COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, 
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 
05/07/2026-HELD IN COMMITTEE 
01/23/2026-HELD IN COMMITTEE 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0187 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
September 17, 2025 
 
 
 
An act amending title 18 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 23, section 622 requiring the Board of 
Elections to count by hand votes deposited in a ballot box 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY:  Senator Franklin D. Johnson 
 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 18 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 23, section 622 is amended by 
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designating the existing paragraph as subsection (a) and inserting the following subsections (b), 
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(c), and (d): 
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“(b) After the paper ballots are removed from the ballot box, the votes shall be counted 
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by hand. 
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(c) 
The election officers shall count the ballots in a manner that allows watchers to see 
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the ballots when opened and read. The election officer handling the ballot after it has been taken 
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from the ballot box may not have a marking device in hand or remove a ballot from the 
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immediate vicinity of the polls. 
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(d) 
Ballots may not be counted before 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election.” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill amends title 18 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 23, section 622 requiring the Board 
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of Elections to count by hand votes deposited in a ballot box. 
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BR25-0135/September 11, 2025/CBM 
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