On February 8, the Virginia Senate passed SB 686 by 34-5. It prohibits political parties from requiring a sign-in sheet before a voter votes in a primary that is administered by the government. The bill has an emergency clause, so if it is signed into law, it takes effect immediately. However, the Republican Party has already cancelled its earlier request that voters who request a Republican ballot must sign a statement that they consider themselves a member of the party, so the bill won’t have any practical effect this year.