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Bill

HB 1862

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Bloxom

Virginia bill to allow in-person absentee voting 14 days before primaries was introduced but struck from committee docket without advancing.

Stricken from docket by Privileges and Elections (22-Y 0-N)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1862

Legislative bill overview

HB 1862 would have extended in-person absentee voting availability to begin 14 days before primary elections in Virginia, rather than at a later date. The bill was prefiled in January 2025 but was struck from the docket by the Privileges and Elections Committee on January 17, 2025, meaning it will not advance further this session.

Why is this important

Early in-person absentee voting affects voter accessibility and election administration. Extending the period could provide more flexibility for voters unable to cast ballots on Election Day, but also requires additional poll worker staffing and resource allocation by election officials during an already busy pre-election period.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost vs. accessibility trade-off: Extending the absentee voting window requires additional staffing and operational resources at local election offices, potentially increasing costs while some argue current voting windows already provide adequate access
  • Primary vs. general election parity: The bill specifically targets primary elections; questions exist about whether different rules for primaries versus general elections create consistency issues or unnecessary complexity
  • Election administration burden: Earlier availability means election officials manage absentee voting operations alongside primary preparation, raising concerns about workload management and potential implementation challenges

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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