Bill
Bill > HB630
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
03/03/2026
03/03/2026
Crossed Over
02/16/2026
02/16/2026
Passed
04/22/2026
04/22/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/22/2026
04/22/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Expands the option to use ranked choice voting from only elections for county board of supervisors and city councils to any local governing body. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to provide standards and to approve vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. The bill provides for copying damaged or defective ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems. The bill allows localities to request risk-limiting audits of elections conducted using ranked choice voting and provides that no such election may be included in any random drawing required to satisfy the general requirements for risk-limiting audits. The bill specifies that the State Board is required to produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting and is also permitted to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election. The bill directs the Department of Elections to review the testing and approval framework for voting equipment in the Commonwealth and submit a report of such review no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill repeals the 2031 expiration of the option to use ranked choice voting in elections, making such option permanent. This bill is identical to SB 176.
AI Summary
This bill expands the use of ranked choice voting, a system where voters rank candidates in order of preference and votes are transferred in rounds until a winner is determined, to all locally elected offices, not just county boards of supervisors and city councils. It requires the State Board of Elections to establish standards for vote-counting software used with ranked choice voting and to approve such software, and it allows for the copying of damaged or unreadable ballots. Localities can request risk-limiting audits, a security measure to verify election results, for elections using ranked choice voting, and these elections will not be included in random draws for standard audits. The State Board will also create general voter education materials on ranked choice voting and can modify recount procedures to accommodate this voting method. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Elections to review and report on the framework for testing and approving voting equipment by the 2027 legislative session, and it permanently removes the 2031 expiration date for using ranked choice voting in local elections.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (22)
Katrina Callsen (D)*,
Jessica Anderson (D),
Bonita Anthony (D),
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D),
Nadarius Clark (D),
Laura Jane Cohen (D),
Joshua Cole (D),
Rae Cousins (D),
Lindsey Dougherty (D),
Mark Downey (D),
Jackie Glass (D),
J.R. Henson (D),
Phil Hernandez (D),
Patrick Hope (D),
Fernando Martinez (D),
John Chilton McAuliff (D),
Adele McClure (D),
Sam Rasoul (D),
Irene Shin (D),
Shelly Simonds (D),
J.J. Singh (D),
Kathy Tran (D),
Last Action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1062) (on 04/22/2026)
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/HB630 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB630/text/CHAP1062 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB630/text/HB630ER2 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB630/text/HB630H1 |
| Governor's Recommendation HB630 | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB630/text/HB630G |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB630) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1215777.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB630/text/HB630ER |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB630) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096507.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB630/text/HB630 |
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