An update from the Senate P&E committee on voting access bills
The latest from the General Assembly and Virginia politics.
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The Privileges and Elections Committee in the state Senate killed several bills (again) that are aimed at restricting voting access
Amanda Chase presented several bills to the committee
The first: SB 459 would have established a new process for reviewing the jobs of general registrars. Multiple experts testified that the review process for registrars is already in place at the local electoral board level. This bill died on a 9-6 vote
The second: SB 235 would have repealed the new same-day voter registration process that is set to go into effect this year. The bill died on a 9-6 vote.
The Third: SB 588 would have forced the Department of Elections to provide the lists for their districts to any registered voter of the commonwealth for a reasonable charge not to exceed its actual cost incurred in supplying the requested records. The bill was passed by for a week so the senators can work out details on what the actual purpose of giving citizens the full voter list will be.
The full statewide list costs about $6,500 according to Chris Piper, the commissioner of the Department of Elections.
The Fourth: SB 133 would place a barcode on the ballot so that individual voters can track their ballots. It would also require any printer or vendor supplying ballots in an election for state or federal office to be ISO 27001 certified, ISO 17025 certified, or ISO 9001:2015 certified. The bill died 9-6
Sen. Mark Peake (R) argued that this bill will keep sore losers, referring to Trump without naming him, from being able to cause any more doubt in election results.
The Fifth: SB 234 would have repealed the provisions of law by which any registered voter may apply to receive absentee ballots for all elections in which he is eligible to vote and remains on the list until the voter requests in writing to be removed from the list, the voter's registration is canceled or placed on inactive status pursuant to law, or the voter moves to a different address not in the same county or city of his registration. The bill failed on an 8-6 vote.
The committee is still meeting and Chase has three more bills to present. I will provide more updates Wednesday morning.
Sen. Bill Stanley (R) successfully presented SB 80 to the P&E committee; it would prohibit state and local elections officials from soliciting, accepting, using, or disposing of any moneys, grants, property, or services given by a private individual or non-governmental entity for the purpose of funding voter education and outreach programs, voter registration programs, or any other expense incurred in the conduct of elections. The bill specifically provides that the operation of a polling place or voter satellite office in a facility furnished by a private individual or nongovernmental entity is not a violation of this prohibition. The bill passed from committee unanimously.
Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) was able to successfully champion SB 273 through the P&E Committee. It would make the current absentee ballot witness signature requirement optional by giving the voter the option to provide either the last four digits of the voter's social security number or the voter's valid Virginia driver's license number in lieu of a witness signature. The bill passed 14-0 with Sen. Spruill abstaining and telling Ebbin that he “sounds like a Republican.”
Youngkin says he intends to replace Virginia’s top election official - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Monday he plans to appoint someone new to serve as Virginia’s top election official when current Elections Commissioner Chris Piper’s four-year term expires this summer. In the interview, Fredericks asked Youngkin if he plans to “clean house” at the agency.
“We in fact fully expect that when the current commissioner’s term is up that we will replace him,” Youngkin replied. “We have to make sure the leadership that’s in the Department of Elections is leadership that is looking out for the integrity of the election process and not trying to be political.”
VA-02 Republican candidate Jen Kiggans uses Biden’s “Son of a B*tch” comment for fundraising email
In case you missed it, President Joe Biden mocked a Fox News reporter for asking if he believes inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterm election.
"No, that's a great asset — more inflation,” responded on a hot mic. “What a stupid son of a bitch.”
State Sen. Jen Kiggans, a Republican seeking the nomination to run against Democratic Rep. Elain Luria (VA-02), used those comments for a fundraising email calling for “more civility.” It is unclear if she believed the same thing during President Trump’s tenure when civility was also missing.
Read the email from Kiggans below:
We need more civility in politics, Mr. President, not less… We have officially reached the highest inflation rate since 1982 and are paying 7% more than we were just one year ago. Just in December alone consumer prices rose .5%! Americans deserve better!
We are all feeling the impact of inflation… From the gas pump, the grocery store, restaurants, the housing market or buying a car. Not to mention the empty shelves and shipping delays.
We need real leaders who will address this head on, come up with solutions, and fight to bring our economy back. Unfortunately, we don’t have a representative for VA-02 in Washington fighting for us and bolstering our economy… instead we have a President calling a reporter a “stupid son of a b****” for asking about inflation.
SNHR Secretary nominee Andrew Wheeler faces questions from Senate Democrats
Democrats challenge Youngkin's view of state economy; he's not backing down - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Michael Martz
In successive appearances before the General Assembly's powerful budget committees, new Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings weathered a scolding by two powerful Democrats - former House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, who challenged the new governor's gloomy narrative about Virginia's economy.
"Listening to you all, you would think we were the worst state for doing business, and it simply isn't so," Saslaw told Cummings on Tuesday at the secretary's debut before the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee.
Did you miss the newsletter this morning?
The rundown
Youngkin goes in-depth on his school-mask policy and what he hopes will happen with the legal challenges
Attorney General Jason Miyares announced his legislative agenda
Republicans in a House subcommittee voted early Tuesday morning to roll back some voter access laws passed by Democrats in recent years.
Republican Rep. Bob Good (R-VA05) is facing a primary challenger