HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

HB205: This legislation would make it illegal for an election official to accept money from any individual or entity except the government to fund an election, protecting public elections from influence by private wealthy individuals and entities. HB71: If adopted, this bill would add protection from bias to elections. It would protect from corruption in the marketplace by prohibiting public utility entities from making financial contributions to candidates campaigning for political office.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

I'm the coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. Ideally, we wouldn't need to pass this type of legislation because VA, like 22 other states and the federal government, should ban corporate contributions so this wouldn't be needed. In the absence, however, of any limitations bill which levels the playing field for donors, our group generally supports this bill. Clearly contributions from state-regulated monopolies to legislators who vote on bills influencing these entities is perceived by the public as a conflict of interest. At least 5 states specifically prohibit public utility companies from making contributions to candidates for public utility commissions, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, & Oklahoma. So there is precedent in applying this type of rule to public utilities in Virginia.

Virginia is one of only five states that has no limits on the amount of money any individual, corporation, or other entity can contribute to candidates for public office. Virginia is the only state that permits candidates to spend campaign donations on whatever they want. It is past time for Virginia to have real campaign finance reform. The public strongly supports campaign finance reform. Please take this issue seriously this session. I strongly support HB 973, HB 71, and HB 575. There is an inherent conflict of interest for State regulated monopoly public utilities to make contributions, let alone unlimited contributions, to those who are responsible for regulating them. There is a strong public perception of corruption in Virginia when there are no limitations whatsoever on how much money can be donated to candidates nor any restrictions on how such money can be spent. My own State Senator brags that he is the largest recipient of money from one of the public utilities and also openly states that he launders money from that utility to give to other candidates. That does not give me or my neighbors confidence that he is representing out concerns rather than his funders. The Virginia Way of pay-to-play must end if we are truly going to be a democracy. The proposed campaign finance limits should be reduced to match the limits for Federal candidates. I believe it is reasonable for there to be a child care exception to the ban on personal use of campaign funds. Public confidence in elections and elected officials will only increase if the public does not have the perception that their elected officials are “bought” by special interests. The time for comprehensive campaign finance reform is now. Thank you for your consideration.

Virginia is one of only five states that has no limits on the amount of money any individual, corporation, or other entity can contribute to candidates for public office. Virginia is the only state that permits candidates to spend campaign donations on whatever they want. It is past time for Virginia to have real campaign finance reform. The public strongly supports campaign finance reform. Please take this issue seriously this session. I strongly support HB 973, HB 71, and HB 575. There is an inherent conflict of interest for State regulated monopoly public utilities to make contributions, let alone unlimited contributions, to those who are responsible for regulating them. There is a strong public perception of corruption in Virginia when there are no limitations whatsoever on how much money can be donated to candidates nor any restrictions on how such money can be spent. My own State Senator brags that he is the largest recipient of money from one of the public utilities and also openly states that he launders money from that utility to give to other candidates. That does not give me or my neighbors confidence that he is representing out concerns rather than his funders. The Virginia Way of pay-to-play must end if we are truly going to be a democracy. The proposed campaign finance limits should be reduced to match the limits for Federal candidates. I believe it is reasonable for there to be a child care exception to the ban on personal use of campaign funds. Public confidence in elections and elected officials will only increase if the public does not have the perception that their elected officials are “bought” by special interests. The time for comprehensive campaign finance reform is now. Thank you for your consideration.

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

NO MACHINES !! SEE FRANKSPEECH.COM, HOME PAGE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY, SPEAK WITH AMANDA CHASE IN VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

Comments Document

Support for the passage of the following bills: HB1302, HB973, HB1296, HB575, and HB85

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise. We support campaign contribution limits because this would help promote integrity through fair play. The recent Wason poll found that 75% of Virginians support creating contribution limits, and 78% support reducing money from big campaign donors. We recognize the two bills propose different levels dollar limits, either of which would be acceptable. We also suggest the inclusion of an exception for those running against self-financed candidates. We note that measures to increase campaign finance disclosure, which is being promoted in other bills would help address concerns that have been raised about the impact of contribution limits on dark money. Thank you.

My name is Nancy Morgan and I’m the coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise, a good governance group. We support Del Anderson’s well-written bill (HB85). Last year we had the most expensive election in Virginia's history. Virginia citizens were watching when hundreds of thousands of $ were transferred by wealthy individuals and corporations into the election campaigns of individual VA candidates. Just an example, before the last election, I gave a new candidate running for office $35, two weeks later an organization gave him $500,000. Boy, was I angry. It doesn’t matter whether the money comes from the right or left, it undermines Virginians' faith in our candidates/legislators. This doesn’t happen in 45 other states. Today you, as legislators, have the opportunity to have Virginia put in place common sense caps on limitations . People use the excuse that money is speech when arguing about putting in place campaign contributions. But Virginia citizens know that as members of a society, speech is rationed all the time: talking to a School Board, providing testimony in a legislative meeting, etc. The objective is allow everyone to be heard, not just the rich and powerful. Before you today in this sub-committee are two good limitations bills. This is a historical opportunity to decide what levels of limitations are reasonable and pass a good governance bill that would be welcomed by the citizens of the Commonwealth. Governor Wilder's Commission Report in 1994 recommended capping limitations. 30 year later, let's get it done.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

Comments Document

Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Beth Alley

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

Nancy Morgan on HB 174. Our good governance group, the Va Chapter of American Promise supports the principle behind this bill. States should have the right to regulate election spending and limit monies coming into the States and individual Districts. Unfortunately that is not the case because of 40 years of Supreme Court rulings. Because of that, there might be a potential of litigation related to the provisions of this bill; this did happen in Alaska which tried to limit out of state monies from supporting state elections. But we strongly believe that the principle behind Del Bloxom’s bill is sound. Virginia should join with 21 other States who are pushing for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to do exactly that, allow Virginia to regulate election spending.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

This bill will prevent equal access to office by allowing wealthy candidates to finance their own campaigns. I oppose this bill because it puts many highly qualified candidates at a disadvantage when they don’t have access to campaign funds . Revise the entire campaign finance system before putting more power into the hands of those with money.

I oppose H.B. 174 because it prevents grassroots contributions to campaigns while allowing unlimited self-funding so that wealthy candidates -- or corrupt candidates who accept gifts outside of campaign contributions -- will have an unfair financial advantage.

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

Any and ALL Out of district funding sources, INCLUDING Party money should be banned from Virginia Elections or National Elections in Virginia. Individual election contributions should be limited to $200 per year total. Non-individual contributions should be banned. No PACs no Businesses no Unions should contribute money to an election. Elections select representatives of the people, not incorporated entities.

I support HB 205 to prohibit private financing from influencing the General Registrar activities, including hiring staff or contractors, paying for or providing free training, and purchasing equipment. We need to keep elections and the staff that run them free from conflicts of interest. HB 205 will increase trust in elections by keeping the influence of private money out of election system operations. Billionaires should not be allowed to buy up and influence the nonpartisan election operations. Virginians deserve to know their votes will be counted by someone free from outside influence and partisan funding.

I strongly support the requirement for a photo ID for voter registration and voting (HB46) This is a common sense, no hassle safeguard to defeat fraud. Similarly, we should ELIMINATE same day registration (HB185). There is simply no way to instantaneously verify that a person is who they claim to be. Furthermore, this imposes a huge, unnecessary burden on election officials or those who may be tasked with a forensic audit, etc. I support the reduction of the early voting period (HB39). Two weeks is adequate for those who must be out of town on business, etc. I support limitations on large amounts of outside funding (HB 205). American elections SHOULD NOT be for sale. As a retired Marine officer and current elections official, I am astounded that sober politicians persist in trying to subvert the Constitution (to which they took an oath) and enable voter fraud through the practices as listed above, as well as ballot harvesting and use of unsecured drop boxes! Through its lack of good judgment and integrity, persons on the Loudoun County School Board have already made us a nationally known laughingstock. Let's pray that similarly minded people in the State Senate DON'T expand our shame by opening our election processes open to rampant fraud.

