HB 640 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Elections; challenges to a voter or voter's registration, filing of petition, notice of appeal.

Summary

Elections; challenges to a voter or voter's registration. Eliminates the process by which any voter could challenge, in a polling place on the day of an election, the right of any other voter to cast a ballot. The bill also eliminates the process by which any three voters could challenge a voter's registration before the general registrar; such challenges may still be made by filing a petition with the circuit court of the county or city where the voter is registered.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Vetoed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Privileges and Elections Substitute → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 31, 2026

MODERATE

This bill finalizes the text of HB 640, removing procedural headers and formatting the language for official enactment. It amends Virginia election laws to update section numbering, clarify voter registration challenges, and refine absentee ballot procedures, including specific requirements for identifying information and provisional voting.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on Virginia election administration, specifically voter registration challenges and absentee ballot handling, with no change in the overall applicability of the law.

TECHNICAL

Removed procedural headers, dates, and committee information to convert the bill from a substitute draft to an enrolled, final version.

REQUIREMENT

Updated section references and formatting (e.g., adding non-breaking spaces) to ensure legal consistency with the Code of Virginia.

Refined the statement required on absentee ballot envelopes to clarify the voter's declaration of residency and non-assistance in marking the ballot.

Clarified that unique identifiers can replace Social Security numbers for voters who affirm they have never been issued one.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Vetoed

Governor's recommendation received by House

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB640ER)

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

House committee offered

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor