Va. Senate backs no-excuse absentee voting

The Virginia Senate today approved a bill that would allow qualified voters to cast absentee ballots in person without needing to provide an excuse.

Senate Bill 810, sponsored by Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, and supported by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, passed on the floor by a 24-16 vote.

A similar measure cleared the Senate 31-9 last year, only to die in a House of Delegates subcommittee vote. A House subcommittee already has voted against a similar measure in this year's session.

Howell said that lawmakers have "321,743 additional reasons" to support the measure, noting the number of Virginians who cast absentee ballots in person during the general election in November.

The bill would allow registered voters to vote absentee in person at local registrars' offices up to 45 days before an election.

Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, voiced concern that the measure, if adopted by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, would end up costing localities more money.

The Senate also unanimously passed a bill that would eliminate the requirement that federal write-in absentee ballots include the printed name and address of the person who signs the ballot as the voter's witness.

Registrars in certain localities refused to count the ballots last year -- many of which were submitted by members of the armed forces serving overseas, because some only contained witness signatures, not addresses or printed names.

Senate Bill 993, sponsored by Sen. J.C. Miller, D-Newport News, also would allow a federal write-in absentee ballot to count as a voter registration application. The measure passed 40-0.

Both bills now head to the House of Delegates.