I'm a Virginian in favor of safeguarding the election process. Since I am an Arlington county election officer, I know that preventing election fraud requires voters to be citizens verifiable by free voter ID and a verifiable pre-election day registration process. 14 days is plenty of time to vote. Same day voter registration is wrong because there is no way to verify eligibility and identity. The 45 day election season is an expensive use of taxpayer dollars for election operations. The longer election period provides greater opportunity for fraud and abuse by felons, identity thieves, or illegal inhabitants. It also is burdensome to unpaid poll watchers and other election operations volunteers. Increased demands on the postal service to deliver absentee ballots is asking for chaos and mass disenfranchisement. Election results will take longer to tabulate if there is a massive amount of mail-in voting. Absentee ballots make it much easier to forge a signature, impersonate a voter, or buy a vote in the privacy of one’s home than it is in a voting booth at the polls where oversight occurs. These are common sense election procedures.

This bill prohibits private financing from influencing General Registrar activity . Please support this bill . Election officials are there to guarantee a fair election free from fraud and voter tampering. Absolutely no gifts of funding should be allowed in order to safeguard the election process.

HB205 would make it illegal for an election official to accept money from any individual or entity except the government to fund an election, protecting public elections from influence by private wealthy individuals and entities. HB305 would increase the number of members of the State Board of Elections from five to six, three members from each party. Currently, the Commissioner of Elections is appointed by the Governor, but if this bill is adopted the Commissioner would now be appointed by a supermajority of the State Board of Elections instead. The bill also includes provisions to improve accuracy of the voting roll, require voter ID, require election audits, better manage drop off locations, and more.

Comments Document

Dear Chairman Ransone, Representative Wachsmann, distinguished Members of the Committee: Thank you for allowing me to submit this testimony. I’m Scott Walter, a resident of Sterling, Virginia, and president of the Capital Research Center in Washington, D.C., a 37-year-old think tank that is a watchdog on nonprofits. I do not presume to tell you how to vote on H.B. 205 but only to tell you, as an expert on nonprofit funding, the question you face: Should the Commonwealth’s elections be governed by you, the people’s representatives, or by megadonors? Personally, as a Virginia citizen I do not want donors—from anywhere on the political spectrum—or the nonprofits they use, to manipulate elections through gifts to government offices. I want you, our democratically elected officials, to regulate Virginia’s elections, not megadonors from either party. Neither donors nor “nonpartisan” nonprofits can be trusted to keep their thumbs off the scale when they have millions in their hands. I was not surprised after testifying to your Senate counterparts to see that every single committee member from both parties recognized the dangers I am describing and voted to pass a similar bill. At Capital Research Center, we have studied exhaustively one megadonor’s use of two supposedly nonpartisan nonprofits to send funds to government election offices in nearly every state, to the documented benefit of his preferred political party. But because this is a bipartisan problem, I won’t name either party in my testimony. While one party benefitted dramatically in 2020, next time the other party’s donors may pull the same trick. All of us should want to avoid that. I’ll call the lucky folks last time, “Party 1,” and the main “nonpartisan” nonprofit that benefitted them “Group 1.” Group 1 received hundreds of millions of dollars in 2020 from one out-of-state billionaire. Nearly 4 million of those dollars came into government election offices in Virginia. The critical question is how much money went to which election offices. I am not claiming the money funded fraud, only that it funded turnout targeted to help one side. For the sake of argument, I am happy to assume that not one vote in Virginia was cast fraudulently, and not one vote was miscounted. Even if that were true, it is scandalous that this outside money boosted turnout for Party 1 in its most vote-rich jurisdictions. This is a new scheme in our politics, but we all know that when one party crafts a novel weapon and wins, the other party will add the weapon to its arsenal. Do you want to keep this legal loophole open and allow such an arms race? Our analysis found that a pattern repeats in every battleground state. First, Group 1 is far more likely to fund election jurisdictions that are rich with Party 1 votes. Second, it funds those jurisdictions much more heavily per capita. Election expert J. Christian Adams sums it up: Group 1’s cash “converted election offices in key jurisdictions with deep reservoirs of [Party 1] votes into Formula One turnout machines.” That’s what happened last time. Next time, the opposite could happen—if you allow it. Thank you. (Attached is a breakdown of the specifics in the Virginia 2020 election.)

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

HB205: This legislation would make it illegal for an election official to accept money from any individual or entity except the government to fund an election, protecting public elections from influence by private wealthy individuals and entities. HB71: If adopted, this bill would add protection from bias to elections. It would protect from corruption in the marketplace by prohibiting public utility entities from making financial contributions to candidates campaigning for political office.

All bills that will reflect a stronger more secure election in the future. Considering both sides, Trump and Biden, have spoken in regards to those concerns, these should be reported on with bipartisan approval. Thank you.

I support both these bills. Private money brings in and opens the door to corruption.

I support these bills. As demonstrated in similar instances, private money opens the door to signifant risk of corruption untelible for our great Commonwealth annd her constituents.

I support these bills. Private money brings in and opens the door to corruption.

I strongly support these bills.

I support these bills. Private money causes corruption.

I support these bills. Private money brings in and opens the door to corruption.

I am in favor of HB205 HB1101

HB205 and HB1101

I support these bills. Private money brings in and opens the door to corruption.

I support these bills to keep private money, gifts from buying off state and local elections and officials in Virginia. Even under the purest motives, private election funding given to government offices is inappropriate and creates distrust. I am a minority here in Virginia. We work hard to take good care of our family. I am not a millionaire or billionaire, and I have no issue with those who are, but they should NOT be allowed to buy off our election officials and their offices. It is wrong to allow private funding of our government offices by anyone. Thank you for appreciating my position. Please show your support for minorities and regular Virginians by supporting

If you care about Virginia and every person as a voter, I urge you to pass HB205 - Wachsmann and also HB1101 – LaRock to keep private money from influencing and buying off state and local elections and officials in Virginia. The companion bill to this was passed yesterday in the Senate P&E committee it is now up to you to pass this bill in the House P&E! Even under the purest motives, private election funding given to government offices is inappropriate and creates distrust. We work hard to take good care of our family. I am not a millionaire or billionaire, and I have no issue with those who are, but they should not be allowed to buy off our election officials and their offices. It is wrong to allow private funding of our government offices by anyone. Thank you for appreciating my position. Please show your support for minorities and regular Virginians by supporting HB205 - Wachsmann and also HB1101 – LaRock today in this committee. Do not pass it by or lay it on the table, but vote YES and pass it out of committee. Thank you

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

I'm the coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. Ideally, we wouldn't need to pass this type of legislation because VA, like 22 other states and the federal government, should ban corporate contributions so this wouldn't be needed. In the absence, however, of any limitations bill which levels the playing field for donors, our group generally supports this bill. Clearly contributions from state-regulated monopolies to legislators who vote on bills influencing these entities is perceived by the public as a conflict of interest. At least 5 states specifically prohibit public utility companies from making contributions to candidates for public utility commissions, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, & Oklahoma. So there is precedent in applying this type of rule to public utilities in Virginia.

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

Comments Document

Support for the passage of the following bills: HB1302, HB973, HB1296, HB575, and HB85

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise. We support campaign contribution limits because this would help promote integrity through fair play. The recent Wason poll found that 75% of Virginians support creating contribution limits, and 78% support reducing money from big campaign donors. We recognize the two bills propose different levels dollar limits, either of which would be acceptable. We also suggest the inclusion of an exception for those running against self-financed candidates. We note that measures to increase campaign finance disclosure, which is being promoted in other bills would help address concerns that have been raised about the impact of contribution limits on dark money. Thank you.

Thanks to Del Van Valkenburg for introducing this bill (HB575). I’m the coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise and we support this bill which is well written and importantly includes incremental increases in contribution limits, based on the rate of inflation. While the caps at $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 /election cycle are high, they are within national norms. Ohio has the highest limitations in the country at $14,000 so adopting these caps would not make Virginia a national outlier. Having higher limits will also appease legislators who believe that low limits encourage an influx of dark money into Virginia elections. Additionally, to address the issue of competing against self-financed candidates, we would recommend that an amendment from the floor be made which, drawing on regulations in Illinois, allow caps to be lifted in the case of candidates running against self-financed candidates. In recent polling, nearly 80 percent of Virginia voters (4 out of 5) want campaign finance reform and 75 percent support campaign finance limitations. Let’s make this the year that it happens.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

It is very important that Virginia has an uncomplicated and accessible method of voting for every citizen to register their preference. Fraud is not a big problem, so obstacles should not be placed in the way of voters.

