West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 8 R cosponsors

HB 4600 — Require all ballots for primary and general elections be received not later than the close of the polls on election day.

Last action — To Judiciary

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Require all ballots for primary and general elections be received not later than the close of the polls on election day.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

26 added · 22 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HB 4600 has made some important changes to absentee voting procedures. It now aligns the absentee voting period with early in-person voting, which should make the voting process smoother for everyone. Additionally, it specifies that absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted, ensuring that all votes are counted on time. These changes aim to improve voter access and streamline the election process.

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CS for HB 4600 WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for House Bill 4600 By Delegates Hillenbrand, G.
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED Committee Substitute for House Bill 4600 By Delegates Hillenbrand, G.
Reported on February 4, 2026] CS for HB 4600 A BILL to amend and reenact §3-3-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to voting by absentee;
Reported on February 4, 2026.] Eng CS for HB 4600 A BILL to amend and reenact §3-3-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to voting by absentee;
and 1 CS for HB 4600 (2) For all other persons eligible to vote an absentee ballot by mail or electronically, except qualified first responders, not earlier than January 1 of an election year or 84 days preceding the election, whichever is earlier, and not later than the sixth thirteenth day preceding the election;
and 1 Eng CS for HB 4600 (2) For all other persons eligible to vote an absentee ballot by mail or electronically, except qualified first responders, not earlier than January 1 of an election year or 84 days preceding the election, whichever is earlier, and not later than the sixth thirteenth day preceding the election;
If the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting determines the required conditions have not been met or has evidence that any of 2 CS for HB 4600 the information contained in the application is not true, the official shall give notice to the voter that the voter’s absentee ballot will be challenged as provided in this article and shall enter that challenge.
If the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting determines the required conditions have not been met or has evidence that any of 2 Eng CS for HB 4600 the information contained in the application is not true, the official shall give notice to the voter that the voter’s absentee ballot will be challenged as provided in this article and shall enter that challenge.
3 CS for HB 4600 (2) If the voter is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
3 Eng CS for HB 4600 (2) If the voter is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
(g) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, absentee ballots returned by 4 CS for HB 4600 United States mail or other express shipping service are to be accepted if:
4 Eng CS for HB 4600 (g) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, absentee ballots returned by United States mail or other express shipping service are to be accepted if:
or (2) The ballot bears a postmark of the United States Postal Service dated no later than election day and the ballot is received by the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting no later than the hour at which the board of canvassers convenes to begin the canvass The return envelope is received by the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting by 8:00 p.m.
or (2) The ballot bears a postmark of the United States Postal Service dated no later than election day and the ballot is received by the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting no later than the hour at which the board of canvassers convenes to begin the canvass the return envelope is received by the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting by 8:00 p.m.
(j) Ballots received after the proper time which cannot be accepted are to be placed unopened in an envelope marked for the purpose and kept secure for 22 months following the election, after which time they are to be destroyed without being opened.
5 Eng CS for HB 4600 (j) Ballots received after the proper time which cannot be accepted are to be placed unopened in an envelope marked for the purpose and kept secure for 22 months following the election, after which time they are to be destroyed without being opened.
5 CS for HB 4600 (k) Absentee ballots which are hand delivered are to be accepted if they are received by the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting no later than the day preceding the election:
(k) Absentee ballots which are hand delivered are to be accepted if they are received by the official designated to supervise and conduct absentee voting no later than the day preceding the election:
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to require absentee ballots mailed in to be received by 6 CS for HB 4600 8:00 p.m.
on the day of the election to be counted.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Judiciary

  5. To House Legal Services

  6. Markup Discussion

  7. To House Judiciary

  8. Markup Discussion

  9. By substitute, do pass

  10. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  11. Read 1st time

  12. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  13. Read 2nd time

  14. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  15. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  16. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  17. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  18. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  19. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  20. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  21. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  22. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  23. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  24. Read 3rd time

  25. Passed House (Roll No. 66)

  26. Communicated to Senate

  27. Introduced in Senate

  28. To Judiciary

  29. To Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4600 do?
Require all ballots for primary and general elections be received not later than the close of the polls on election day.
Who sponsors HB 4600?
HB 4600 is sponsored by Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), Gary G. Howell (Republican), Josh Holstein (Republican), Laura Kimble (Republican), Joe Funkhouser (Republican), Tresa Howell (Republican), David Cannon (Republican), and Scot C. Heckert (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4600?
This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 4600?
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Last checked for changes about 1 month ago · updated continuously

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