The NAACP VA State Conference supports HB835 and HB 212

I support all legislation to remove big money from all election campaigns. I ask that you serve us, the people, not just those with wealth or corporate power. All the people.

I am opposed to any all bill that make it easier to cheat in elections like these bills being presented. I am opposed to any and all bills that make same sex marriage acceptable. I am opposed to any and all bills that allow full term abortion and allow minors to have abortions with out the parents knowledge. I am opposed to any and all bills that would allow minors to undergo transgender surgery . I am opposed to any and all bills that will raise taxes while the politicians are trying to give themselves a 150% increase no that is not acceptable.

I am a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia and a law-abiding resident with a strong interest in the integrity of our electoral process. I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to House Bill 835, which would restrict public access to the residential addresses of candidates seeking public office. HB 835 fundamentally undermines transparency in elections and limits the ability of voters to verify that candidates meet the residency requirements mandated by law. Residency verification is not a trivial matter—it is essential to ensuring that those who seek office legitimately represent the districts, counties, or municipalities in which they run. By denying access to basic residence information, this bill invites potential fraud, misrepresentation, and abuse, creating opportunities for candidates to obscure eligibility and for voters to be misled. Recent events illustrate the importance of this issue. Questions arose regarding the residency of newly seated Lt. Governor Hashmi during the most recent state elections, demonstrating how unclear or inaccessible residency information can erode public confidence and generate controversy. Allowing citizens to verify residency is a safeguard against such disputes and ensures accountability in our electoral system. HB 835 appears to serve the interests of incumbent or politically connected candidates rather than the voters. By limiting access to addresses, the legislation effectively shields candidates from legitimate scrutiny, discouraging lawful challenges to residency claims. In practice, this protects the “almighty elected class” from accountability and removes a vital tool for citizens to hold candidates to the legal standards required for public office. Elections are the foundation of representative government, and public access to relevant information about candidates is essential to preserving the integrity of that process. Transparency allows voters to make informed decisions, ensures compliance with eligibility requirements, and deters fraud. Any law that restricts the ability of citizens to verify critical qualifications of candidates undermines trust in government and diminishes confidence in the electoral system. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the members of this committee to oppose House Bill 835. Protecting voters’ ability to verify candidate residency is not partisan—it is fundamental to free, fair, and accountable elections. Limiting transparency in this manner sends the wrong message to Virginians: that candidates may evade scrutiny and voters have no recourse to challenge misrepresentation. Preserving access to public information regarding candidate residency safeguards electoral integrity and maintains public confidence in our democratic institutions.