HB1056 — Voter registration by political party affiliation; partially closed primary elections.

Summary

Voter registration by political party affiliation; partially closed primary elections.

Bill Text

Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 6 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 24.2-418.01, 24.2-423.1, 24.2-516.1, 24.2-530, 24.2-535, 24.2-703.1.

• 24.2-418.01

  A. On and after January 1, 202

  Inserts “A. On and after January 1, 202”.

• 24.2-418.01

  7

  Inserts “7”.

• 24.2-418.01

  , each application to register shall provide a space for the applicant to state his political party affiliation or independent status. If the applicant does not state a political party affiliation, he shall be designated as independent in the registration records.

  Inserts “, each application to register shall provide a space for the applicant to state his political party affiliation or independent status. If the applicant does not state a political party affiliation, he shall be designated as independent in the registration records.”.

• 24.2-418.01

  B. Each voter registered prior to January 1, 202

  Inserts “B. Each voter registered prior to January 1, 202”.

• 24.2-418.01

  7

  Inserts “7”.

• 24.2-418.01

  , shall be designated as independent in the registration records unless the voter changes his designation to a political party affiliation pursuant to § 24.2-423.1. On and after January 1, 202

  Inserts “, shall be designated as independent in the registration records unless the voter changes his designation to a political party affiliation pursuant to § 24.2-423.1. On and after January 1, 202”.

• 24.2-418.01

  7

  Inserts “7”.

• 24.2-418.01

  , the State Board shall provide the means for each registered voter to provide his political party affiliation or independent status for the voter registration system.

  Inserts “, the State Board shall provide the means for each registered voter to provide his political party affiliation or independent status for the voter registration system.”.

• 24.2-423.1

  A. On and after January 1, 202

  Inserts “A. On and after January 1, 202”.

• 24.2-423.1

  7

  Inserts “7”.

• 24.2-423.1

  , any registered voter may change his political party affiliation or independent status on his registration record by providing notice to the general registrar of the jurisdiction where he is registered. Such notice may be made in person, in writing, or on a form approved by the State Board, which may be electronic. The notice in writing may be provided by mail or by facsimile and shall be signed by the voter unless he is physically unable to sign, in which case his own mark acknowledged by a witness shall be sufficient signature. Notice may be provided by electronic means as authorized by the State Board and signed by the voter in a manner consistent with the provisions of § 24.2-416.7 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.). The general registrar shall enter the voter's new political party affiliation or independent status on the registration records and issue the voter a new voter registration card confirming the changed affiliation or status.

  Inserts “, any registered voter may change his political party affiliation or independent status on his registration record by providing notice to the general registrar of the jurisdiction where he is registered. Such notice may be made in person, in writing, or on a form approved by the State Board, which may be electronic. The notice in writing may be provided by mail or by facsimile and shall be signed by the voter unless he is physically unable to sign, in which case his own mark acknowledged by a witness shall be sufficient signature. Notice may be provided by electronic means as authorized by the State Board and signed by the voter in a manner consistent with the provisions of § 24.2-416.7 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.). The general registrar shall enter the voter's new political party affiliation or independent status on the registration records and issue the voter a new voter registration card confirming the changed affiliation or status.”.

• 24.2-423.1

  B. No change in a voter's political party affiliation or independent status shall be entered in the registration records at any time the registration records are closed pursuant to § 24.2-416.

  Inserts “B. No change in a voter's political party affiliation or independent status shall be entered in the registration records at any time the registration records are closed pursuant to § 24.2-416.”.

• 24.2-516.1

  By January 31 of each year, the state party chairman of each political party shall file written notice with the State Board applicable to the primaries to be conducted by the party from April 1 of that year through March 31 of the following year. The notice shall state the rules adopted by the duly constituted authorities of the state political party for participation in the party's primaries, including whether the primary shall be (i) open only to qualified voters who are registered as being affiliated with the political party, (ii) open to qualified voters who are registered as being affiliated with the political party and to qualified voters who are registered as independents, (iii) open to all qualified voters, (iv) closed to qualified voters who have participated in another party's primary within a stated period of time, or (v) limited by such other rules for participation that the party determines to adopt and that are permitted by law. The state party chairman's notice shall apply to all primaries conducted by the party, including statewide and other election district primaries.

