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HB111 • 2026

Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data.

An Act to amend and reenact § 24.2-427 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter registration; cancellation of registration; sources of data.

Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Laufer
Last action
2026-05-19
Official status
Governor's Veto
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify that it protects military personnel or their families specifically, but includes a provision related to them.

Voter Registration Protection Act

This act changes how voter registrations can be canceled by requiring that cancellations must come from specific sources like the Department of Elections or approved state agencies.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires general registrars to only cancel a voter's registration if it comes from the Department of Elections, an approved state agency, or directly from the voter.
  • Does not allow general registrars to cancel registrations based on data from other sources unless there is a written request from the voter or proof of death.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters in Virginia
  • General registrars responsible for managing voter rolls

Terms To Know

general registrar
The official who manages the voter registration process and maintains voter records.
Department of Elections
A state agency responsible for overseeing elections, including managing voter registrations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill was vetoed by the Governor due to concerns about potential unintended consequences and administrative burdens.
  • It is unclear if or when this legislation will be reconsidered in future sessions of the Virginia Legislature.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB111G

2026-04-13 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB111) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

  • (HB111) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
  • After line 67, enrolled insert 2.
  • That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-19 Governor

    Vetoed by Governor

  2. 2026-05-19 Governor

    Vetoed by Governor

  3. 2026-04-23 House

    Communicated to Governor

  4. 2026-04-23 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  5. 2026-04-23 House

    Passed by for the day

  6. 2026-04-22 House

    Passed by for the day

  7. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by House

  8. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  9. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  10. 2026-03-06 House

    Signed by Speaker

  11. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Signed by President

  12. 2026-03-06 House

    Enrolled

  13. 2026-03-06 House

    Enrolled

  14. 2026-03-06 House

    Enrolled

  15. 2026-03-06 House

    Enrolled

  16. 2026-03-06 House

    Enrolled

  17. 2026-03-06 House

    Enrolled

  18. 2026-03-06 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB111)

  19. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Read third time

  20. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Read third time

  22. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  23. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  24. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Rules suspended

  25. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Rules suspended

  26. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  27. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  29. 2026-02-24 Privileges and Elections

    Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)

  30. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  31. 2026-02-18 Privileges and Elections

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  32. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

  33. 2026-02-17 Privileges and Elections

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB111)

  34. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time

  35. 2026-02-16 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  36. 2026-02-16 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  37. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  38. 2026-02-13 Privileges and Elections

    Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (14-Y 7-N)

  39. 2026-02-13 Privileges and Elections

    Committee substitute printed 26107373D-H1

  40. 2026-02-12 House

    House committee offered

  41. 2026-02-09 Election Administration

    House subcommittee offered

  42. 2026-02-09 Election Administration

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)

  43. 2026-02-06 Election Administration

    Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration

  44. 2026-01-20 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB111)

  45. 2026-01-02 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102087D

  46. 2026-01-02 Privileges and Elections

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data.
Requires that, except on the basis of (i) a written request from the voter to have his registration cancelled or (ii) a certified or authenticated copy of a death certificate purporting to be issued by a governmental official or agency, the general registrar may not cancel the registration of any voter based on data or reports provided to him by any source other than the Department of Elections or a state agency approved to provide such data or reports by the State Board of Elections. The bill also reinstates a provision prohibiting the general registrar from cancelling the registration of (a) certain members of the uniformed service of the United States who are on active duty, (b) certain persons who reside temporarily outside of the United States, or (c) any spouse or dependent residing with such persons.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
(HB111)
GOVERNOR'S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 111.
I support the intent of this legislation, which is to protect the integrity of our voter rolls by ensuring that voters are not inappropriately or unduly removed. My amendments to this bill would have provided additional time to work on this legislation to ensure it achieves its purpose without risking unintended consequences, such as placing administrative burdens on grieving family members.
The General Assembly rejected these amendments. I look forward to working with legislators in the future on shared priorities related to list maintenance and election integrity.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.