VA HB968

Requires election officers to use ballot scanner machines to count machine-readable ballots rather than hand counting, with hand counting permitted only when scanners are inoperative, no replacement is available, and waiting for a working scanner would be unreasonable

Establishes procedures for duplicating damaged or defective machine-readable absentee ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems

Requires a bipartisan team of election officials representing both parties to create true duplicate copies of damaged or defective ballots

Mandates that all duplicate ballots be clearly labeled and bear an identifier recorded on the original damaged ballot

Takes effect September 1, 2026