Action | 2015 Voter Registration Application Regulation and Form Update |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 8/3/2015 |
I have been surprised by the (intentional) overreaction to the suggestion that failure to check the citizenship and felony boxes. The proposed updated form still requires voters to affirm their qualifications. All the change does is prevent qualified voters from being disenfranchised based on a technicality.
I was recently contacted by a prospective voter who apparently forgot to check the citizenship box. She got a letter from the registrar DENYING her application, a form to use in filing an "appeal" - which would require a $10 filing fee - and a new form. She thought she had to file the appeal and provide provide proof of citizenship - I was able to explain that she just had to re-submit the form with the box checked. But none of this was clear, and it was yet another unnecessary impediment to registering and voting. And Virginia has far too many of those.
Thanks