Virginia is one of only five states that has no limits on the amount of money any individual, corporation, or other entity can contribute to candidates for public office. Virginia is the only state that permits candidates to spend campaign donations on whatever they want. It is past time for Virginia to have real campaign finance reform. The public strongly supports campaign finance reform. Please take this issue seriously this session. I strongly support HB 973, HB 71, and HB 575. There is an inherent conflict of interest for State regulated monopoly public utilities to make contributions, let alone unlimited contributions, to those who are responsible for regulating them. There is a strong public perception of corruption in Virginia when there are no limitations whatsoever on how much money can be donated to candidates nor any restrictions on how such money can be spent. My own State Senator brags that he is the largest recipient of money from one of the public utilities and also openly states that he launders money from that utility to give to other candidates. That does not give me or my neighbors confidence that he is representing out concerns rather than his funders. The Virginia Way of pay-to-play must end if we are truly going to be a democracy. The proposed campaign finance limits should be reduced to match the limits for Federal candidates. I believe it is reasonable for there to be a child care exception to the ban on personal use of campaign funds. Public confidence in elections and elected officials will only increase if the public does not have the perception that their elected officials are “bought” by special interests. The time for comprehensive campaign finance reform is now. Thank you for your consideration.

Virginia is one of only five states that has no limits on the amount of money any individual, corporation, or other entity can contribute to candidates for public office. Virginia is the only state that permits candidates to spend campaign donations on whatever they want. It is past time for Virginia to have real campaign finance reform. The public strongly supports campaign finance reform. Please take this issue seriously this session. I strongly support HB 973, HB 71, and HB 575. There is an inherent conflict of interest for State regulated monopoly public utilities to make contributions, let alone unlimited contributions, to those who are responsible for regulating them. There is a strong public perception of corruption in Virginia when there are no limitations whatsoever on how much money can be donated to candidates nor any restrictions on how such money can be spent. My own State Senator brags that he is the largest recipient of money from one of the public utilities and also openly states that he launders money from that utility to give to other candidates. That does not give me or my neighbors confidence that he is representing out concerns rather than his funders. The Virginia Way of pay-to-play must end if we are truly going to be a democracy. The proposed campaign finance limits should be reduced to match the limits for Federal candidates. I believe it is reasonable for there to be a child care exception to the ban on personal use of campaign funds. Public confidence in elections and elected officials will only increase if the public does not have the perception that their elected officials are “bought” by special interests. The time for comprehensive campaign finance reform is now. Thank you for your consideration.

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise. We support these bills, which both restrict the personal use of campaign funds. Virginia is one of only two states with no restrictions on personal use of campaign funds. A recent poll by Wason Center shows that 73% of Virginians support restricting personal use of campaign funds. The enactment of this bill would help ensure that contributions to political campaigns are used for campaign purposes rather than personal enrichment of candidates. We commend, inter alia, the reference to Federal Election Commission regulations as a source of guidance. It is high time that Virginia adopts standards that are already in place in other jurisdictions, and that reflect the will of its citizens. Thank you.

Comments Document

Support for the passage of the following bills: HB1302, HB973, HB1296, HB575, and HB85

I’m Nancy Morgan, Coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. Please pass this bill (HB973) which has been pending for years. We are one of only two States which has no restrictions on personal use of campaign funds. If you remember, this bill passed 100-0 in the House and didn't get out of the Senate. It was finally redrafted by last year’s bicarmeral-bipartisan Joint Subcommittee to address the concerns laid out on the Senate floor last year. It adopts federal standards, addresses frivolous complaints, and moves Virginia forward in terms of good governance legislation. You should be aware that the Dept of Elections might have difficulty monitoring/enforcing this legislation because of lack of capacity. But a great bill (Del Bulova’s bill HB492) addressing these gaps just passed out of this sub- committee last week and hopefully will be passed over to the Senate.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

