The U.S. already has the lowest turnout of eligible voters among all Democracies in the world; largely because we have the most difficult voting process. The new photo ID law has created additional obstacles for the elderly, poor and young voters, who are least likely to maintain a current photo ID. Senator Obenshain seeks only to make this obstacle even more difficult for these eligible voters, who typically do not vote the same way he does.

Voter fraud is almost non-existent in the U.S. because it is so easy to stop before it happens and so easy to prove if it does happen. Between the check-in process and detailed results released by the state board of elections after every election, it is easy to spot irregularities and track them down. Anyone caught is subject to a $10,000 fine and 5 years in prison for each occurrence. And that is why there have been so few examples of actual voter fraud.

Senator Obenshain's challenge of the State Board of Elections serves only to disenfranchise certain eligible voters. Please do not allow Senator Obenshain to further damage our Democracy, disenfranchise eligible voters and harm the people of Virginia.