Title of Regulation: 1VAC20-70. Absentee Voting (amending 1VAC20-70-10; repealing 1VAC20-70-30).

Statutory Authority: § 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: A public hearing will be scheduled. Contact the agency for details.

Public Comment Deadline: January 13, 2014.

Agency Contact: Martha Brissette, Policy Analyst, State Board of Elections, 1100 Bank Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-8925, FAX (804) 371-0194, or email martha.brissette@sbe.virginia.gov.

Small Business Impact Review Report of Findings: This regulatory action serves as the report of the findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Summary:

The proposed amendments remove provisions related to absent military and overseas voters, which are being relocated in a separate regulatory action to a new chapter numbered 1VAC20-45.

1VAC20-70-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Application for an absentee ballot" means an application for an absentee ballot submitted on any form approved for that purpose according to federal and state laws. The term includes a Virginia Absentee Ballot Application (SBE-701), and a Virginia Annual Absentee Ballot Application (SBE-703.1), and a Federal Post Card Application (SF-76A). A Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (SF-186A) is an absentee ballot application only for the voted ballot being submitted and is not an application for future elections.

"Envelope B" means the envelope required by § 24.2-706 of the Code of Virginia which identifies the voter.

"Federal only ballot overseas voter" means a United States citizen residing outside the United States indefinitely who has not provided his last date of residence in Virginia. The date the applicant has provided next to his affirmation will serve as his last date of residence.

1VAC20-70-30. Material omissions from Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots. (Repealed.)

A. Pursuant to the requirements of §§ 24.2-702.1 and 24.2-706 of the Code of Virginia, a timely received write-in absentee ballot on a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) (Form SF-186A) should not be rendered invalid if it contains an error or omission not material to determining the eligibility of the applicant to vote in the election in which he offers to vote.

B. If the applicant is not registered, the FWAB may not be accepted as timely for registration unless the applicant has met the applicable registration deadline. Section 24.2-419 of the Code of Virginia extends the mail registration deadline for certain military applicants. All applicants are subject to the absentee application deadline in § 24.2-701 of the Code of Virginia.

C. The following omissions are always material and any FWAB containing such omissions should be rendered invalid if any of the following, or combination thereof, exists:

1. The applicant has omitted the signature of the voter or the notation of an assistant in the voter signature box that the voter is unable to sign;

2. The applicant has omitted the signature of the witness;

3. The applicant did not include the declaration/affirmation page; or

4. The applicant omitted from the declaration/affirmation information required by § 24.2-702.1 of the Code of Virginia needed to determine eligibility including, but not limited to, current military or overseas address.

D. The ballot should not be rendered invalid if on the FWAB any of the following, or combination thereof, exists:

1. The applicant has not listed the names specifically in the order of last, first, and middle name;

2. The applicant has listed a middle initial or maiden name, instead of the full middle name;

3. The applicant has omitted the street identifier, such as the term "road" or "street" when filling in the legal residence;

4. The applicant has omitted the county or city of registration if the county or city is clearly identifiable by the residence address information provided;

5. The applicant has omitted the zip code;

6. The applicant has omitted the date of the signature of the voter;

7. The applicant has omitted the address of the witness;

8. The applicant has omitted the date of signature of the witness;

9. The applicant did not seal the ballot within the security envelope, provided there is substantial compliance with the requirement that the ballot be accompanied by the required voter statement; or

10. The applicant has submitted a ballot containing offices or issues for which he is not eligible.

FORMS (1VAC20-70)

Absentee Ballot Application Form, SBE-701 (rev. 7/10)

Annual Absentee Ballot Application, SBE-703.1 (rev. 1/10)

Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request, Standard Form 76 (rev. 08/11)

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), Voter's Declaration/Affirmation, Standard Form 186 (rev. 08/11)

Envelope B for Statement of UOCAVA Absentee Voter, 42 USC 1973ff-1(b) (rev. 5/04)

Envelope B for Statement of Absentee Voter, SBE 706-2 (rev. 7/03)

Annual Absentee Ballot Application, SBE-703.1 (rev. 7/13)

Virginia Absentee Ballot Application Form, SBE-701 (rev. 7/13)

Envelope B - Ballot - Statement of Absentee Voter, (undated)