# Virginia HB773: Elections; absentee voting, cure process, delayed effective date. Virginia HB773, Elections; absentee voting, cure process, delayed effective date., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Virgil Thornton (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB773-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB773 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Elections; absentee voting, cure process, delayed effective date. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) - Sponsor: Virgil Thornton (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 11 (299 yes, 157 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary Elections; absentee voting; cure process. Removes the requirement that absentee ballots be received by the Friday immediately preceding the day of the election for the general registrar to implement the process of curing errors or failures in such absentee ballots. The bill also moves the deadline for curing errors or omissions in absentee ballot applications from noon on the third day after the election to noon on the Monday after the election. This bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2026. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More chances to fix Virginia absentee ballots: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia absentee voters get notice and a chance to fix errors that otherwise invalidate their ballots. Election officials must record the problem in the voter’s record and any required absentee voter applicant list. They must promptly send written or email notice explain… - Earlier processing safeguards for Virginia absentee ballots: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia election officials must record receipt dates and check voter statements for absentee ballots returned before Election Day. This covers ballots returned by mail or in person to the registrar’s office or a drop-off location. For ballots with complete statements, of… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Virgil Thornton (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 63 | 36 | | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Senate amendment agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 33 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Privileges and Elections Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment | pass | 8 | 7 | | | 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 35 | | | 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 15 | 7 | | | 2026-01-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 2 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 36-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1069) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB773ER2) (House) - 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor - Chapter 1069 (effective - 1/1/2027) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB773) (House) - 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB773ER) (House) - 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-02: Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Privileges and Elections Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment (8-Y 7-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-02: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2026-01-30: Read first time (House) - 2026-01-30: Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-01-26: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB773) (House) - 2026-01-25: Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105063D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225405.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225404.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219926.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219925.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219132.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199417.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199416.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189050.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179372.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178704.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085842.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085841.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225405.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225404.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219926.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219925.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219132.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199417.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199416.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189050.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179372.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178704.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085842.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085841.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB773-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).