Introduced by Virginia State Sen. Barbara A. Favola, a new measure seeks to allow voters additional time to fulfill post-election requirements and resolve ballot issues, the Virginia State Senate reports.
The proposal, known as SB58 and introduced on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, is described as addressing: “Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc.”
Below is a summary based on the official legislative text, with some interpretive language included for clarity.
The bill would move various election-related deadlines from noon to 5 p.m. on the third day after an election. If enacted, provisional voters would have extra time to provide an ID or signed statement to the electoral board. Absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on the third day after the election would count, and those making corrections under the absentee ballot cure process would also be able to do so until 5 p.m. on the same timeline. The bill keeps existing postmark and eligibility requirements while expanding the time allotted to complete these steps.
Sen. Barbara A. Favola (Democrat-40th District), Sen. Kannan Srinivasan (Democrat-32nd District), and Sen. Angelia Williams Graves (Democrat-21st District) are sponsoring the bill.
Favola has sponsored 18 additional bills since the start of this session.
She is a Saint Joseph College alumna, graduating with a BS in 1977.
A Democrat, Favola was elected to the Virginia Senate in 2024 representing the 40th District, succeeding Todd Pillion.
The legislative process in Virginia begins when legislation is submitted in either the House of Delegates or Senate. The bill is sent to committees for review and possible changes. If committed and then approved, it moves to floor debate and votes in both chambers. Passage in both chambers sends it to the governor, who may sign, veto, or let the bill become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets for its regular session annually starting the second Monday in January, with lawmakers introducing hundreds of bills each year but passing only a share of them into law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Angelia Williams Graves | SB58 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Christie New Craig | SB33 | 01/14/2026 | Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB34 | 01/14/2026 | Incapacitated persons; finding of lack of capacity to understand act of voting. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Russet Perry | SB37 | 01/14/2026 | Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity; accrual. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB38 | 01/14/2026 | Firearms; transfers to another person from a prohibited person. |
| Barbara A. Favola, David R. Suetterlein, Holly M. Seibold, and Irene Shin | SB64 | 01/14/2026 | Juveniles; commitment to DJJ, petition to extend duration of indeterminate commitment. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB70 | 01/14/2026 | Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB90 | 01/14/2026 | Equity in public school funding and staffing; At-Risk Program established, Standards of Quality. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB125 | 01/14/2026 | Children’s Ombudsman, Office of the; powers and duties, report. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Mark D. Obenshain | SB171 | 01/14/2026 | Minor elementary or secondary school students admitted to inpatient treatment; discl. of discharge. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB177 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, consumer reproductive/sexual health information. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Aaron R. Rouse, Adam P. Ebbin, Angelia Williams Graves, Danica A. Roem, David W. Marsden, Jennifer B. Boysko, Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Kannan Srinivasan, L. Louise Lucas, Lamont Bagby, Lashrecse D. Aird, Mamie E. Locke, Michael J. Jones, R. Creigh Deeds, Russet Perry, Saddam Azlan Salim, Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, Scott A. Surovell, and Stella G. Pekarsky | SB199 | 01/14/2026 | Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB247 | 01/14/2026 | Nursing homes; application to Commissioner of Health for change of operator license, civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB257 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB269 | 01/14/2026 | Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Alfonso H. Lopez | SB296 | 01/14/2026 | County manager plan of government; affordable dwelling unit ordinance. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB332 | 01/14/2026 | Medical marijuana; administration to terminally ill patients. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB418 | 01/14/2026 | Therapeutic interchange; authorizes pharmacists to perform, adaptation of prescriptions. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB421 | 01/14/2026 | Pharmacist; remote verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs. |
