Agree with this person: Oberlander Locality: Lovettsville I support bill 1566. Ballot security measures that are available should be utilized. With the law change that no excuse is needed to request and vote an absentee ballot by mail, there has been a significant increase in mail ballots in Virginia. Adding the watermark security feature to the mail ballots, ensures their authenticity and validity, as they are returned by mail to the election offices in much higher volumes. As the mail ballot portion of the vote has grown and its impact on the election, so should the security for these mail ballots increase with requiring the watermark. Virginia legislators should take every measure to ensure the security and integrity of our elections for Virginia Voters.

I support bill 1566. Ballot security measures that are available should be utilized. With the law change that no excuse is needed to request and vote an absentee ballot by mail, there has been a significant increase in mail ballots in Virginia. Adding the watermark security feature to the mail ballots, ensures their authenticity and validity, as they are returned by mail to the election offices in much higher volumes. As the mail ballot portion of the vote has grown and its impact on the election, so should the security for these mail ballots increase with requiring the watermark. Virginia legislators should take every measure to ensure the security and integrity of our elections for Virginia Voters.

This bill would increase transparency and foster smooth transactions between ELECT and individuals and entities who are authorized by Virginia code to obtain the registered voter list. Please vote YES on HB1952 to promote robust transparency and provide better service to individuals and entities who are authorized to purchase registered voter lists and vote history lists.

Please vote “yes” on this bill. A voter who wishes to cancel his registration should not be constrained by a time period for that cancellation to be effective. A voter can register any time up to and including the day of an election (ED); it would follow that a voter should also be able to cancel his registration any time up to Election Day.

We are against expanding voter registration sites in Virginia due to the potential problems that will arise. These include the following: 1. Administrative Challenges • Coordination Across Agencies: Different agencies may have varying levels of experience or resources for handling voter registration. Ensuring consistency and compliance with election laws may be difficult. • Training Requirements: Staff at new locations will need thorough training on voter registration procedures, privacy requirements, and how to assist the public without introducing bias. • Technology Integration: Agencies must have the proper technology to securely handle voter registration data and integrate it with the state’s centralized voter registration system. 2. Security and Data Privacy Concerns • Risk of Data Breaches: Expanding the number of locations handling voter information increases the risk of sensitive data being exposed. • Inter-agency Data Sharing: Proper safeguards must be in place to ensure personal data is only shared as necessary and in compliance with privacy laws. 3. Implementation Costs • Initial Investment: Adding voter registration capabilities to new agencies will require funding for technology upgrades, staff training, and public awareness campaigns. • Ongoing Expenses: Regular maintenance of systems, refresher training, and compliance audits could strain agency budgets. 4. Unequal Accessibility • Geographical Disparities: Some agencies may be unevenly distributed across the state, creating accessibility issues in rural or underserved areas. • Language and Disability Access: New locations must meet federal and state requirements for language accessibility and accommodations for people with disabilities, which may not be consistently available across all agencies. 5. Risk of Errors • Inconsistent Data Entry: Non-specialized staff may be more prone to data entry errors, leading to incorrect or incomplete voter registrations. • Duplication or Confusion: Expanding registration options could result in duplicate registrations if systems aren’t properly integrated or updated in real time. 6. Public Perception and Trust • Partisan Concerns: Expanding voter registration may be perceived as benefiting one political party over another, depending on how it’s implemented. • Awareness and Trust: Some people may distrust certain agencies or lack awareness of their new role in voter registration, leading to underutilization. 7. Legal and Regulatory Hurdles • Compliance with Federal and State Laws: Agencies must ensure their voter registration processes comply with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and state-specific regulations. • Legal Challenges: Expanding voter registration locations could face political or legal pushback, delaying implementation or creating uncertainty. 8. Monitoring and Evaluation • Tracking Effectiveness: Evaluating the success of expanded voter registration locations requires a system to monitor how many registrations come from each agency and how this impacts voter turnout. • Fraud Prevention: Expanded systems may require enhanced measures to detect and prevent fraudulent registrations. Thank-you

Please vote “No” on this bill. The bill complicates what currently is and should remain a simple policy: the presiding Governor appoints the Commissioner of Elections, similar to the Governor’s other high-level appointments. To have unelected SBE members select the Commissioner, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, would render useless important checks and balances of leadership in Virginia and create a serious imbalance of power.

Please vote “Yes” on this bill. The provisions of this common-sense bill would promote efficiencies between Virginia’s agencies by allowing information provided by an individual on a jury questionnaire that, if true, would render that person ineligible to vote, to be transmitted to the appropriate general registrar. This bill would not revise any protections otherwise afforded to an individual during the cancellation process.

Utilizing jury duty data for voter list maintenance would be an efficient use of data that has been provided by citizens for government purposes. Please vote YES for utilizing jury duty data for voter list maintenance.

Please vote “Yes” on this bill. The provisions of this common-sense bill would promote efficiencies between Virginia’s agencies by allowing information provided by an individual on a jury questionnaire that, if true, would render that person ineligible to vote, to be transmitted to the appropriate general registrar. This bill would not revise any protections otherwise afforded to an individual during the cancellation process.

Utilizing jury duty data for voter list maintenance would be an efficient use of data that has been provided by citizens for government purposes. Please vote YES for utilizing jury duty data for voter list maintenance.

Please vote “yes” on this bill. The provisions of this bill, shortening the time for early in-person voting from 45 days to 14 days prior to an election, would help relieve the general registrars from the administrative burdens of an overly lengthy election season (the longest in the nation). Fourteen days of in person early voting would not affect a voter’s option to submit a mail in ballot prior to that. Also, a voter without an ID should be allowed to submit a provisional ballot, rather than a permanent ballot, and cure that omission later with a proper ID.

Please vote “yes” on this bill. This bill would be simple to implement and would provide current, up to date information for general registrars and voters alike. Virginia currently has agreements with six or seven other states, though that may change in the future with additional agreements. Rather than necessitating a FOIA request for this information, it should be made available online. It would be easy for the Department of Elections to simply name the states (not the agreements themselves) with which it shares information.

This bill proposes a positive change that would increase transparency and bring bolstered voter confidence. It could provide some relief from FOIA requests from individuals seeking information on the registered voter list exchange with other states as well. Please vote YES on HB2395.