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Senate committee backs Virginia rejoining ERIC after brief testimony

Senate of Virginia Privileges and Elections Committee · January 21, 2026

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Summary

The Privileges and Elections Committee voted 8–7 to report Senate Bill 57, which would rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Shane Hamlin, ERIC’s executive director, testified online about ERIC’s role in maintaining accurate voter rolls.

Senate Bill 57, which would restore Virginia’s membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), was reported out of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee after a tight, 8–7 vote.

Senator Van Volkenberg introduced the measure as a returning item the committee had considered previously. Shane Hamlin, executive director of ERIC, testified remotely in support, saying ERIC is a “member-led organization” that helps states keep voter rolls accurate and provides reports to participating jurisdictions. Hamlin added that ERIC is funded by member dues and governed by a board composed of member-state representatives.

No in-room opponents spoke. After brief committee discussion and a motion to report the bill, the roll call recorded the 8–7 margin that sends SB57 forward in the legislative process.

If enacted, the bill would allow Virginia to resume receiving ERIC-produced reports used by many states to identify registration errors and keep voter rolls current. The committee took no amendments on the floor during the session.