Action | Proposed Regulation on Voter Photo Identification Document |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 5/12/2014 |
Virginia New Majority believes that all elections need to be free, fair, and accessible to all qualified voters of the Commonwealth of Virginia. We continue to strongly oppose any photo ID requirement in order to cast a ballot, and believe that any proposed regulations must mitigate any unnecessary burdens the law imposes on registered voters who need to obtain the required photo voter identification card.
In reviewing the proposed regulations, we recommend that the following sections need to be clarified or amended as follows (comments in italics):
Comment: Provide clarification on the definition of “correct.”
Comment: The general registrar should be able to designate an individual who may not be a paid staff person. For example, electoral board members are not paid staff. Having additional individuals qualified to process photo voter identification applications will help alleviate additional burden on already strained resources.
Comment: See above.
Comment: Insert “when submitting an application for voter registration” before the first comma in the section to read as follows: “A person who is unregistered may apply for a photo voter identification card when submitting an application for voter registration,…”
Comment: Insert “,and are encouraged to,” after “may” to read: “General registrars may, and are encouraged to, solicit applications…” Additionally, delete the last sentence: “No general registrar shall be required to offer this service.”
Comment: Insert “current” before “possession” to read as follows: “….so long as the person affirms he is not in current possession of the identification document.”
Comment: Provide clarification to the definition of “registration records” and how voter photo identification card applications differ from registration records available for public inspection as covered under the National Voting Rights Act.
In addition to the recommendations to the specific sections mentioned above, we believe that the regulations should include:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments.