TitleF
Ordinance to Amend and Re-Enact Chapter 12 of the City Code of the City Of Hampton, Virginia Entitled, “Elections” by Adding a New Section 12-3 Pertaining Establishment of a Voter Satellite Office for Absentee Voting In Person
Purpose
Background Statement:
During its 2020 legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly passed HB1 (2020), which permits any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot without requiring the voter to select an excuse or reason for absentee voting. In addition, the General Assembly passed SB 617 (2020), which authorizes localities to establish voter satellite offices for purposes of absentee voting in-person beginning with the general election on November 3, 2020. Taken together, the new state legislation will allow registered voters to vote by absentee ballot for any reason, either by mail or in person, for the general election on November 3, 2020.
Approximately 5,000 Hampton residents cast an in-person absentee ballot in both the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections, and the Hampton Electoral Board is anticipating an increase in both mail-in and in-person absentee voting for the 2020 general election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, on June 25, 2020, the Electoral Board approved a satellite voting location at the former circuit courthouse at 101 Kings Way in Hampton, Virginia 23669 in addition to the location currently operating at the Office of the General Registrar at 1919 Commerce Drive Suite 470 in Hampton, Virginia 23666. The former circuit courthouse is a larger space that is anticipated to provide for greater accessibility and social distancing compared to the Office of the General Registrar alone.
The City Council is required by Section 24.2-701.2(a) of the Code of Virginia to approve the former circuit courthouse as a satellite location for in-person absentee voting at least 60 days prior to the November 3, 2020 election. In order to comply with that time requirement, this ordinance must be passed pr...
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