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VA HB1056
VA HB1056Voter registration by political party affiliation; partially closed primary elections.
summary
Introduced
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Voter registration by political party affiliation; partially closed primary elections. Adds party affiliation, beginning January 1, 2027, to the information that an applicant is asked to provide when registering to vote. The applicant may indicate that he is an independent. The bill specifies that voters registered prior to January 1, 2027, will be designated as independent unless they provide a political party affiliation to the general registrar. Voters may change their political party affiliation or independent status by written notice at any time before the registration records are closed prior to an election. The bill also provides that voters who are on the permanent absentee voter list will receive primary ballots for the political party with which they are registered as affiliated. Finally, the bill requires the state party chairman of each political party to file written notice with the State Board of Elections by January 31 of each year stating the rules adopted by the duly constituted authorities of the state political party for participation in the party's primaries to be held from April 1 of that year through March 31 of the following year.
AI Summary
This bill, effective for primaries conducted after April 1, 2027, will require voters to declare a political party affiliation or independent status when registering to vote starting January 1, 2027; voters registered before this date will be considered independent unless they actively choose a party affiliation, and all voters can change their affiliation or independent status at any time before registration records close for an election. Voters on the permanent absentee voter list will automatically receive primary ballots for the party they are registered with, and the state chairman of each political party must annually notify the State Board of Elections about their party's rules for primary participation, including whether the primary will be open to party members only, independents, or all voters, and if there are any restrictions on voters who have participated in another party's primary.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Left in Committee Privileges and Elections (on 02/18/2026)
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/HB1056 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1056) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135029.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1056/text/HB1056 |
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