In the last presidential election, I was away at college and was one of thousands of students at my university to, most of us for the first time, have our political voice heard through absentee vote. It is very discouraging to me that the regulations proposed are a clear political manuever intended to prevent citizens from exercising the fundamental right to American democracy. If a voter signs his ballot illegibly (which many individuals do), or writes a date one number off, their votes should still carry the voice of the individual. If this measure passes, those who regularly vote by absentee ballot are sure to lose their faith in the process andto  doubt whether their vote is really being counted at all. I hope that those in a position to influence the  measure will protect the voting rights of Virginian citizens and reject the proposed regulations.