On March 18, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed SB 1148. It moves the non-presidential primary from the second week in June to the third week in June. Because the petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified party is on primary date, the bill automatically extends the petition deadline a week.

As far as is known, this is the first bill this year that has been signed into law, that improves ballot access for minor party and independent candidates. The bill takes effect too late to affect the 2021 election, but it will help in 2022 and thereafter.