Virginia is one of only five states that has no limits on the amount of money any individual, corporation, or other entity can contribute to candidates for public office. Virginia is the only state that permits candidates to spend campaign donations on whatever they want. It is past time for Virginia to have real campaign finance reform. The public strongly supports campaign finance reform. Please take this issue seriously this session. I strongly support HB 973, HB 71, and HB 575. There is an inherent conflict of interest for State regulated monopoly public utilities to make contributions, let alone unlimited contributions, to those who are responsible for regulating them. There is a strong public perception of corruption in Virginia when there are no limitations whatsoever on how much money can be donated to candidates nor any restrictions on how such money can be spent. My own State Senator brags that he is the largest recipient of money from one of the public utilities and also openly states that he launders money from that utility to give to other candidates. That does not give me or my neighbors confidence that he is representing out concerns rather than his funders. The Virginia Way of pay-to-play must end if we are truly going to be a democracy. The proposed campaign finance limits should be reduced to match the limits for Federal candidates. I believe it is reasonable for there to be a child care exception to the ban on personal use of campaign funds. Public confidence in elections and elected officials will only increase if the public does not have the perception that their elected officials are “bought” by special interests. The time for comprehensive campaign finance reform is now. Thank you for your consideration.

Virginia is one of only five states that has no limits on the amount of money any individual, corporation, or other entity can contribute to candidates for public office. Virginia is the only state that permits candidates to spend campaign donations on whatever they want. It is past time for Virginia to have real campaign finance reform. The public strongly supports campaign finance reform. Please take this issue seriously this session. I strongly support HB 973, HB 71, and HB 575. There is an inherent conflict of interest for State regulated monopoly public utilities to make contributions, let alone unlimited contributions, to those who are responsible for regulating them. There is a strong public perception of corruption in Virginia when there are no limitations whatsoever on how much money can be donated to candidates nor any restrictions on how such money can be spent. My own State Senator brags that he is the largest recipient of money from one of the public utilities and also openly states that he launders money from that utility to give to other candidates. That does not give me or my neighbors confidence that he is representing out concerns rather than his funders. The Virginia Way of pay-to-play must end if we are truly going to be a democracy. The proposed campaign finance limits should be reduced to match the limits for Federal candidates. I believe it is reasonable for there to be a child care exception to the ban on personal use of campaign funds. Public confidence in elections and elected officials will only increase if the public does not have the perception that their elected officials are “bought” by special interests. The time for comprehensive campaign finance reform is now. Thank you for your consideration.

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

Voter ID required, limit mail in ballots, no drop boxes, cutoff for registration to vote 2 -3 weeks prior, citizens only, clean voter registration polls weekly, modify length of residency to qualify to register

Comments Document

Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Beth Alley

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise. We support these bills, which both restrict the personal use of campaign funds. Virginia is one of only two states with no restrictions on personal use of campaign funds. A recent poll by Wason Center shows that 73% of Virginians support restricting personal use of campaign funds. The enactment of this bill would help ensure that contributions to political campaigns are used for campaign purposes rather than personal enrichment of candidates. We commend, inter alia, the reference to Federal Election Commission regulations as a source of guidance. It is high time that Virginia adopts standards that are already in place in other jurisdictions, and that reflect the will of its citizens. Thank you.

Comments Document

Support for the passage of the following bills: HB1302, HB973, HB1296, HB575, and HB85

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

Comments Document

Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Beth Alley

HB71 - VEPCO's comments on 2/1/22 were that they had first amendment rights. They do, but NOT to run this state and its people into the ground in the name of profits. Virginia: owned and operated by VEPCO is a saying that should not occur but it is. HB85, HB174, 205, 524, 575, 973, 1296, 1302 - This helps the people. Please move to report.

Jessica Mott, Virginia Chapter of American Promise. We support this bill, which would increase disclosure of campaign finance, and thereby help curtail dark money. Thank you.

Comments Document

Support for the passage of the following bills: HB1302, HB973, HB1296, HB575, and HB85

I’m the coordinator of the VA chapter of American Promise, a good governance advocacy group, and we support HB1302. The “sunshine factor”, ie full disclosure of donors to candidates is recognized, even by the Supreme Court in an 8-1 ruling in the Citizens United case, as a national best practice. This bill benefits and protects legislators from attack ads from anonymous donors and it helps voters to understand who is funding candidates. This bill focuses on transparency of money going to campaigns and will shed a light on money coming from obscure and shadowy donors. In a recent Wason poll, 88 percent of Virginia voters, irrespective of party, support full disclosure of campaign donations. This bill addresses this issue and will help resolve our national reputation as a pay-to-play state. We currently rank 46 out of 50 in the SWAMP index, a national rating on our state’s transparency in terms of ethics and disclosure. Passing this bill is a win-win for legislators and voters.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.