HB234 • 2026

Elections; general provisions, electoral board members to wear identification, civil penalty.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-602.1, relating to elections; general provisions; electoral board members to wear identification; civil penalty.

Elections

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Pope Adams
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify what happens if someone loses their ID badge on election day or how compliance will be ensured.

Election Day Identification for Electoral Board Members

This law requires electoral board members to wear identification badges during elections and sets a fine of up to $250 if they do not comply.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Elections to issue standardized identification badges to acting electoral board members in each locality.
Electoral board members must wear their issued ID badge while conducting official duties on election day.
The State Board can fine a member up to $250 if they knowingly violate the requirement to wear an ID badge.

Who It Names or Affects

Electoral board members in each locality
Voters who see electoral board members during elections

Terms To Know

electoral board member: A person responsible for managing and overseeing the conduct of an election.
civil penalty: A fine or other punishment imposed by a government agency to enforce compliance with laws or regulations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone loses their ID badge on election day.
It is unclear how the State Board will ensure that all electoral board members comply with this requirement.

Amendments

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

HB234G

2026-04-13 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB234) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

(HB234) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
Line 14, enrolled, after exceed strike $1,000 insert $250

Bill History

2026-04-22 Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
2026-04-22 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-04-22 Senate
Signed by President
2026-04-22 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1039 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-22 House
Reenrolled
2026-04-22 House
Reenrolled bill text (HB234ER2)
2026-04-22 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1039)
2026-04-22 House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)
2026-04-22 Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-04-13 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-03-10 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-06 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-06 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-06 House
Enrolled
2026-03-06 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB234ER)
2026-03-06 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB234)
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Read third time
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-26 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-26 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-26 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-26 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-24 Privileges and Elections
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)
2026-02-13 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-13 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
2026-02-12 House
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-02-11 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-10 House
Read first time
2026-02-06 Privileges and Elections
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-02 Election Administration
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)
2026-01-30 Election Administration
Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration
2026-01-21 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB234)
2026-01-08 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103182D
2026-01-08 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Elections; general provisions; electoral board members to wear identification; civil penalty.
Requires the Department of Elections to issue a standardized identification badge to the acting electoral board members of each locality. Electoral board members are required to wear such identification badge while conducting their official duties on the day of an election subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $250.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
24.2-602.1
, relating to elections; general provisions; electoral board members to wear identification; civil penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
24.2-602.1
as follows:
§
24.2-602.1
. Electoral board members to wear identification; civil penalty.
The Department of Elections shall issue a standardized identification badge to the acting electoral board members of each locality. The badge shall be easily readable and include the name, position, locality, and term expiration date of each electoral board member. Electoral board members shall wear their Department-issued identification badge while conducting their official duties on the day of an election. If the State Board determines that an electoral board member has knowingly violated the provisions of this section, the State Board shall assess a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $250.