# Virginia HB694: Absentee voting; counting ballots prior to the close of polls.

Virginia HB694, Absentee voting; counting ballots prior to the close of polls., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Privileges and Elections) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB694-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB694
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Absentee voting; counting ballots prior to the close of polls.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Privileges and Elections
- Sponsor: Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Elections; absentee voting; counting ballots prior to the close of polls. Allows officers of election at a central absentee precinct to begin ascertaining and recording the number of votes cast by absentee ballots at any time after noon on the day of the election. Under current law, absentee ballots that are counted by hand may be tallied, but not counted, at any time after noon on the day of the election, and no ballot totals for any absentee ballots shall be ascertained until after polls close. The bill also clarifies that vote totals for absentee ballots cast in person on voting systems cannot be determined until the day of the election. The bill also requires that general registrars begin processing absentee ballots on the fourteenth day prior to the day of the election. Under current law such processing is not required until the seventh day prior to the day of the election.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-09 | House | Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2024-02-09: Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-05: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-05: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered (House)
- 2024-02-02: Assigned P & E sub: Election Administration (House)
- 2024-01-18: Impact statement from DPB (HB694) (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103209D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB694)

## 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.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB694)

## 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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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB694-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).