(HB2002)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 2002, which unnecessarily restricts voter list maintenance and undermines the secure, fair and accurate conduct of elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia’s voter registration system is nationally recognized for its accuracy and security. General registrars rely on a range of verified sources, including the Virginia Department of Elections and the Virginia Department of Health, while also using obituaries and family reports to confirm voter deaths. This bill eliminates those effective tools, making it harder to maintain accurate voter rolls and creating unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.

Additionally, while the bill seeks to protect Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voters, it lacks a clear enforcement mechanism, creating administrative confusion rather than strengthening protections.

This legislation weakens election administration, limits registrars’ flexibility, and increases the risk of outdated voter rolls.

Accordingly, I veto the bill.