Bill Text: VA SJR63 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Constitutional amendment; uniform schedule of elections (first reference).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-21 - Continued to 2021 in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N) [SJR63 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SJR63-Prefiled.html
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendments to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby are, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:
Amend Section 4 of Article II, Section 2 of Article IV, Section 3 of Article IV, and Section 1 of Article V of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:
Section 4. Powers and duties of General Assembly.
The General Assembly shall establish a uniform system for permanent registration of voters pursuant to this Constitution, including provisions for appeal by any person denied registration, correction of illegal or fraudulent registrations, penalties for illegal, fraudulent, or false registrations, proper transfer of all registered voters, and cancellation of registrations in other jurisdictions of persons who apply to register to vote in the Commonwealth. The General Assembly shall provide for maintenance of accurate and current registration records and may provide for the cancellation of registrations for such purpose.
The General Assembly shall provide for the nomination of candidates, shall regulate the time, place, manner, conduct, and administration of primary, general, and special elections, and shall have power to make any other law regulating elections not inconsistent with this Constitution.
Beginning in 2028, there
shall be a uniform schedule for general elections of Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and General Assembly members that
coincides with federal elections held in November of even-numbered years. The
General Assembly shall provide by law for the transition to the uniform
schedule for general elections held in November of even-numbered years.
Section 2. Senate.
The Senate shall consist of not more than forty and not less than thirty-three members, who shall be elected quadrennially by the voters of the several senatorial districts on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November.
For purposes of
transitioning to a uniform schedule for general elections held
in November as provided for in Section 4 of Article II of this Constitution, members
of the Senate elected in 2023 shall serve a term of five years.
Section 3. House of Delegates.
The House of Delegates shall consist of not more than one hundred and not less than ninety members, who shall be elected biennially by the voters of the several house districts on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November.
For purposes of transitioning to a uniform schedule for general elections held in November as provided for in Section 4 of Article II of this Constitution, members of the House of Delegates elected in 2025 shall serve a term of three years.
Section 1. Executive power; Governor's term of office.
The chief executive power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor. He shall hold office for a term commencing upon his inauguration on the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January, next succeeding his election, and ending in the fourth year thereafter immediately upon the inauguration of his successor. He shall be ineligible to the same office for the term next succeeding that for which he was elected, and to any other office during his term of service.
For purposes of transitioning to a uniform schedule for general elections held in November as provided for in Section 4 of Article II of this Constitution, the Governor elected in 2025 shall serve a term of three years.
