On February 21, the Virginia Senate voted to defer action on HB 1132 until 2013. Virginia has two-year legislative sessions, and is in the first year of the current session. The bill has already passed the House. It legalizes write-in votes in primaries. Virginia already allows write-ins in general elections, but not primaries.

The bill could not have taken effect in time for the March 6, 2012 presidential primary in any event.

Also on February 21, the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee unanimously passed HB 1133, which eliminates the law that says circulators can’t work outside their home districts. The law has already been declared unconstitutional.