Absentee voting; unsolicited absentee ballotapplications; required information. Requires any individual ororganization sending an application for an absentee ballot to a registeredvoter that was not solicited or requested by the registered voterto include with the application instructions on completing the applicationand submitting it to the appropriate general registrar. The billrequires a statement that the application is not being sent by anystate or local government official or agency on the envelope containingthe application or on the first page of any enclosed materials. Suchindividuals and organizations are required to use the informationprovided in the list of registered voters acquired by such individualor organization from the Department of Elections pursuant to law, and a violation of this requirement is a Class 4 misdemeanor. Thebill requires the Department of Elections to ensure, when providingthe list of registered voters to such individual or organization for purposes of sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications, thatno voter is included on the list provided if such voter has appliedfor an absentee ballot on or before the date the list is requested.The bill also provides that no absentee ballot sent to a registeredvoter that was not solicited or requested by the registered votermay be pre-populated with information the applicant is required toprovide.
Sponsored bills
Voter registration; registration permittedup to and including the day of the election. Repeals a provisionthat would permit any person who is qualified to register to voteto register to vote in person up to and including the day of theelection, notwithstanding any deadline for the close of registration records. The repeal will limit the persons who are entitled to registerto vote after the close of registration records to (i) any member of a uniformed service of the United States who is on active duty,(ii) any person residing temporarily outside of the United States,and (iii) the spouse or dependent residing with someone listed in(i) or (ii).
Unemployment compensation; disqualificationfor benefits; misconduct does not include refusing COVID-19 vaccine.Provides that for the purposes of the Virginia Employment Commissiondetermining if an individual was separated or partially separatedfrom employment for misconduct and would be disqualified for unemploymentbenefits, the term "misconduct" does not include an employee's refusalto receive or receive in part any primary series or booster shotof a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.
Project labor agreements; prevailing wage; collective bargaining for employees of local governments. Provides that state agencies, when engaged in procuring products or services or letting contracts for construction, manufacture, maintenance, or operation of public works, paid for in whole or in part by state funds, shall neither require nor prohibit bidders to enter into or adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations on the public works projects. The bill removes requirements for the payment of prevailing wage for work performed on public works contracts for state agencies. In addition, the bill removes the authority for a locality, by a local ordinance or resolution, to recognize any labor union or other employee association as a bargaining agent of any public officers or employees or to collectively bargain or enter into any collective bargaining contract with any such union or association or its agents.
Commending Virginia Polytechnic Institute andState University.
Parole Board; powers and duties. Provides that the Virginia Parole Board (the Board) shall review and decide the case of each prisoner who is eligible for parole no later than that part of the calendar year in which he becomes eligible and (i) every three years thereafter, until he is released on parole or discharged, provided that there are 10 years or more or life imprisonment remaining on the sentence in each case, or (ii) annually thereafter, until he is released on parole or discharged if there are fewer than 10 years remaining on the sentence in each case. The bill also provides that, as a part of the investigation before the Board decides to grant or deny parole, the Board shall, if applicable, review in its entirety the transcript from the trial that resulted in the conviction or convictions for which the inmate is currentlyserving a term of imprisonment.
Commending the Virginia Manufacturers Association.
Multi-jurisdiction grand jury; elder abuse crimes. Adds the following to the list of crimes that a multi-jurisdiction grand jury may investigate: (i) financial exploitation of mentally incapacitated persons and (ii) abuse and neglect of incapacitated adults.
Elections; voter identification containing photographrequired; who may register up to and including the day of the election;availability of absentee voting in person; return of absentee ballots.Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph inorder to vote and provides that a voter who does not have one of the requiredforms of identification is entitled to cast a provisional ballot. The billrepeals a provision that would permit any person who is qualified to registerto vote to do so in person up to and including the day of the election andlimits the persons who are entitled to register to vote after the close ofregistration records to members of a uniformed service of the United States onactive duty, persons who are residing temporarily outside of the United States,and their spouses and dependents. The bill limits the period during whichabsentee voting in person is available from 45 days to the 10 days immediatelypreceding the date of the election, including both Saturdays. The bill requiresthat absentee ballots returned by mail be returned to the office of the generalregistrar by the close of polls on election day and be postmarked on or beforethe Saturday preceding the date of the election. The bill eliminates the use ofdrop-off locations for the return of absentee ballots. The bill requiresabsentee ballot applications to contain the last four digits of the applicant'ssocial security number and provides that the failure of an absentee ballot toinclude a witness signature is a material omission, rendering the ballot void.
Employer-mandated vaccinations for COVID-19;required exemptions; civil penalties. Prohibits an employer fromrequiring its employees to receive a vaccine for the prevention ofCOVID-19 unless such employer provides individual exemptions that allow an employee to opt out from such requirement on the basis of(i) medical reasons, including pregnancy or anticipated pregnancy; (ii) religious reasons; (iii) immunity from COVID-19; (iv) periodictesting; or (v) the use of employer-provided personal protectiveequipment. The bill provides requirements for an employee to claimsuch exemptions. The bill prohibits an employer from discriminationagainst an employee who claims such an exemption. The bill also providesfor civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 by an employer with fewerthan 100 employees or $50,000 by an employer with 100 or more employeesfor violations of the bill's requirements.