by Markus Schmidt
Virginia Mercury
In a sweeping move aimed at promoting transparency and leveling the playing field in election access, the Virginia Department of Elections announced Monday that it will reduce the cost of purchasing voter lists by 90% starting next month.
The change dramatically lowers the price of essential voter data — including lists of registered voters, new registrants, and past voters — for candidates, political parties, and political action committees legally entitled to access them under state law. For example, a statewide list that currently costs $6,000 will soon be available for $600.
“The cost reduction is intended to make the information more accessible to those qualified to purchase such lists under the Code of Virginia in an effort to promote transparency,” the agency said in a news release.
The new policy comes as political interest ramps up ahead of the November general election, which includes statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and for all 100 General Assembly seats.
Access to detailed voter files can be critical for campaign outreach, data modeling, and voter engagement efforts — especially for first-time or underfunded candidates who have long found the pricing prohibitive.
Under Virginia law, voter data can be purchased only by specific entities: candidates running for office, political parties and committees, political action committees, nonprofit groups conducting voter outreach, and academic institutions doing election research. The state does not sell this information to the general public or commercial interests.
The voter files themselves include essential information such as voter names, gender, addresses, voting districts, and a record of whether a person voted in previous elections. While the files offer valuable insight for campaigns and researchers, they do not include sensitive personal details such as Social Security numbers, exact birth dates, or phone numbers.
“Prices are calculated based on the amount of information requested,” the Department of Elections noted. “Once the price is calculated using current methods, the cost to the purchaser will be reduced by 90 percent.”
The change was posted to the department’s Client Services page and comes after years of criticism over Virginia’s relatively high fees for voter data.
As of early 2025, the state charged $5,000 for its full voter file, placing it among the most expensive in the country. According to a Ballotpedia analysis, Virginia was one of just a few states where the cost exceeded $1,000 — far above the 24 states that charge less and the 10 states and the District of Columbia that provide the data for free.
The high cost of access has long stood in contrast to Virginia’s otherwise modern and relatively accessible election systems. The state offers online registration, early voting without an excuse, and absentee voting by mail. It also allows same-day voter registration and requires either a valid form of ID or a signed statement confirming identity at the polls.
These measures have earned Virginia high marks in national studies evaluating voting access. A 2020 study ranked it the 12th easiest state in the country in which to cast a ballot.
The updated pricing model takes effect July 1. More information, including eligibility guidelines and request forms, is available on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in the Virginia Mercury and is being republished here with permission.
