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SB658Introduced in the Senate

Back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation.

Passed

Introduced by Aaron Rouse, District 22

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Secretary of Administration; work group on automatic voter registration. Directs the Department of Elections to convene a work group for the purpose of studying the implementation of back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration (AVR) in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the Office of the Attorney General, in addition to members of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections, general registrars, and organizations advocating for or working on voting rights and data privacy. The work group is tasked with considering the effectiveness, efficiency, and security of back-end, opt-out AVR as compared to Virginia's current front-end, opt-out process and identifying the costs and benefits of moving to such a system. The Secretary of Administration is required to submit a report of the work group's findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 319.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0590)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

7 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 33-N 0-A) · March 13, 2026

61

Yes

33

No

5

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

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105126D

  2. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  3. Senate committee offered

  4. Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)

  5. Committee substitute printed 26107067D-S1

  6. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  7. Rules suspended

  8. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  9. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  10. Read second time

  11. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  12. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  13. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  14. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)

  15. Placed on Calendar

  16. Read first time

  17. Referred to Committee on Rules

  18. Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

  19. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)

  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)

  21. Reported from Rules with substitute (12-Y 6-N)

  22. Committee substitute printed 26108948D-H1

  23. Read second time

  24. Read third time

  25. committee substitute agreed to

  26. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  27. Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)

  28. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)

  29. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  30. House insisted on substitute

  31. House requested conference committee

  32. Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  33. Conferees appointed by Senate

  34. Senate Conferees: Rouse, Srinivasan, Diggs

  35. Conferees appointed by House

  36. House Conferees: Hernandez, Price, Cherry

  37. Senate acceded to request

  38. Conference Report released

  39. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  40. Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 33-N 0-A)

  41. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)

  42. Enrolled

  43. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB658ER)

  44. Signed by President

  45. Signed by Speaker

  46. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  47. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  48. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)

  49. Approved by Governor-Chapter 590 (effective 7/1/2026)

  50. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0590)

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