The State Board of Elections has NO authority to amend Virginia's statute requiring that a returned envelope for an Absentee Ballot be postmarked so as to ensure it is submitted by 7PM on Election Day.  As a registered Virginia voter, I demand a public hearing on your blatant attempt to undermine our election's integrity.

The law must be followed for integrity in Virginia voting in all elections by requiring as is required by law to have a timely postmark on every ballot to be legally counted as valid. Proposed bypassing the current Virginia voting legislation is corrupt allowing fraudulent ballots to be counted, thus affecting every qualified voter to have potentially overwhelming numbers of illegal ballots counted, throwing elections to the wind. Maintain the law in effect for valid timely postmarks in order to ensure valid elections and make valid votes count as legally required. Open this to public comment. Thank you for protecting all Virginians from obvious potential voter fraud.  

Current Virginia statute was enacted to prevent Absentee Ballot voter fraud that would allow post-election "voting."  Nothing in COVID-19 situation requires removing the safeguards that prevent votes from  being cast after the election is over; contemplated change will make it impossible to stop illegal votes from altering election outcome.

Our vote is the most important thing we can do in our lives. Let's not cheapen it by casting doubt upon the accuracy of the final result.  There is no doubt about the current rules/laws in place so let us continue to conduct our election according to laws.  

The Virginia State Board of Elections does NOT have the authority to alter election law by regulatory action to no longer require a postmark on mail in ballots. By not requiring a postmark date we invite fraud as ballots may be "found" days later and submitted. The integrity of our elections should be top priority so as to not disenfranchise all voters. As a concerned citizen I demand that the State Board of Elections adhere to the law and that a public hearing be held on this matter.

I expect  the State Board of Elections to adhere to the law. There needs to be a public hearing.  Postmarks MUST be preserved! 

Virginia must follow the law, all absentee ballots must be postmarked by 7pm election night. If not postmarked ballots should not count, we need to have a fair election.

Americans vote for our President on the first Tuesday in November, every four years. It's as predictable as Christmas and Tax Day. Absentee voting begins in September. There is no reason for anyone to need an extra day or two or three to vote. 

We expect to know the results of our election on election night, but it seems that the Democratic party is doing everything in its power to annihilate our election process. 

It is bad enough that absentee ballots went from a requirement to be in the hands of election officials by 7 pm on Election night to simply being postmarked by election day as long as they are received by the Office of Elections by noon on Friday. 

Now you want to eliminate the postmark that proves that the vote was made at least by election day? 

Postmarks ensure that a vote was made, in person or by mail on election day. Just as it those of us who stand in line must vote by 7 p.m. those taking the easy route of voting by mail should at least have the same requirement. 

I hope the day comes that the Virginia General Assembly will overturn this ridiculous bill that extends the time it takes to know the outcome of the election and I hope the day never comes that we do away with the postmarks that at least indicate that someone took the time to vote when it was time to vote and not God knows when. 

Here's what this looks like in practice: Trump wins VA in a landslide on election night. The Democrat operatives unleash the hounds and ballots mysteriously start appearing that chip away at the win until miraculously, Biden wins. Excuse me, Harris. 

Is there anyone left at the State Board of Elections that has a soul or are you so obsessed by TDS that you don't care anymore? Do you hate this country so much that you are willing to be one of the saboteurs who turn us from the best Country on earth into a Venezuelan nightmare?

May God have mercy on the once great Commonwealth of Virginia.

   The Absentee Voting by Mail has had long-standing safeguards to significantly reduce the opportunity for Vote Fraud.  The postmark is one of those safeguards to prevent post-election voting which could alter the known results of the election.  We have extended the time to vote with No-Excuse In-Person Absentee Voting.  In-Person voting is not, and should not be allowed after the Polls close.  The same should be true for Absentee Voting.  

  Drop Boxes are another invitation to Election Integrity doubt.  For Integrity, Drop Boxes must be monitored by Election Officers.  Drop Boxes must also be emptied, closed, and sealed at 7 PM on Election Day.  I see no legitimate reason for any Registered Voter to be unaware of the date and time that the election is over.  There are extended opportunities to vote prior to the election deadline.  If you show up to vote at the Polls after 7 PM you are not allowed to vote.  The same should be true if you show up at a Drop Box late. 

