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SB 438

Absentee voting in person; available the second and third Sunday before all elections.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lashrecse Aird and 6 co-sponsors

SB 438 requires Virginia to provide in-person absentee voting on the second and third Sundays before elections, expanding voter access outside traditional weekday hours.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 945 (effective 7/1/2026)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 438

Legislative bill overview

SB 438 establishes in-person absentee voting availability on the second and third Sundays before all elections in Virginia. This expands the existing absentee voting window by specifically designating Sunday voting opportunities, which currently may not be available depending on local election board operations.

Why is this important

Sunday voting access addresses potential barriers for voters with work schedules that conflict with weekday voting periods, particularly for working-class and shift-work populations. The measure directly impacts voter accessibility and turnout rates by providing predictable, dedicated voting windows.

Potential points of contention

  • Religious and operational concerns: Requiring Sunday voting may conflict with some election officials' religious observances or create resource allocation challenges for local election boards that weren't previously required to staff Sunday operations.
  • Implementation costs: Expanding voting days increases labor, facility, and administrative expenses for local election boards, with potential disputes over state versus local funding responsibility.
  • Consistency with existing law: The bill's interaction with Virginia's current absentee voting framework needs clarification—whether this mandates Sunday hours statewide or permits local discretion, and how it affects counties already offering weekend voting.

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

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