Virginia HB 493: Absentee voting; ballots received, marked, and cast electronically through the Internet.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104715D

HOUSE BILL NO. 493

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 12, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-103.2, 24.2-704, and 24.2-706 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; absentee voting; accessibility; ballots received, marked, and returned electronically through the internet.

—————

Patron—Hope

—————

Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 24.2-103.2, 24.2-704, and 24.2-706 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 24.2-103.2. Duties of the Department of Elections related to accessible absentee voting.

A. The Department shall make available to all localities a tool to allow a voter with a visual impairment or print disability or a covered voter, as defined in § 24.2-452, to electronically and accessibly receive and, mark, and return his absentee ballot using screen reader assistive technology, to receive and complete any other required forms, and to provide any proof of identity electronically through the internet. The Department shall ensure the accessibility, as defined in § 2.2-3501, of such tool. The Department shall develop instructions regarding the use and availability of such tool, including instructions on making the tool available to voters and counting ballots voted with such tool.

B. Such tool shall include a means for a voter to complete the following statement electronically through the internet:

"I do hereby state, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016 of the Code of Virginia, that my FULL NAME is (last, first, middle); that I am now or have been at some time since last November's general election a legal resident of (STATE YOUR LEGAL RESIDENCE IN VIRGINIA, including the house number, street name or rural route address, city, zip code); that I received the subject ballot(s) electronically upon application to the registrar of such county or city; that I marked the ballot(s) without assistance or knowledge on the part of anyone as to the manner in which I marked it (or I am returning the form required to report how I was assisted); that I then returned the ballot(s) through this electronic ballot marking and return tool; and that I have not voted and will not vote in this election at any other time or place.

Signature of Voter __________________________________

Last four digits of voter's social security number _______________

Voter's birth year _______________________

Date ________________"

Such tool shall include a means for the standard oath prescribed by the presidential designee under § 101(b)(7) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.) to be completed electronically through the internet by voters who are qualified to vote absentee under that Act.

For purposes of properly completing this statement, the unique identifier assigned to the voter in the voter registration system pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 24.2-404 shall be accepted in place of the last four digits of the voter's social security number for those voters whose registration includes a statement of affirmation that they have never been issued a social security number.

When this statement has been properly completed and signed by the registered voter, his ballot shall not be subject to challenge pursuant to § 24.2-651.

§ 24.2-704. Applications and ballots for persons requiring assistance in voting; penalty.

A. The application for an absentee ballot shall provide space for the applicant to indicate that he will require assistance to vote his absentee ballot by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.

B. On receipt of an application from an applicant who indicated that he will require assistance due to a visual impairment or print disability, the general registrar shall offer to provide to the applicant a ballot marking tool with screen reader assistive technology for receiving, marking, and returning his ballot electronically through the internet made available pursuant to § 24.2-103.2. If the applicant opts to use such tool, the general registrar shall send by mail to him a ballot return envelope and accessible instructions provided by the Department for using such tool and returning the marked ballot. The general registrar shall cause the outer envelope containing the ballot return envelope and accessible instructions to have a tactile marking that identifies the outer envelope as the outer envelope to the voter. For purposes of this section, "tactile marking" includes a hole punch, a cut corner, or a tactile sticker ensure the applicant receives access to such tool in accordance with instructions provided by the Department.

An absentee voter using such tool shall return the marked mark and return his absentee ballot, complete any other required forms, and provide proof of identity in accordance with the instructions provided by the Department.