HB 639

(HB639)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 639, which would allow the State Board of Elections (“SBE”), the Virginia Department of Elections (“ELECT”), and local election officials to receive property and services from private individuals and nongovernmental entities.

In 2022, the General Assembly passed legislation prohibiting the SBE, ELECT, local electoral boards, and all offices of the general registrar from soliciting, accepting, using, or disposing of any money, grants, property, or services given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding voter education and outreach programs, voter registration programs, or any other expense incurred in the conduct of elections.

House Bill 639 seeks to address some of the unintended consequences of the 2022 law, particularly concerns that the law prohibits election administrators from accepting certain low-price items, like a free coffee on Election Day, or resources to assist with voter outreach. I agree with the intent of this bill, and I offered several amendments to ensure appropriate guardrails are in place for the acceptance of private funds and services. The enrolled bill includes a $1,000 cap, but does not specify whether the cap is weekly, monthly, annually, or all-time.

My amendments would clarify that the $1,000 limit is on an annual basis, require recipients to disclose any money, grants, property, or services provided by a private individual or nongovernmental entity to ELECT, and require ELECT to establish guidelines for acceptable uses of funds for general registrars and local election officials.

However, the General Assembly rejected these amendments which would have ensured additional clarity and guardrails on the use of private funds in election administration and voter registration programs.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.