§ 24.2-702.1 Federal write-in absentee ballots
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a covered voter, as defined in § 24.2-452, may use a federal write-in absentee ballot in any election. Such ballot shall be submitted and processed in the manner provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.) and this article.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a federal write-in absentee ballot submitted pursuant to subsection A shall be considered valid for purposes of simultaneously satisfying both an absentee ballot application and a completed absentee ballot, provided that the ballot is received no later than the deadline for the return of absentee ballots as provided in § 24.2-709 for the election in which the voter offers to vote, and the application contains the following information: (i) the voter’s signature; however, if the voter is unable to sign, the person assisting the voter will note this fact in the voter signature box; (ii) the voter’s printed name; (iii) the voter’s birth year; (iv) the last four digits of the voter’s social security number; (v) the county or city in which the voter is registered and offers to vote; (vi) the residence address at which the voter is registered to vote; and (vii) the voter’s current military or overseas address. For purposes of this section, the unique identifier assigned to the voter in the voter registration system pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 24.2-404 shall be accepted in place of the last four digits of the voter’s social security number for those voters whose registration includes a statement of affirmation that they have never been issued a social security number.
C. This section shall not be construed to require that an absentee ballot be sent to the absentee voter on receipt of a federal write-in absentee ballot unless the voter has also submitted an absentee ballot application pursuant to § 24.2-701.
History
This law was first created in 1993. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 813 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1993 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 10 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1993, chapter 641; in 2002, chapters 785 and 819; in 2009, chapters 230 and 310; in 2010, chapters 449 and 645; in 2011, chapters 427 and 458; in 2012, chapter 353; in 2015, chapter 313; in 2019, chapters 668 and 669; in 2020, chapters 1149, 1151, and 1201; in 2023, chapter 785.
1993, c. 813, § 24.1-228.2:1; 1993, c. 641; 2002, cc. 785, 819; 2009, cc. 230, 310; 2010, cc. 449, 645; 2011, cc. 427, 458; 2012, c. 353; 2015, c. 313; 2019, cc. 668, 669; 2020, cc. 1149, 1151, 1201; 2023, c. 785.