SD20 - Certain Revisions in Election Laws
Executive Summary: The Joint Subcommittee continued its consideration of election law revisions during 1986 in accordance with Senate Joint Resolution No. 26. See, Appendix A. That resolution directed the Subcommittee to complete the study it began in 1985 of issues concerning the primary and nomination processes in Virginia and authorized the Subcommittee to consider other election law revisions that were brought to its attention. From the outset, the focus of the study has been the presidential nomination and primary process. Consideration has been given as well to a number of proposals concerning other aspects of the nomination process, federal legislation with an impact on Virginia election procedures and suggested changes in election procedures in the Commonwealth. The Subcommittee met June 10, 1986, to organize and to review the scope of its study. A public hearing was held August 12, 1986, to solicit views on the proposals carried over from the prior year's study and circulated in Senate Document No. 19 (1986) and to hear suggestions for other election law revisions. The Subcommittee held a working session October 14, 1986, and reviewed all topics brought before it to that time. A second public hearing was scheduled to allow further public response to a series of draft legislative proposals on those matters viewed as of most immediate concern. The second public hearing on November 20, 1986, was followed by a December 15, 1986, working session and the preparation of this Report. This Report does not address every proposal or item brought to the Subcommittee's attention. For example, the Subcommittee reviewed carry-over legislation but presents no recommendations on these matters, which are under consideration by either the House or Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. Had there been a conflict between the recommendations in this Report and any carry-over bill, this Report would have addressed the problem. Since no conflicts are anticipated, the Subcommittee defers on these matters to the standing Committees on Privileges and Elections. With regard to other specific suggestions for election law revisions, the Subcommittee acted favorably on only two matters: implementation of the new federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act blank ballot requirements and revision of the statutory provisions on defaced ballots. These changes are discussed below. Matters considered, but not recommended, are not reviewed in this Report, but materials on the wide variety of issues considered by the Subcommittee are retained and available in the Subcommittee's files at the Division of Legislative Services. The Report is divided into the following segments: I. Presidential Preference Primary II. Implementation of Federal Blank Ballot Legislation III. Defaced Ballots Appendix A. Senate Joint Resolution No. 26 Appendix B. Table on Southern Regional Primary Appendix C. Proposed Bill to Establish a 1988 Presidential Preference Primary Appendix D. Proposed Bill to Implement Federal Blank Ballot Legislation Appendix E. Proposed Bill on Defaced Ballots |
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