# Virginia SB176: Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report.

Virginia SB176, Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB176-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB176
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (234 yes, 115 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Expands the option to use ranked choice voting from only elections for county board of supervisors and city councils to any local governing body. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to provide standards and to approve vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. The bill provides for copying damaged or defective ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems. The bill allows localities to request risk-limiting audits of elections conducted using ranked choice voting and provides that no such election may be included in any random drawing required to satisfy the general requirements for risk-limiting audits. The bill specifies that the State Board is required to produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting and is also permitted to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election. The bill directs the Department of Elections to review the testing and approval framework for voting equipment in the Commonwealth and submit a report of such review no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill repeals the 2031 expiration of the option to use ranked choice voting in elections, making such option permanent. This bill is identical to HB 630.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Statewide rules for counting ranked choice votes: benefit, low. The State Board must set ranked choice rules for ballots, round-by-round counting and reporting, and choosing one or multiple winners. It must set software standards; manufacturers can apply for review, and participating localities must use Board-approved software. Final counting takes place at the…
- Virginia localities can choose ranked choice voting: benefit, low. Virginia allows ranked choice voting for county boards of supervisors and city and town councils; these provisions expire July 1, 2031. Voters rank candidates, and votes transfer to next choices over counting rounds until all seats are filled. Adoption requires a governing-body majority vote after…
- Towns can face extra election costs: cost, low. A county board of supervisors may require a town to repay extra costs of ranked choice town council elections. This applies when a majority of the town council votes to use ranked choice voting. Repayment covers only costs the county does not otherwise incur. This authority expires July 1, 2031. Th…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic), Senate

## 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 | 65 | 33 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Passed House | pass | 64 | 34 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 5 | 1 |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0993) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB176ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 993 (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 Senate (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 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB176) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB176ER) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-25: Passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-05: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB176) (Senate)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104635D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224991.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224990.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220464.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220463.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219193.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219192.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219189.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181481.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181480.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083660.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083659.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/1224991.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224990.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220464.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220463.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219193.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219192.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219189.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181481.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181480.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083660.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083659.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB176-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).