Action | 2015 Voter Registration Application Regulation and Form Update |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 8/3/2015 |
The proposed changes do not enhance compliance with the law of Virginia on eligibility to vote. These proposed changes to eliminate the check boxes can only be seen as a back door attempt to enable violators to succeed in claiming that they did not know or understand the law. When the signer is required to make a positive indication of the qualifcations to vote, it proves a specific state of mind and a higher degree of culpability than simply signing the form. The proposed form changes should not be implemented because they subvert the evidence available to show that violators signed the form without knowing that they were not eligible. Why would any competent elections board member want to make it less likely to be able to punish illegal registration attempts?