  A public hearing should be held to hear these and other problems with the proposed regulation changes.  I further question the legitimacy of LAST MINUTE CHANGING of the rules either by regulation or by the legislature.  Time for Committee Hearings, Public Comment, and Debate should not be precluded.  Changing the rules should not be allowed less than 6 months before an election.   

I do not want my vote cancelled by someone stuffing a ballot box with ballots after the 2020 Presidential Election has closed.  The law should remain as is.  The pattern of changes made in the election laws by the Democratic Legislature indicates they intend to commit election fraud,  Every change made has weakened our election security,  Why? If not for nefarious reasons?  The State of Virginia had a good absentee voter procedure which protected the voter.  If it ain't broke don't fix it.  This move to change our election laws is a progressive/socialist move to throw the election into chaos, the courts and possibly the House of Representatives.  It appears the real motive is to eliminate our method of voting by electoral college and create an electronic vote by popular vote.  Our nation will become a socialist nation which is their aim.  We need to hold the line and protect the integrity of our election system to save our country.

Evidence of Democrat voter fraud has been rampant in Virginia for over a decade with "mail-in voting" the most recent scheme dreamed up to cheat honest citizens out of our voices. Sudden, unaccounted Democrat votes were "found" after polls were closed, Republican military votes were thrown out by Democrat election officials & voting machines were "malfunctioning" to deny Republicans the ability to vote for their desired candidates.

Democrats stay up nights devising new ways to create evil against the citizenry. The Democrat legislature ignored federal law during the last session to implement unconstitutional "laws."

This untimely lawless regulation is yet one more method devised to give Democrats power it doesn't legally possess. The answer is a resounding No! 

I demand a public hearing on changes to ballot submission.  

A return envelope for an absentee ballot is required by law to have a postmark by 7PM on Election Day.  Absentee ballot return envelopes MUST have a proper postmark verifying that the absentee ballots were returned legitimately and on time.  The Board of Elections is trying to eliminate that legal requirement by regulation, but does not have the authority to do that.  Therefore, you must hold a hearing, face the fact that the Board of Elections has exceeded its authority, and uphold the rule of law by enforcing the legal requirement that all absentee ballots must have a proper postmark verifying that they were returned legitimately and on time.  

I do NOT support the proposed regulation to allow ballots to be returned by 7 PM the Friday AFTER Election Day without postmarks! This proposed regulation undermines the state of Virginia's election integrity by providing a window of opportunity for any one, of ANY party, to create and return fraudulent ballots if they don't like the outcome of election night. As a lifelong Virginian, I am genuinely shocked that this is even being considered. It also seems to be something that the General Assembly should propose (or not!), not a regulatory proposal.

The Board needs to follow the Virginia Code and only allow absentee ballots to be counted that were mailed on or before election day and have a postmark to prove it. Since so many people will be using absentee ballots this year, and because this is such a contentious election cycle voters need to have confidence in the system.  Residents in Virginia have ample opportunity to vote -- absentee-in-person voting is already underway, residents can vote in person on election day, or they can submit an an absentee ballot. Voters need to ensure they vote on time to have their vote counted; it's been that way for over 200 years and we need to maintain that standard in 2020! 

As a citizen, I demand that the State Board of Elections adhere to the law AND I demand a public hearing.  Postmarks MUST be preserved!

This has got to stop,EVERYONE should have to go in person to vote,the only people that should be allowed to do absentee voting are people with medical issues that are unable to go in person and military deployed people, period

If the Democrats win  nothing will be said,put if the Republicans win. The Democrats will raise hell saying how mail in ballots were lost or never delivered among other things,so by having mail in ballots they win either way 

No to mail in voting of any kind.

By doing away with the requirement that absentee ballots be returned by 7PM on Election Day, by extending the return time to Friday at Noon, by first requiring a postmark by 7PM on Election Day, and then attempting to erase proof of postmark, you would be putting MY ballot at risk of cancellation by a fraudulent ballot.  

Drop Boxes will be collection points for ballots with no proof that they were submitted by 7PM on Election Day. By allowing two and a half extra days for absentee ballots to reach the Office of Elections, this opens the door to fraud by people who can learn how many votes they’ll need to overcome any defeats on Election Night.  And if these votes come from Drop Boxes, their return envelopes won’t have to have postmarks on them verifying when they were returned.

This would be an invitation for lawsuits. 

Cathy Ruse, Esq.

