{"id":2544893,"date":"2026-01-20T10:35:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/va-dems-plan-to-enact-radical-election-changes\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:39:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:39:17","slug":"va-dems-plan-to-enact-radical-election-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/va-dems-plan-to-enact-radical-election-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"VA Dems Plan To Enact Radical Election Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fva-dems-plan-to-enact-radical-election-changes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2544893&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Virginia delegate has proposed HB 968 (introduced Jan. 13), which would bar hand-counting of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/48-hours-after-taking-over-virginia-dems-were-cutting-prison-sentences-gutting-hand-ballot-recounts-banning-gas-mowers-and-so-much-more\/\" title=\"48 Hours After Taking Over ..., Dems Were Cutting Prison Sentences, Gutting ... Ballot Re..., Banning Gas Mowers, and So Much More\">machine-readable ballots<\/a> except where state law specifically allows it. The bill would amend state code to require election officers to use ballot-scanner machines to count machine-readable ballots and forbid counting those ballots by hand for any unauthorized purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Current Virginia law already relies on electronic scanners for most counts but permits hand-counting in limited situations-such as certain absentee-ballot procedures, recounts (\u00a724.2-802.2), and audits (\u00a724.2-671.2)-and hand counts are used to reconcile physical ballots with machine tallies and detect discrepancies.The article notes hand counts add a layer of transparency and can verify that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >machine totals match paper ballots<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The report also outlines other pending Virginia election proposals: SB 52 (limits voter-roll cleaning within 90 days of an election, extends registrars&#8217; removal window, and lengthens time for prospective voters to respond to citizenship notices), SB 57 (would enroll Virginia in ERIC, criticized in the piece for ties to election-focused groups), SB 58 (extends the absentee-ballot receipt\/cure deadline to 5 p.m. on the third day after the election), and HB 773 (would remove the absentee ballot receipt deadline and extend ballot curing until the Monday after Election Day).<\/p>\n<p>The article was published on The Federalist and written by elections correspondent Brianna Lyman.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Voting_carrels_-_2019_Ohio_general_election_%2849155612877%29.jpg\"><\/a>&#8220;&gt;Tim Evanson\/ Wikimedia Commons  \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>        <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/01\/20\/extending-mail-ballots-banning-hand-counts-and-3-other-radical-election-changes-va-dems-have-planned\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Extending%20Mail%20Ballots,%20Banning%20Hand%20Counts,%20And%203%20Other%20Radical%20Election%20Changes%20VA%20Dems%20Have%20Planned&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/01\/20\/extending-mail-ballots-banning-hand-counts-and-3-other-radical-election-changes-va-dems-have-planned\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Extending%20Mail%20Ballots,%20Banning%20Hand%20Counts,%20And%203%20Other%20Radical%20Election%20Changes%20VA%20Dems%20Have%20Planned&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/01\/20\/extending-mail-ballots-banning-hand-counts-and-3-other-radical-election-changes-va-dems-have-planned\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\" https:><\/path><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/01\/20\/extending-mail-ballots-banning-hand-counts-and-3-other-radical-election-changes-va-dems-have-planned\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Extending%20Mail%20Ballots,%20Banning%20Hand%20Counts,%20And%203%20Other%20Radical%20Election%20Changes%20VA%20Dems%20Have%20Planned&amp;body=%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/01\/20\/extending-mail-ballots-banning-hand-counts-and-3-other-radical-election-changes-va-dems-have-planned\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &amp; Email\"><span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>A Virginia state delegate has introduced legislation that would bar the hand-counting of machine-readable ballots in most circumstances.  <\/p>\n<p>Delegate Marcia S. Price <a href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/bill-details\/20261\/HB968\">introduced<\/a> HB 968 on January 13 which would prohibit ballots &ldquo;from being counted by hand for any reason or purpose not specifically authorized by law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1653603393\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lis.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/1086718.PDF\">legislation<\/a> would amend the state code to add that, &ldquo;In ascertaining the vote, the officers of election shall use ballot scanner machines to count machine-readable ballots and shall not count machine-readable ballots by hand for any reason or purpose not specifically authorized for by law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Virginia currently uses electronic scanners for most ballot counting, with hand-counting limited to a few specific scenarios. <\/p>\n<p>State code <a href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title24.2\/chapter7\/section24.2-712\/\">&sect;&nbsp;24.2-712<\/a> states that absentee ballots may be counted via a machine &ldquo;in the case of machine-readable ballots,&rdquo; but that &ldquo;in the case of absentee ballots that are counted by hand, the officers of election shall begin tallying such ballots at any time after noon on the day of the election in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Department of Elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title24.2\/chapter8\/section24.2-802.2\/\">State code &sect;&nbsp;24.2-802.2<\/a> governs recount procedures and states in part that for paper ballots &ldquo;the recount officials shall hand count the paper ballots using the standards promulgated by the State Board&hellip;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>State code <a href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title24.2\/chapter6\/section24.2-671.2\/\">&sect; 24.2-671.2<\/a> authorizes hand counting for election audits with specific instructions.