Bill Text: VA HB319 | 2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Elections; requires observers to respect area around voters and secrecy of ballot.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-04-18 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0754) [HB319 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2012-HB319-Chaptered.html
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That § 24.2-604 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 24.2-604. Prohibited activities at polls; notice of prohibited area; electioneering; presence of representatives of parties or candidates; simulated elections; observers; news media; penalties. A. During the times the polls are open and ballots are being counted, it shall be unlawful for any person (i) to loiter or congregate within 40 feet of any entrance of any polling place; (ii) within such distance to give, tender, or exhibit any ballot, ticket, or other campaign material to any person or to solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote; or (iii) to hinder or delay a qualified voter in entering or leaving a polling place. B. Prior to opening the polls, the officers of election shall post, in the area within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place, sufficient notices which state "Prohibited Area" in two-inch type. The notices shall also state the provisions of this section in not less than 24-point type. The officers of election shall post the notices within the prohibited area to be visible to voters and the public. C. The officers of election shall permit one authorized
representative of each political party or independent candidate in a general or
special election, or one authorized representative of each candidate in a
primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being
conducted at all times. A representative may serve part of the day and be
replaced by successive representatives. The officers of election shall have
discretion to permit up to three authorized representatives of each political
party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or up to three
authorized representatives of each candidate in a primary election, to remain
in the room in which the election is being conducted. The officers shall permit
one such representative for each pollbook station. However, no more than one
such representative for each pollbook station or three representatives of any
political party or independent candidate, whichever number is larger, shall be
permitted in the room at any one time. Each authorized representative shall be
a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. Each representative
shall present to the officers of election a written statement designating him
to be a representative of the party or candidate and signed by the county or
city chairman of his political party, the independent candidate, or the primary
candidate, as appropriate. Such statement, bearing the chairman's or
candidate's original signature, may be photocopied, and such photocopy shall be
as valid as if the copy had been signed. No candidate whose name is printed on
the ballot shall serve as a representative of a party or candidate for purposes
of this section. Authorized representatives shall be allowed, whether in a
regular polling place or central absentee voter precinct, to be close enough to
the D. It shall be unlawful for any authorized representative,
voter, or any other person in the room to (i) hinder or delay a qualified
voter; (ii) give, tender, or exhibit any ballot, ticket, or other campaign
material to any person; (iii) solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any
person in casting his vote; (iv) hinder or delay any officer of election; E. The officers of election may require any person who is
found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this section
to remain outside of the prohibited area. Any person violating subsection A or
D F. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a candidate
from entering any polling place on the day of the election to vote, or to visit
a polling place for no longer than 10 minutes per polling place per election
day, provided that he complies with the restrictions stated in subsections A,
D, and K G. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a minor from entering a polling place on the day of the election to vote in a simulated election at that polling place, provided that the local electoral board has determined that such polling place can accommodate simulated election activities without interference or substantial delay in the orderly conduct of the official voting process. Persons supervising or working in a simulated election in which minors vote may remain within such polling place. The local electoral board and the chief officer for the polling place shall exercise authority over, but shall have no responsibility for the administration of, simulated election related activities at the polling place. H. A local electoral board, and its general registrar, may conduct a special election day program for high school students, selected by the electoral board in cooperation with high school authorities, in one or more polling places designated by the electoral board, other than a central absentee voter precinct. The program shall be designed to stimulate the students' interest in elections and registering to vote, provide assistance to the officers of election, and ensure the safe entry and exit of elderly and disabled voters from the polling place. Each student shall take and sign an oath as an election page, serve under the direct supervision of the chief officer of election of his assigned polling place, and observe strict impartiality at all times. Election pages may observe the electoral process and seek information from the chief officer of election, but shall not handle or touch ballots, voting machines, or any other official election materials, or enter any voting booth. I. A local electoral board may authorize in writing the
presence of additional neutral observers as it deems appropriate, except as
otherwise prohibited or limited by this section. Such observers shall comply
with the restrictions in subsections A and D J. The officers of election shall permit representatives of
the news media to visit and film or photograph inside the polling place for a
reasonable and limited period of time while the polls are open. However, the
media (i) shall comply with the restrictions in subsections A and D K. The provisions of subsections A and D shall not be construed to prohibit a person who approaches or enters the polling place for the purpose of voting from wearing a shirt, hat, or other apparel on which a candidate's name or a political slogan appears or from having a sticker or button attached to his apparel on which a candidate's name or a political slogan appears. This exemption shall not apply to candidates, representatives of candidates, or any other person who approaches or enters the polling place for any purpose other than voting. |
