From the Virginian-Pilot story:  "The absentee ballot rules approved last year... (under a Democratic administration) provided more latitude...to count ballots."  The rules were published in December & submitted to the Justice Department.  Before the Department could comment on them,  Repubican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli "withdrew" the rules (in February) and then in July "state officials cancelled the rules so they could be replaced with new guidelines."  (my emphasis)   'Nuff said.