There are ample ways to vote let it be by mail or in person!  I would crawl to the polls if I had to.  Don't enable the uniformed and encourage fraud.

I believe the Board of Elections cannot implement this "postmark" action without explicit approval from the Virginia "Legislature" (i.e., General Assembly) because of what is written in the U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1: 

"The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows:

"Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the LEGISLATURE thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector..."

In other words, I believe the LEGISLATURE, not the Board of Elections, directs how the election process is to be completed in a state.  If the Board of Elections enacts this frivolous "postmark" regulation on its own, I believe it will be usurping the power of the Virginia General assembly.

I look forward to the PUBLIC HEARING to find out whether my belief is right or wrong. Thank you. 

I am writing to demand that the State Board of Elections adhere to the law. The law is that a return envelope for an absentee ballot is required by law to have a postmark by 7PM on Election Day.  Do NOT change this law.  I demand that Absentee ballot return envelopes MUST have a proper postmark verifying that the absentee ballots are returned legitimately and on time. I also demand that the return time of absentee ballots not be extended!!

This is setting the table for potential voter fraud.  By allowing this you are undermining the sanctity of our vote!

A return envelope for an absentee ballot is required by law to have a postmark by 7PM on Election Day. Keep it that way. Do not allow this new proposal to go through. Hold a public hearing on it. No No No No No to this new attempt to change the election laws.

The national election is on November 3rd. It is over on November 3rd NOT November 6th!

Drop box votes are not postmarked! The election board exceeds it's authority if it accepts any drop box votes past the November 3rd deadline!

I demand a public hearing on this urgent matter!

Richard Baldwin

If people can go.to DMV, Walmart, Giant, parks, etc etc etc, then people can vote in person! Mail voting is fraud and cant be trusted.

I oppose the proposed regulation that would permit absentee ballots to be delivered to the Office of Elections by Noon on Friday after Election Day with no proof that they had been submitted on or before Election Day. I request that you hold a public hearing about the proposed regulation.

Votes must be validated that each person only voted once!

There is simply no reason to do this. It is an invitation for the integrity of the election to be questioned. Virginians have enough time to prepare for voting. An extension is not needed. The attempt to erase the proof of postmark is just dubious and raises a million issues that would certainly be litigated to oblivion (which perhaps is what some are planning).

We already have an emotionally-charged election. Why would you want to aggravate the situation in this way? Please leave the requirements as they are. Please allow the people of Virginia to vote without questionable interference from questionable public figures changing rules at this late hour.

This helps no one. It does not help minorities (I should point out as a minority myself). So, I hope we are not being used to promote this too. No one is asking for this, aside from political operatives.

No.  Not a good proposal.  It only weakens the integrity of our voting system.

Do not allow this new proposal to go through. Hold a public hearing on it. Absolutely no this new attempt to change the election laws. I repeat, say no to this change. Return envelopes for an absentee ballot is required by law to have a postmark by 7PM on Election Day.

Gov and assembly need to follow the law re absentee ballots and postmark requirements.  STOP THE MADNESS, PLEASE.

A return envelope for an absentee ballot is required by law to have a postmark by 7PM on Election Day. That's reasonable and makes sense.  Maintain integrity in Virginia's electoral process. Don't change it. Do not allow this new proposal to go through. A big NO to this new attempt to change the election laws.

There is too much risk to voting integrity if you change the procedures to allow ballots that are not postmarked and/or not received by election day.  Trust in the system is paramount and by fooling around and possibly implementing procedures that can very easily be manipulated - even if not proven to be done - will only cause unneeded recriminations and suspicions.  

The law passed by the general assembly did not say that ballots could be just dropped off after the election.  It gave until Friday after for absentee ballots to arrive by MAIL.  

Do not allow someone to deliver an unpostmarked absentee ballot by Friday after the election.  If you do, that can allow anyone to fill out ballots even AFTER the election.   Party officials could search for voters who had not voted to get them to vote AFTER the election.

This is dangerous.  We have early voting.  We have absentee voting.  We have expanded opportunities.   Why open the door to potential fraud, recrimination and divisiveness?

Our country is being torn apart in this election and violence and civil unrest over the results is is extremely likely.  Enacting this clearly dubious absentee ballot extension and doing away with postmark requirements by Election Day are GUARANTEED to be challenged and to incite truly dangerous and damaging actions throughout the state. Please do your part to ensure accessible, honest, voting measurers that Virginians on both sides can trust. Otherwise, any spilled blood will be on your hands. 

