Voting is only a privilege. You may vote ONLY if you are a (1) natural born, or naturalized, American citizen (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1); (2) are over the age of 18 (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1, Va Code § 24.2-403); (3) have domicile intent and (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1, Va Code § 24.2-400); (4) have a place of abode (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1, Va Code § 24.2-400); (5) within the same precinct (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1, Va Code § 24.2-400); (6) have a social security number (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 2, Va Code § 24.2-643); (7) have pre-registered to vote (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 2, Va Code § 24.2-400); (8) at least 22 days before the election (Va Code § 24.2-416); (9) have not had your registration cancelled (Va Code §§ 24.2-427, 24.2-428, 24.2-429); (10) have not been convicted of a felony; (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1, Va Code § 24.2-409); (11) have never been adjudicated mentally incompetent (Virginia Constitution Article II, Section 1, Va Code § 24.2-410); (12) are able to participate at (Va Code § 24.2-643); (13) limited time (Va Code § 24.2-603); (14) limited place and (Va Code §§ 24.2-309 through 24.2-310.1); (14) limited manner (Va Code §§ 24.2-604 through 24.-607 ); with (15) proper identifying paperwork (Va Code § 24.2-643); and (16) whose right to vote has not been challenged (Va Code §§ 24.2-429, 24.2-431, 24.2-651).

 

To require that a driver license be unexpired in order to be  "valid" is one barrier too many.

 

If we were to require driver licenses not to have been expired, suspended or revoked in order to be "valid" for the purposes of voting, we are claiming that voting is also reserved to those who have good driving records.  Someone should not lose their right to vote simply because they are late paying a fee.