# Virginia HB909: Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting.

Virginia HB909, Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Irene Shin (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-HB909-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB909
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting.
- 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: Irene Shin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (237 yes, 124 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Elections administration; certain activities or conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting in person; prohibited possession of firearm within 100 feet of certain locations. Clarifies that the provisions of law prohibiting certain activities or conduct in and around a polling place shall also apply to locations where absentee voting in person is available. The bill also prohibits any person, with certain exceptions, from (i) knowingly carrying any firearm and (ii) knowingly doing so within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place, the building used by the local electoral board to meet to ascertain election results, the building used to conduct a recount of an election, and other additional locations used for voting-related and elections-related activities. Under current law, this prohibition applies within 40 feet of such entrances.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Required drop-off sites for absentee voters: benefit, low. Each Virginia county or city must provide absentee-ballot drop-off sites at its registrar’s office and operating voter satellite offices. Every election-day polling place must also have a drop-off site; registrars may add more sites. Sites must be accessible and on public property, except that poll…
- Polling rules extend to early voting: mixed, low. Virginia extends specified polling-place conduct rules to registrar and voter satellite offices while they offer in-person absentee voting. These rules protect voting from interference but restrict activities such as soliciting or trying to influence voters nearby. The law also allows a law-enforce…
- Wider firearm limits around election sites: mixed, low. Virginia expands firearm-free zones for election safety but limits where people can knowingly carry firearms. The law bars carrying within 100 feet of polling places, up from 40 feet. It also covers local election-board meetings, registrar offices, registration sites, and meetings deciding provisio…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Irene Shin (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 64 | 36 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate | 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 | pass | 8 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 35 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 2 |   |

## Actions (40)

- 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 (64-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1078) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB909ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1078 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (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)
- 2026-03-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB909) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB909ER) (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 (21-Y 19-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)
- 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB909) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-11: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107286D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-06: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB909) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: 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 26105117D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225349.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225348.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220000.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219999.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219075.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194296.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194295.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132685.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132166.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132684.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132165.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086407.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086406.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/1225349.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225348.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220000.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219999.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219075.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194296.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194295.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132685.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132166.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132684.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132165.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086407.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086406.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-HB909-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).