Why the change from current policy?  Do not let allow this attempted change to move forward.  I demand a public hearing.  

There is no reason, other than cheating, to not require ballots to be verified/postmarked by election day.  Day, not week.  This would be absurd and it's already the law.  

It is also interesting that the title of the change is vague as to what is going on.

Do not change our election laws.  This is a travesty if this is allowed to go forward.  We need integrity in our election.  Vote NO NO NO.  A return envelope for an absentee ballot is required by law to have a postmark by 7PM on Election Day.  Do not allow this new proposal to go through.  Stop the madness.  We want a public hearing!

We have plenty of time for those who wish to vote through the mail or in person at the designated sites for early voting.  Why on earth would we allow any extensions.   Virginia, are you listening?  Stand up and show your support for a fair election.  Don't allow this to happen.    

 Absentee ballots should be returned on Election Day with postmark or other proof that it had been submitted by 7PM on Election Day.  

 I oppose the proposed regulation that would permit absentee ballots to be delivered to the Office of Elections by Noon on Friday after Election Day with no proof that they had been submitted on or before Election Day. I request that you hold a public hearing about the proposed regulation.

Allowing ballots to be counted after Election Day is unconstitutional and puts Virginia's electoral process at risk. There MUST be proof that ballots were turned in BEFORE 7 PM Election Day - postmarks are essential, and drop boxes must ALL be removed at 7 PM on Nov. 3. We need a public hearing.

I oppose the proposed regulation action making an illegible or missing post mark on absentee ballots an immaterial omission!  The Board needs to follow the  current Virginia Code and only allow absentee ballots to be counted that were mailed on or before election day with an acceptable postmarks. I do not support allowing ballots to be returned by 7 PM the Friday after Election Day without postmarks!  Why the need to change regulations now, midstream?  This appears to be an attempt to 'FIX' the system.  The Board must maintain the integrity of the vote. 

Votes must be validated.  Votes must be postmarked by election day if mailed in.  Votes must be only once per person.  How will you validate a drop box vote that can be dropped after election date?  

To the State Board of Elections

Say NO NO NO to the proposed regulation that would permit absentee ballots to be delivered to the office of elections after election day with no postmarks to prove they were submitted by 7PM on election day!

Number one,  the Board of Elections cannot legally change election law by regulatory action!

We need a public hearing!

This whole new system of counting ballots AFTER the election opens up all kinds of opportunities for fraud already without changing the rules about post marks!

I am writing to oppose the proposed regulation by the Board of Elections to interpret the law passed by the Virginia legislature in a manner which is entirely inconsistent with the law as passed.  I believe this proposed regulation specifically undermines the intent of the legislation and I am writing to insist that there be a public hearing on this matter and that the hearing be conducted immediately so the law can be implemented as passed by the legislature BEFORE the general election in November.

No to the proposed regulation change that would allow absentee ballots to be delivered to the Office of Elections by noon on Friday after Election Day.  Mailed in ballots or absentee ballots MUST be postmarked by 7 pm on Election Day!  No extensions of time.  Since early voting is in effect now, there is no reason to extend voting for additional time.  Adhere to the law.  Postmarks MUST be preserved.  A public hearing should be held before any changes to current election laws are attempted.  The proposed extension opens the door for all kinds of mischief and voter fraud.  The integrity of our elections must be preserved!

Do not accept ballots postmarked after election day

Absolutely not, this is an obvious ploy to play with the outcome of the election by putting them in ballot boxes with no postmark.  

Please do not change our election laws that are there to protect our elections from fraud. I don’t understand why anyone wants more lax rules, unless they are for fraudulent voting. They were put into place to protect our voting integrity. 

Absentee ballots without a postmark on or before Election Day should be denied.  The citizens of the Commonwealth are smart enough to mail their absentee ballots on time.  If a citizen is unsure whether his or her absentee ballot was received on time, he or she can cast a provisional ballot on Election Day.  The proposed rule is designed to create unnecessary chaos and undermine our faith in the outcome of this election.  The actions of the General Assembly are bad enough, but to unlawfully make them worse is outrageous.

The postmark is not immaterial and must be adhered per the VA Code.  Mailed Ballots must be received Election Day.  Any Ballot received after Election Day should be NOT counted.  Voters need to take responsibility for their failures.