Action | 2015 Voter Registration Application Regulation and Form Update |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 8/3/2015 |
COMMENTS ON THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION’S PROPOSED REGULATION AND VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM 1 VAC20-40-70
SUBMITTED BY VRAV REGION THREE REPRESENTING:
Counties of Caroline, Charles City County, Cumberland, Essex, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Louisa, New Kent, Northumberland, Orange, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland
Cities of Fredericksburg and Richmond
A volunteer group of the General Registrars representing the Region Three of the Voter Registrars’ Association of Virginia met on Thursday July 23, 2015 to consider the changes to the Virginia voter registration application and the Voter Registration Application Regulation and Form Update (1VAC20-40-70). The review was conducted from their perspective that the best election administration meets that critical balance between simplicity for the voter and the preservation of the integrity of electoral process; too much emphasis on one can harm the other.
The resulting comments offered for consideration by the State Board of Elections is broken into two parts: the application; and, the proposed regulation.
COMMENTS ON THE APPLICATION FORM
COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS
In general: While the work group had some concerns about the voter registration application, our greatest concerns were about the proposed regulations which set forth what would be considered a material omission from the application and what would be considered an immaterial omission. We noted that §24.2-418 of the Code of Virginia mandates that a voter provide certain information in order to register to vote. However, the proposed regulations counter those specific mandates in several instances. The work group feels and strongly urges that the regulations be revisited and revised to be in accordance with the specific mandates of the Code of Virginia.
Specifically: