Virginia has enacted more election-related bills than any other state so far this year, including several notable pieces of legislation.
The 2026 session was the first time in five years that Virginia had a Democratic trifecta — with Democrats controlling both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor’s office — following Gov. Abigail Spanberger's (D) election in November 2025.
Spanberger signed 31 election-related bills in March and April and returned an additional 22 bills to legislators with suggested amendments. The General Assembly approved her amendments to 17 of those bills on April 22. As of April 27, lawmakers had not considered five bills.
The 48 election-related bills enacted in Virginia so far this session exceed the total number of bills enacted in all other Democratic trifecta states combined.
Some of the bills enacted in Virginia are similar to those advanced in other Democratic trifecta states this year.
Virginia lawmakers sent a constitutional amendment to voters that would allow mid-decade redistricting, with new congressional maps taking effect ahead of the 2026 elections. The amendment was approved in an April 21 special election, though a Tazewell County judge enjoined officials from certifying the election results in an April 22 ruling, which is being appealed. Virginia was one of two Democratic trifecta states, along with Maryland, to advance mid-decade redistricting legislation.
Virginia is also one of four Democratic trifecta states, along with California, Colorado, and Maryland, to advance legislation related to voting rights for individuals convicted of a felony.
Currently, Virginia has no mechanism for automatically restoring voting rights for individuals convicted of a felony. Instead, people must apply for restoration to the governor's office upon completion of their sentence, including any prison time, parole, or probation. Some governors have historically used their authority to automatically restore voting rights to thousands of people with felony convictions upon completion of their sentences.
Legislators approved HJR 2, a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in the Nov. 6 general election, would automatically restore voting rights for individuals convicted of a felony upon completion of their sentence. Two other bills, HB 964 and SB 164, would implement the policy if the constitutional amendment is approved.
Virginia lawmakers also enacted legislation that was unique among Democratic trifecta states this year.
On April 13, Spanberger signed HB 965 and SB 322, which require Virginia to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an initiative in which member states agree to award their Electoral College votes to the presidential ticket that receives the most votes nationwide. Virginia was the only Democratic trifecta state that had not previously joined the NPVIC.
Virginia was also one of three Democratic trifecta states that were not members of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). ERIC is a nonprofit organization of member states that shares information to assist in voter list maintenance. Virginia was formerly a member of ERIC but withdrew in 2023, under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).
Under SB 57 and HB 215, Virginia will be required to rejoin ERIC and ensure its membership remains in good standing. HB 215 also sets out future requirements for joining or terminating a data-sharing agreement with a third-party organization. Spanberger signed SB 57 on April 13 and approved HB 215 on April 22.
In 2025, Youngkin vetoed 16 election-related bills sent to his desk by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. Spanberger vetoed one election-related bill in 2026, SB 661, which would have legalized skill games in Virginia and allowed municipalities to hold referendums on prohibiting skill games locally.
In 2025, when the state had a divided government, lawmakers enacted 11 election-related bills.
For more information on election policy in Virginia, click here.