  Inserts “By January 31 of each year, the state party chairman of each political party shall file written notice with the State Board applicable to the primaries to be conducted by the party from April 1 of that year through March 31 of the following year. The notice shall state the rules adopted by the duly constituted authorities of the state political party for participation in the party's primaries, including whether the primary shall be (i) open only to qualified voters who are registered as being affiliated with the political party, (ii) open to qualified voters who are registered as being affiliated with the political party and to qualified voters who are registered as independents, (iii) open to all qualified voters, (iv) closed to qualified voters who have participated in another party's primary within a stated period of time, or (v) limited by such other rules for participation that the party determines to adopt and that are permitted by law. The state party chairman's notice shall apply to all primaries conducted by the party, including statewide and other election district primaries.”.

• 24.2-530

  who are

  Inserts “who are”.

• 24.2-530

  and § 24.2-516.1

  Inserts “and § 24.2-516.1”.

• 24.2-530

  The primary shall be conducted in accordance with the rules adopted by the political party for participation in the party's primaries and communicated by the party's state chairman as required by § 24.2-516.1.

  Inserts “The primary shall be conducted in accordance with the rules adopted by the political party for participation in the party's primaries and communicated by the party's state chairman as required by § 24.2-516.1.”.

• 24.2-530

  on any one primary election date

  Inserts “on any one primary election date”.

• 24.2-535

  by

  Strikes “by”.

• 24.2-535

  at

  Inserts “at”.

• 24.2-535

  political

  Inserts “political”.

• 24.2-535

  primary election

  Inserts “primary election”.

• 24.2-703.1

  C

  Strikes “C”.

• 24.2-703.1

  D

  Inserts “D”.

• 24.2-703.1

  The applicant shall specify by party designation the primary ballots he is requesting.

  Strikes “The applicant shall specify by party designation the primary ballots he is requesting.”.

• 24.2-703.1

  A voter on the permanent absentee voter list who is registered as affiliated with a political party pursuant to § 24.2-418.01 shall be sent the ballot for such political party's primary elections, unless the voter requests otherwise as provided in subdivision D 2.

  Inserts “A voter on the permanent absentee voter list who is registered as affiliated with a political party pursuant to § 24.2-418.01 shall be sent the ballot for such political party's primary elections, unless the voter requests otherwise as provided in subdivision D 2.”.

• 24.2-703.1

  A voter on the permanent absentee voter list who is registered as independent pursuant to § 24.2-418.01 shall be sent a ballot for a political party's primary election only if (i) the rules adopted by the political party for such primary pursuant to § 24.2-516.1 permit participation by voters with independent status and (ii) he submits his request for such party's primary ballot as provided in subdivision D 3 no later than 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh day prior to the primary election.

  Inserts “A voter on the permanent absentee voter list who is registered as independent pursuant to § 24.2-418.01 shall be sent a ballot for a political party's primary election only if (i) the rules adopted by the political party for such primary pursuant to § 24.2-516.1 permit participation by voters with independent status and (ii) he submits his request for such party's primary ballot as provided in subdivision D 3 no later than 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh day prior to the primary election.”.

• 24.2-703.1

  D.

  Inserts “D.”.

• 24.2-703.1

  he specified on his application for permanent absentee voter status

  Strikes “he specified on his application for permanent absentee voter status”.

• 24.2-703.1

  with which he is registered as affiliated pursuant to § 24.2-418.01

  Inserts “with which he is registered as affiliated pursuant to § 24.2-418.01”.

• 24.2-703.1

  when he is qualified to vote in such party's primary election as a result of the rules adopted for such primary pursuant to § 24.2-516.1

  Inserts “when he is qualified to vote in such party's primary election as a result of the rules adopted for such primary pursuant to § 24.2-516.1”.

• 24.2-703.1

  Change his political party selection for all succeeding primary elections

  Strikes “Change his political party selection for all succeeding primary elections”.

• 24.2-703.1

  Request a primary ballot for a political party for a single primary election when he is registered as independent pursuant to § 24.2-418.01 and the rules adopted by the political party pursuant to § 24.2-516.1 for such primary permit participation by voters with independent status

  Inserts “Request a primary ballot for a political party for a single primary election when he is registered as independent pursuant to § 24.2-418.01 and the rules adopted by the political party pursuant to § 24.2-516.1 for such primary permit participation by voters with independent status”.

• 24.2-703.1

  D.

  Strikes “D.”.

• 24.2-703.1

  E.

  Inserts “E.”.

Action History

1. February 18, 2026

   H Left in Committee Privileges and Elections

2. February 09, 2026

   H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1056)

3. February 03, 2026

   H Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (8-Y 0-N)

4. January 30, 2026

   H Placed on Privileges and Elections Agenda

5. January 30, 2026

   H Assigned HPE sub: Campaigns and Candidates

6. January 14, 2026

   H Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

7. January 14, 2026

   H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103816D

Sponsors

• Eric Phillips · Primary

Votes

Subjects