# Virginia SB831: Challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify, civil penalty.

Virginia SB831, Challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify, civil penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-12 (Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB831-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB831
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify, civil penalty.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-02-12, Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (63 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Elections; challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify; 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. Additionally, the bill prohibits challenges to a voter's qualification to vote from any person who is not an officer of election.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Motion to rerefer to Finance and Appropriations agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute | pass | 8 | 6 |   |

## Actions (15)

- 2026-02-12: Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB831) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Motion to rerefer to Finance and Appropriations agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB831) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26106840D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB831) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Presented and ordered printed 26105060D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108429.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115119.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108428.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115118.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096833.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096832.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
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108429.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115119.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108428.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115118.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096833.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096832.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-SB831-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).