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HB 1490

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices, days and hours of operation.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bonita Anthony and 17 co-sponsors

Virginia HB 1490 would require election jurisdictions to establish satellite offices for in-person absentee voting with standardized operating hours to improve early voting access.

Left in Privileges and Elections
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Bill Summary · HB 1490

Legislative bill overview

HB 1490 would establish requirements for in-person absentee voting locations (satellite offices) in Virginia, including mandated days and hours of operation. The bill aims to standardize and potentially expand access to early voting by requiring election officials to maintain these satellite offices during specified periods before Election Day.

Why is this important

Voter access to early voting directly affects participation rates, particularly for voters with inflexible work schedules or limited transportation. Standardizing satellite office requirements across jurisdictions could reduce disparities in voting convenience between urban and rural areas, though implementation costs may vary significantly by locality.

Potential points of contention

  • Local government burden: Counties and cities may face significant costs to establish and staff additional satellite voting locations, particularly in rural areas with dispersed populations where cost-per-voter served could be high
  • Operational flexibility: Mandated hours and days may not align with actual voter demand patterns in different regions, potentially creating inefficient resource allocation
  • Implementation details: The bill's specific requirements regarding which days/hours are mandatory are not detailed in available information, making it unclear whether requirements are uniform statewide or account for local variation

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

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