# Virginia HB2216: Elections, State Board of; appointment of Commissioner of Elections.

Virginia HB2216, Elections, State Board of; appointment of Commissioner of Elections., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-02-11 (Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2216-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2216
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Elections, State Board of; appointment of Commissioner of Elections.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-02-11, Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)
- Sponsor: Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Privileges and Elections
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (128 yes, 11 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

State Board of Elections; appointment of Commissioner of Elections. Changes the appointing authority of the Commissioner of Elections from the Governor to the State Board of Elections, with an affirmative vote of four of the five State Board members required for the appointment or removal of the Commissioner, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The bill also changes the start of the four-year term of the Commissioner from July 1 of the year following a gubernatorial election to the second year following such election. The bill exempts the Department of Elections from provisions allowing the Governor to appoint a chief deputy and a confidential assistant for policy or administration. In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of the Commissioner, the bill provides that the Director of Operations of the Department will perform the duties of the Commissioner until such vacancy is filled by the State Board. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 7 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 94 | 1 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2025-01-20 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 2 | 1 |

## Actions (13)

- 2025-02-11: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Read third time and passed House (94-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-01-30: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2025-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2216) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2025-01-28: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-24: Reported from Privileges and Elections (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-01-20: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2025-01-19: Assigned PE sub: Election Administration (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100943D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015583.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015582.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015583.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015582.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2216-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).