HB 493 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Absentee voting; ballots received, marked, and cast electronically through the Internet.

Summary
Elections; absentee voting; accessibility; ballots received, marked, and cast electronically through the internet. Requires the Department of Elections to make available to all localities a tool to allow a voter with a visual impairment or print disability or a covered voter to receive, mark, and return his absentee ballot electronically through the internet. The bill makes the tool available through the internet in lieu of other currently available assistive technologies.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Privileges and Elections Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify the Department of Elections' responsibilities for providing accessible electronic voting tools. Key changes include adding specific instructions on how to process and count ballots cast via the new tool, refining the rules for when physical mailers are sent versus when electronic transmission is used, and correcting a grammatical error regarding tactile markings on envelopes.
Scope change
The scope of the bill's requirements was expanded to explicitly cover the processing and counting of ballots submitted through the new electronic tool, whereas the original version only mentioned making the tool available.
REQUIREMENT

Added specific language requiring the Department of Elections to develop instructions on how to process and count ballots that are voted using the new accessible electronic tool.

Clarified the procedure for applicants who want to use the electronic tool to mark their ballot but must return it via physical mail, ensuring they still receive the necessary return envelope and instructions.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a sentence in the original text that had a grammatical error ('ensure the applicant receives access') to properly state that the registrar shall ensure the applicant receives access.

Removed the example of a 'tactile sticker' from the definition of tactile markings on envelopes to ensure the definition covers only physical alterations like hole punches or cut corners.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Patrick Hope
Patrick Hope
DDemocratic
VA
1