VA SB 176
vetoedElections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper
Quick answers
Did VA SB 176 pass?
No. VA SB 176 passed the legislature but was vetoed on 2026-04-11. Latest recorded action (2026-04-11): Governor's recommendation received by Senate
What is VA SB 176 about?
Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Expands the option to use ranked choice voting from only elections for county board of supervisors and city councils to any local governing body. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to provide standards and to approve vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. The bill provides for copying damaged or defective ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems. The bill allows localities to request risk-limiting audits of elections conducted using ranked choice voting and provides that no such election may be included in any random drawing required to satisfy the general requirements for risk-limiting audits. The bill specifies that the State Board is required to produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting and is also permitted to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election. The bill directs the Department of Elections to review the testing and approval framework for voting equipment in the Commonwealth and submit a report of such review no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill repeals the 2031 expiration of the option to use ranked choice voting in elections, making such option permanent. This bill is identical to HB 630.
Who sponsors VA SB 176?
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg is the primary sponsor of VA SB 176, joined by 6 cosponsors.
Description
Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Expands the option to use ranked choice voting from only elections for county board of supervisors and city councils to any local governing body. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to provide standards and to approve vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. The bill provides for copying damaged or defective ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems. The bill allows localities to request risk-limiting audits of elections conducted using ranked choice voting and provides that no such election may be included in any random drawing required to satisfy the general requirements for risk-limiting audits. The bill specifies that the State Board is required to produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting and is also permitted to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election. The bill directs the Department of Elections to review the testing and approval framework for voting equipment in the Commonwealth and submit a report of such review no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill repeals the 2031 expiration of the option to use ranked choice voting in elections, making such option permanent. This bill is identical to HB 630.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-08
- Latest action
- 2026-04-11 — Governor's recommendation received by Senate
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburgprimary
- Stella G. Pekarskycosponsor
- Barbara A. Favolacosponsor
- Kannan Srinivasancosponsor
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foycosponsor
- Saddam Azlan Salimcosponsor
- Adam P. Ebbincosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-01-08
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104635D
filing,introduction
2026-01-08
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-01-26
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB176)
2026-01-27
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N 1-A)
committee-passage
2026-01-29
Rules suspended
2026-01-29
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-29
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-01-29
Passed by for the day
2026-01-30
Read second time
reading-2
2026-01-30
Read second time
reading-2
2026-01-30
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-02
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-05
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-05
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-05
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-02-20
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-24
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-25
Read third time
reading-3
2026-02-25
Passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
passage
2026-02-27
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-02-27
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB176ER)
passage
2026-02-27
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB176)
2026-02-27
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-02-27
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-10
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-10
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-04-11
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
executive-veto-line-item
Versions
Documents
Votes
Reported from Privileges and Elections
2026-01-27 · pass · 8-5
Member-level votes (15)
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: not voting
- Bill DeSteph: no
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Tara A. Durant: no
- Russet Perry: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Emily M. Jordan: abstain
- Michael J. Jones: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed R
2026-01-29 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-02-02 · pass · 21-19
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Christie New Craig: no
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: no
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Tara A. Durant: no
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: no
- T. Travis Hackworth: no
- Christopher T. Head: no
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: no
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
- Mark D. Obenshain: no
- Mark J. Peake: no
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: no
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Richard H. Stuart: no
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
- David R. Suetterlein: no
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Reported from Privileges and Elections
2026-02-20 · pass · 15-6
Member-level votes (22)
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: not voting
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Eric Phillips: no
H VOTE:
2026-02-25 · pass · 64-34
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: not voting
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: no
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Kirk McPike: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: no
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: no
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
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