VirginiaSB6322026 Regular SessionSenate

Elections; candidates and elected officials, confidentiality of personally identifiable information.

Sponsored By: Lashrecse D. Aird (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Elections; candidates and elected officials; address confidentiality. Prohibits the custodian of any filing made by a candidate from releasing the address, phone number, or email address of such candidate in response to a request made under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill permits a candidate to provide the unique identifier assigned to him in the voter registration system pursuant to relevant law in place of his residence address on any candidate filing. The State Board of Elections is prohibited from requiring candidates to disclose their address or unique identifier on petitions prior to their being filed. The bill also adds elected officials to the list of people who may furnish, in addition to their residence street address, a post office box address located within the Commonwealth to be included in lieu of their street address on the lists of registered voters. The certificate of election delivered to the winner of an election is required to be accompanied by a notice that the person meets the qualifications for being granted protected voter status along with instructions for updating their voter registration in order to attain such status. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 835.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New rules for candidate petitions

Beginning January 1, 2027, non-party candidates must collect set numbers of voter signatures to get on the ballot: 10,000 for statewide offices (with at least 400 per congressional district), 1,000 for U.S. House, 250 for Virginia Senate, and 125 for House of Delegates and most local or constitutional offices. Some very small districts only need 50. Town offices have counts based on town size, and soil and water district directors need 25. Every signature must be witnessed by an adult who is not a felon without restored voting rights. Nonresident circulators must consent to Virginia courts, or their signatures do not count, and they can lose signatures if they ignore a subpoena. Voters may add the last four of their Social Security number, but it is optional. If your petition is found short, you can appeal within five calendar days; the board must hear it within five business days. The State Board sets uniform review rules, cannot require your address or voter ID on the petition before you file, and must track and refer suspected fraud.

Protected voters can use a PO box

Beginning January 1, 2027, if you or someone in your household is in a listed protected group, you can show a Commonwealth PO box instead of your street address on public voter lists. Examples include certain law enforcement officers, people under protective orders or fearing for safety, address-confidentiality program participants, judges and some attorneys, foster parents, some election officials and employees, and current or former presidential electors. You must follow voter address-change rules when updating the PO box.

Stronger privacy for candidates and winners

Beginning January 1, 2027, election offices must redact a candidate’s address, phone, and email from FOIA releases unless the candidate gives written consent. If the candidate does not respond within five business days, the office must redact those details. Court orders or subpoenas can still require disclosure. Candidates may use their voter registration unique ID instead of a home address on required filings. When a certificate of election is delivered, it must include a notice that the winner qualifies for protected voter status and how to update registration to get that status.

Campaign organization and reporting rules

Beginning January 1, 2027, if you are seeking or campaigning for office, you must file a statement of organization within 10 days after certain events: accepting a contribution, spending any funds, paying a filing fee, filing your statement of qualification, or appointing a treasurer. In some towns under 25,000 that have not adopted these rules, you must file within 10 days once you raise or spend over $25,000 in the cycle. Where you file depends on the office: statewide and General Assembly with the State Board (and a copy to your local registrar for General Assembly), and local or constitutional offices with the general registrar. Your statement must list your name and either your home address or voter unique ID, your committee and mailing address, your treasurer’s name, address, and daytime phone, the office and district, party or independent status, and your campaign depository name (not the account number). If you run for the same office again, your statement stays in effect; report any changes within 10 days.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lashrecse D. Aird

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 194 • No: 56

Senate vote 2/27/2026

House amendment agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 17

House vote 2/25/2026

Passed House with amendment

Yes: 82 • No: 15

House vote 2/20/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 19 • No: 2

Senate vote 2/9/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/6/2026

Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/3/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute

Yes: 11 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0229)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 229 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB632)

    3/10/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB632ER)

    3/4/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/4/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/4/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/4/2026House
  10. House amendment agreed to by Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  11. Passed House with amendment (82-Y 15-N 0-A)

    2/25/2026House
  12. Engrossed by House as amended

    2/25/2026House
  13. Delegate Price Floor amendment agreed to

    2/25/2026House
  14. Read third time

    2/25/2026House
  15. Floor Offered

    2/25/2026House
  16. Read second time

    2/24/2026House
  17. Reported from Privileges and Elections (19-Y 2-N)

    2/20/2026House
  18. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    2/12/2026House
  19. Read first time

    2/12/2026House
  20. Placed on Calendar

    2/12/2026House
  21. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    2/9/2026Senate
  22. Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to

    2/6/2026Senate
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB632)

    2/6/2026Senate
  24. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

    2/6/2026Senate
  25. Read second time

    2/6/2026Senate

Bill Text

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