# Virginia HB78: Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards, certification of election, etc.

Virginia HB78, Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards, certification of election, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0060)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB78-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB78
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards, certification of election, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-31
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0060)
- Sponsor: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (201 yes, 30 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards; certification of election; grounds for removal; civil penalty. Provides that the certification of the results of an election is a clear ministerial duty of the local electoral boards and that a member of the local electoral board who neglects or refuses to perform such duty in accordance with law shall be subject to removal proceedings by the State Board of Elections and assessed a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000. The bill also authorizes the State Board of Elections to intervene and carry out the duties related to election certification in the event a local electoral board fails or refuses to do so.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Election officials receive free, standard training: benefit, low. Local boards appoint election officers and must promptly notify them. The State Board must set training standards and provide standard materials and an online course for election officers. It must offer local board members training annually, or more often when needed. Required training carries no f…
- Election results get deadlines and public explanations: benefit, low. Local boards must meet by 5:00 p.m. the day after an election, including when specified material-delivery options are used. They may move to a larger room and adjourn as needed, ordinarily no later than 10 calendar days after the election. An extension is allowed for a risk-limiting audit, which ch…
- Parties and candidates gain counting access: benefit, low. Each party and each independent or primary candidate on the ballot may send representatives to watch boards determine results. Each is entitled to at least as many representatives as there are counting teams. Representatives must have reasonable access and be close enough to view ballots. Represent…
- State election oversight and transparency expand: benefit, low. Virginia's State Board of Elections, through the Department of Elections, must oversee local officials and address major election risks. The Board must adopt bylaws and a seal and report annually to the Governor and General Assembly. The Department employs a full-time Director of Operations, covere…
- Election board members face certification penalties: cost, low. Local boards must conduct elections, determine results, and certify them; these duties are mandatory, and neglect or refusal grounds removal. The State Board must start proceedings for neglecting or refusing a clear, legally required duty, following a recorded majority vote. It may seek court order…
- Election counting meetings get firearm restrictions: mixed, low. The law creates a firearm-free buffer while a local board meets to determine election results. Knowingly possessing a firearm within 40 feet of the building, or part used for the meeting, is unlawful. Exceptions cover specified law-enforcement officers and people occupying their own private propert…
- Registrars get free training, face certification deadlines: mixed, low. Local boards appoint general registrars and must promptly notify them. Registrars must earn Department of Elections certification within 12 months of appointment or reappointment. At a local board's request, the State Board may grant one case-by-case extension of up to three months. Training is fre…
- Write-in candidates get specific counting rules: mixed, low. A special counting rule applies when no write-in candidate wins. Combined write-in votes must be below both 10% of votes for the office and the leading candidate's vote total. In that case, the board must determine each write-in candidate's total within one week after the election. The official vot…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 25 | 15 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 92 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | House | Reconsidered by Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0060) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 60 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB78) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB78ER) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-06: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A) (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: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB78) (House)
- 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 (92-Y 6-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-02: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Reconsidered by Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-25: Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration (House)
- 2026-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB78) (House)
- 2025-12-31: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2025-12-31: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101440D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216223.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216222.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1193774.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1193773.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105116.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105115.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103896.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103899.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-12-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082289.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082288.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/1216223.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216222.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1193774.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1193773.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105116.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105115.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103896.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103899.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082289.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082288.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-HB78-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).