# Virginia SB582: Absentee & provisional ballots; process & timing for rejected applications, rejected prov. ballots. Virginia SB582, Absentee & provisional ballots; process & timing for rejected applications, rejected prov. ballots., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB582-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB582 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Absentee & provisional ballots; process & timing for rejected applications, rejected prov. ballots. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-14 - Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A) - Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 10 (253 yes, 138 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary Elections; absentee and provisional ballots; process and timing for rejected absentee ballot applications, returned absentee ballots, and rejected provisional ballots. Requires the general registrar to promptly notify a voter by telephone or email of an error or omission on the provisional ballot form and to provide information to the voter on how to correct the issue so his ballot may be counted if the electoral board determines that such voter who submitted a provisional vote was not entitled to vote as a result of a material error or omission on the provisional ballot form. The voter is entitled to make such necessary corrections before noon on the Monday after the election. The bill also requires the list of absentee ballot applicants to be updated daily and to include whether each application has been accepted or rejected and, if it has been rejected, the reason for rejection or, if it has been accepted, the status of the absentee ballot. Registrars are also required to enter such information into the voter registration system, and such information is required to be made available to voters via a free-access system made available by the Department of Elections. The bill 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. Finally, the bill requires the Department to issue guidance to local election officials on the uniform processing and counting of provisional ballots. The bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2026. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Absentee voters get free ballot tracking: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia's Department of Elections and local officials must provide free absentee application and ballot status checks. The system must update daily and show application receipt, acceptance or rejection, rejection reasons, and ballot receipt and current status. Electoral… - Absentee voters get time to fix errors: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia registrars must record errors in returned absentee ballots that make them legally void. They must promptly send voters correction instructions in writing or by email. Voters can make corrections before noon on the Monday after the election. Registrars cannot deli… - Consistent reviews for registration and ballots: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia's State Board of Elections must set uniform rules for reviewing incomplete voter registration applications. This includes same-day registration applications. The rules must give applicants a uniform period to supply missing information, regardless of provisional… - Fewer paperwork barriers for absentee voters: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia registrars cannot reject absentee applications for errors unrelated to whether the applicant qualifies to vote absentee. A completed application delivered on time is treated as an offer to vote. For registered voters whose applications are rejected, registrars mu… - Small omissions do not block absentee ballots: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, an absentee ballot returned in person or by mail before election day is protected from certain paperwork rejections. A missing middle initial alone does not make the voter affirmation incomplete when the full first and last names appear. A missing signing date, or part of… - Voters can fix provisional ballot forms: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia registrars must check provisional ballot forms for material omissions before the electoral board decides validity. Registrars must promptly explain corrections by phone or email, if available. Voters can correct forms before noon on the Monday after the election.… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 64 | 34 | | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 64 | 35 | | | 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute | pass | 14 | 7 | | | 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 | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 6 | | ## Actions (46) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-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 (CHAP1018) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB582ER2) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1018 (Effective 9/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (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 (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB582) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB582ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB582) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House - floor substitute (House) - 2026-03-04: Delegate Price Floor substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-04: committee substitute rejected (House) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-03: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-03: Floor Offered (House) - 2026-03-03: Floor substitute printed 26108846D-H2 (Price) (House) - 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108842D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-27: House committee offered (House) - 2026-02-27: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (14-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-02-27: House committee offered (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: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB582) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104738D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225143.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225142.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220722.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220721.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219166.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219165.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219162.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202748.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202747.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190116.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190115.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185490.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187004.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187008.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187007.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187003.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090919.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090918.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/1225143.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225142.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220722.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220721.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219166.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219165.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219162.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202748.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202747.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190116.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190115.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185490.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187004.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187008.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187007.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187003.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090919.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090918.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-SB582-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).