HB968Introduced in the House of Delegates
Election results; counting machine-readable ballots, processing absentee ballots.
Introduced by Marcia Price, District 85
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Election results; counting machine-readable ballots; processing absentee ballots. Requires ballot scanner machines to be used to count machine-readable ballots and prohibits such ballots from being counted by hand unless (i) the ballot scanner machine is inoperative, (ii) there is no other available scanner, and (iii) it would be unreasonable to wait for (a) the inoperative ballot scanner to be made operative or (b) an operative ballot scanner machine to be delivered to the polling place rather than hand counting the ballots. "Ballot scanner machine" and "machine-readable ballot" are defined terms under current law. The bill also provides that if, in the processing and counting of provisional and absentee ballots, any machine-readable ballot is damaged or defective, a team of election officials representing both parties shall make a true duplicate copy of such damaged ballot as a substitute for such damaged ballot. This bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2026.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0718)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 32-N 0-A) · March 4, 2026
63
Yes
32
No
4
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101436D
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
House committee offered
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (16-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106669D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (65-Y 33-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
Senate committee offered
Senate committee offered
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 7-N)
Senate committee offered
Committee substitute printed 26107343D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
Read third time
Passed by for the day
Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 32-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB968ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor - Chapter 718 (effective - 9/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0718)
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