Subcommittee backs limited option for localities to accept election-related grants

Delegate Krizick, the patron of House Bill 639, told the subcommittee the bill creates a narrow exception to Virginia law to allow localities to accept philanthropic or private grant funding for election administration with prior approval by the local governing body or the State Board of Elections. He said registrars and election administrators face growing complexity and persistent underfunding and that the change would provide a responsible way to fill funding gaps while keeping public oversight in place.

The measure requires that any eligible grant — described at the hearing as grants over $1,000 from an individual or non-governmental entity for voter education, registration or other election-conduct expenses — be approved in advance by either the locality’s governing body or the state board, including approval of how the funds would be used. "This ensures transparency, accountability, and public trust," the patron said.

Delia Cherry raised a concern about whether a donor could tie a donation to partisan conditions, asking whether an entity might donate only if voter registration targeted a particular party. Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority replied that partisan conditioning is already prohibited and that the bill’s requirement for governing-body approval functions as an added guardrail. "You can't like, if you run a voter registration drive and you're only registering people who say I'm a Republican, you can't do that," Nguyen said.

Representatives of several nonpartisan voting organizations told the subcommittee they supported the bill. Angie Biesick of Verified Voting said the group appreciated the patron bringing the legislation. Liz White, executive director of Upvote Virginia, said the measure would let election officials access technical expertise and support for voter education from groups like hers. Online testimony from Irina Van Breeda of the League of Women Voters of Virginia said the proposal would clarify vague existing rules that had deterred some registrars from partnering with voter-registration groups.

Delegate Anthony moved to report the bill; the motion was seconded and the clerk recorded a roll call. The subcommittee reported House Bill 639 by a vote of 4 to 1. The bill will now proceed to the next stage in the legislative process.