<\/p>\n<p>Hand counts are <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/10\/16\/georgia-judge-blocks-election-rule-that-he-admits-would-confirm-election-day-machine-ballot-counts-match-reality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">useful<\/a> to ensure that the physical ballots counted matches Election Day machine count totals. Hand counts allow election officials to reconcile physical ballots with machine tallies and detect potential equipment errors or discrepancies. The practice can add an additional layer of transparency in results.<\/p>\n<p>The state also has several other election law proposals on the table, including <a href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/VA\/text\/SB52\/id\/3287404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SB 52<\/a> which would prohibit the cleaning of voters rolls in local and state elections 90 days before an election. The legislation also extends the time registrars may have to remove ineligible persons from the rolls from 30 days to 60 days. Prospective voters also would have 28 days, rather than 14, to respond to notices that they are not citizens of the United States. <\/p>\n<p>Another proposed piece of legislation, <a href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/bill-details\/20261\/SB57\/text\/SB57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SB 57<\/a>, would enter Virginia into the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). As reported by The Federalist&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/02\/21\/georgia-utah-move-closer-to-ditching-leftist-linked-voter-roll-maintenance-group-eric\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shawn Fleetwood<\/a>, &ldquo;ERIC was founded by Democrat activist&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/person\/david-becker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Becker<\/a>&nbsp;and &lsquo;sold to states as a quick and easy way to update their voter rolls.&rsquo;&rdquo; In actuality, the group&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/08\/11\/democratic-operatives-control-voter-rolls-in-31-states-report-shows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inflates voter rolls<\/a>&nbsp;by requiring member states to contact eligible but unregistered residents to register to vote.<\/p>\n<p>ERIC also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/03\/10-lies-democrats-tell-about-our-elections-and-how-to-refute-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reportedly<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-ohio-launches-portal-increasing-voter-roll-oversight\/\" title=\"Exclusive: Ohio Launches Portal Increasing Voter Roll Oversight\">shares voter roll information<\/a> with the Center for Election Innovation and Research (<a href=\"https:\/\/electioninnovation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CEIR<\/a>), another Becker-founded group known for its &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2021\/10\/12\/the-2020-election-wasnt-stolen-it-was-bought-by-mark-zuckerberg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zuckbucks<\/a>&rdquo; interference in the 2020 election. The data shared between the two left-wing groups is effectively used to develop lists of potential (and likely Democrat) voters for states to register leading up to elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile <a href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/bill-details\/20261\/SB58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SB 58<\/a> would move &ldquo;the deadline for receipt of an absentee ballot, information required to cure an absentee ballot, or proof of identification to accompany a provisional ballot provided for lack of identification from noon to 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the election.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/bill-details\/20261\/HB773\/text\/HB773\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Proposed HB 773<\/a> would remove absentee ballot receipt deadline requirement and extend ballot curing until the Monday after Election Day. <\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Brianna Lyman<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-twitter label-sm d-flex align-items-center mt-10\">             <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter me-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>             <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Visit on Twitter<\/span>            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/briannalyman2\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-decoration-none\">@briannalyman2<\/a>           <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/briannalyman\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/election-integrity\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">election integrity<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/election-security\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">election security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/elections\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Elections<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/hand-counting\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">hand counting<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia bill bans hand-counting of machine ballots<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":2544894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voting_carrels_-_2019_Ohio_general_election_49155612877-e1768878525544.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32923,38334,38033,41033,32570],"class_list":["post-2544893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democratic-party","tag-election-reform","tag-virginia-politics","tag-voter-access","tag-voting-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voting_carrels_-_2019_Ohio_general_election_49155612877-e1768878525544.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2544893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2544893"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2544893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2544898,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2544893\/revisions\/2544898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2544894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2544893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2544893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2544893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}