary and appropriate. The State Board may accept voting and election materials translated by volunteers but shall verify the accuracy of such translations prior to making the translated materials available to a county, city, or town, or any voter.

C. The State Board shall prescribe all forms required by candidates under Chapter 5 (§ 24.2-500 et seq.) in both paper and electronic formats pursuant to the requirements for such forms under that chapter.

§ 24.2-241. State Board to be furnished names of nominated electors selected by political parties; certain national conventions; vacancies.

A. In elections for President and Vice President of the United States, the appropriate chairman or secretary of each political party as defined in § 24.2-101 shall furnish to the Department on forms prescribed by the State Board by noon on the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election (i) the names of the individuals nominated to be electors by the party at its convention held for that purpose, with the total number of its nominated electors equaling the whole number of senators and representatives to which the Commonwealth at that time is entitled in the Congress of the United States, together with the names of the political party and of the candidates for President and Vice President for whom the nominated electors are required to vote in the Electoral College, and (ii) a copy of the subscribed and notarized sworn oath required by § 24.2-240.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, (i) the state political party chairman of a political party whose national convention has been scheduled to be held after the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election shall file by noon on the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election, with the certification of its nominated electors, a certification of the individuals expected to be nominated for President and Vice President at its national convention; (ii) the State Board shall certify candidates to the local electoral boards, and ballot preparation shall proceed on the basis of the state party chairman's certifications; and (iii) the candidates for President and Vice President nominated by the party at its national convention shall be certified to the State Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixtieth day before the presidential election.

C. In the event of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification of a candidate of a political party for President or Vice President, or of a nominated elector of a political party, that party may substitute the name of a different candidate or nominated elector, as applicable, before the State Board certifies to the county and city electoral boards the form of the official ballots.

§ 24.2-242. How other groups may submit names of electors; oaths of electors.

A. A group of qualified voters, not constit