Virginia HB 835: Elections; candidates and elected officials, confidentiality of personally identifiable information.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104684D

HOUSE BILL NO. 835

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-418, 24.2-506, 24.2-676, 24.2-680, and 24.2-947.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-504.1, relating to elections; candidates and elected officials; address confidentiality.

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Patrons—McClure, Anthony, Hernandez, Martinez, Shin, Anderson, Carroll, Clark, Cole, J.G., Convirs-Fowler, Glass, Guzman, Henson, Maldonado and Pope Adams

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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 §§ 24.2-418, 24.2-506, 24.2-676, 24.2-680, and 24.2-947.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-504.1 as follows:

§ 24.2-418. Application for registration.

A. Each applicant to register shall provide, subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016, the information necessary to complete the application to register. Unless physically disabled, he shall sign the application. The application to register shall be only on a form or forms prescribed by the State Board.

The form of the application to register shall require the applicant to provide the following information: full name; gender; date of birth; social security number, if any; whether the applicant is presently a United States citizen; address of residence in the precinct; place of last previous registration to vote; and whether the applicant has ever been adjudicated incapacitated and disqualified to vote or convicted of a felony, and if so, whether the applicant's right to vote has been restored. The form shall contain a statement that whoever votes more than once in any election in the same or different jurisdictions is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Unless directed by the applicant or as permitted in § 24.2-411.2 or 24.2-411.3, the registration application shall not be pre-populated with information the applicant is required to provide.

The form of the application to register shall request that the applicant provide his telephone number and email address, but no application shall be denied for failure to provide such information.

B. The form shall permit any individual, as follows, or member of his household, to furnish, in addition to his residence street address, a post office box address located within the Commonwealth to be included in lieu of his street address on the lists of registered voters and persons who voted, which are furnished pursuant to §§ 24.2-405 and 24.2-406, on voter registration records made available for public inspection pursuant to § 24.2-444, or on lists of absentee voter applicants furnished pursuant to § 24.2-706 or 24.2-710. The voter shall comply with the provisions of § 24.2-424 for any change in the post office box address provided under this subsection.

1. Any active or retired law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101 and in 5 U.S.C. § 8331(20), but excluding officers whose duties relate to detention as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 8331(20);

2. Any party person granted a protective order issued by or under the authority of any court of competent jurisdiction, including but not limited to courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia;

3. Any party person who has furnished a signed written statement by the party person that he is in fear for his personal safety from another person who has threatened or stalked him;

4. Any party person participating in the address confidentiality program pursuant to § 2.2-515.2;

5. Any active or retired federal or Virginia justice, judge, or magistrate and any active or retired attorney employed by the United States Attorney General or Virginia Attorney General;

6. Any person who has been approved to be a foster parent pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 63.2-900 et seq.) of Title 63.2;

7. Any person who is or has been one of the Commonwealth's electors for President and Vice President of the United States; and

8. Any person who is or has been a member of the State Board of Elections, the Commissioner of Elections, an employee of the Department of Elections, a member of a local electoral board pursuant to § 24.2-106, a general registrar pursuant to § 24.2-110, a deputy registrar or employee in the office of the general registrar pursuant to § 24.2-112, or an officer of election pursuant to § 24.2-115; and

9. Any person who is or has been an elected official.

C. If the applicant formerly resided in another state, the general registrar shall send the information contained in the applicant's registration application to the appropriate voter registration official or other authority of another state where the applicant formerly resided, as prescribed in subdivision 15 of § 24.2-114.

§ 24.2-504.1. Confidentiality of personally identifiable informa