summary
Introduced
01/08/2026
01/08/2026
In Committee
02/27/2026
02/27/2026
Crossed Over
01/23/2026
01/23/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Elections; candidates for office; challenges to candidate qualifications. Requires any legal action relating to a person's eligibility to appear on the ballot on the basis that such person did not meet all qualifications or fulfill all requirements for candidacy to be filed in a circuit court and served on all parties (i) at least 90 days before the date of a general election; (ii) at least 65 days before the date of a primary election; (iii) at least 70 days before the date of a special election held on the same date as the general election; or (iv) for any special election held at a time other than a general election, (a) at least 55 days before the date of the special election or (b) within 10 days of any writ of election or order calling for a special election to be held less than 60 days after the issuance of the writ or order. The bill specifies that any such legal action will be given precedence on the docket and be decided by the circuit court no later than 10 days before the date on which ballots for that election are made available for absentee voting. The bill also specifies that candidates who are nominated at a primary election cannot be later challenged on the basis of facts that were present prior to the primary election and could have been raised in a challenge to such candidate's eligibility for the primary ballot.
AI Summary
This bill establishes new timelines and procedures for legal challenges to a candidate's eligibility to appear on the ballot, aiming to resolve such disputes well before an election. Specifically, any lawsuit questioning a candidate's qualifications must be filed in a circuit court and served on all parties within strict deadlines: at least 90 days before a general election, 65 days before a primary election, 70 days before a special election held on the same day as a general election, or 55 days before other special elections (or within 10 days of the election being called if it's less than 60 days away). For district-based elections spanning multiple circuit court jurisdictions, the lawsuit must be filed in the jurisdiction with the largest portion of registered voters. These cases will be prioritized on the court's schedule and must be decided no later than 10 days before absentee ballots become available, or within 30 days for certain special election challenges. Furthermore, candidates nominated in a primary election cannot be challenged later based on issues that existed before the primary and could have been raised then. The bill also clarifies that this does not prevent challenges to an elected official's qualifications to serve after they have been elected, based on constitutional or other existing legal grounds.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 7-N) (on 02/27/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB169 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB169) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107616.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB169/text/SB169 |
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