SB176Introduced in the Senate
Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report.
Introduced by Schuyler VanValkenburg, District 16
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Expands the option to use ranked choice voting from only elections for county board of supervisors and city councils to any local governing body. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to provide standards and to approve vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. The bill provides for copying damaged or defective ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems. The bill allows localities to request risk-limiting audits of elections conducted using ranked choice voting and provides that no such election may be included in any random drawing required to satisfy the general requirements for risk-limiting audits. The bill specifies that the State Board is required to produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting and is also permitted to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election. The bill directs the Department of Elections to review the testing and approval framework for voting equipment in the Commonwealth and submit a report of such review no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill repeals the 2031 expiration of the option to use ranked choice voting in elections, making such option permanent. This bill is identical to HB 630.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0993)
April 22, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026
21
Yes
18
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | Absent |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104635D
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB176)
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N 1-A)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day
Read second time
Read second time
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N)
Read second time
Read third time
Passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB176ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB176)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A)
Governor's recommendation adopted
Reenrolled
Reenrolled bill text (SB176ER2)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Approved by Governor-Chapter 993 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0993)
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