Kaine: Make voting easier
Clement Britt / Times-Dispatch
Governor Tim Kaine is proposing changes to Virginia’s election law to make absentee voting easier.
-- Gov. Timothy M. Kaine proposed legislation yesterday to allow no-excuse, in-person absentee balloting in Virginia -- a step he said that effectively would allow early voting in the state.
Kaine described the measure as "a good-government bill" with "a fraud-free environment."
Current law offers prospective voters 17 reasons for casting an absentee ballot, whether in person or by mail, over a 45-day period ahead of an election.
About 500,000 Virginians cast absentee ballots ahead of the Nov. 4 election -- 321,743 of them in person. On Nov. 1, the last day to vote absentee in person, some people stood in line for six hours at Richmond's City Hall.
The absentee ballots were among 3.7 million votes cast in Virginia in the presidential election.
"By allowing all voters to cast an absentee ballot in person, we can remove some of the practical barriers that prevent people from participating in the democratic process," Kaine said during a news conference at the state Capitol.
Twenty-six other states allow voters some period in which to cast a vote in advance without stating a reason, according to Kaine's office.
In Virginia, the no-excuse proposal has been introduced previously and killed by a House of Delegates subcommittee controlled by Republicans.
"Voting is easy," said Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick, R-Prince William, noting current law allows Virginians many excuses to cast absentee ballots. He said he is concerned that the no-excuse feature might lead to fraud.
"Voting is a responsibility, it should not be like shopping the Internet," Frederick said, emphasizing that he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of the Republican Party of Virginia, of which he is chairman.
Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania, chairman of the House committee that handles voting issues, said registrars last year complained they would have to add staff and increase their costs if the measure passed.
Under the Kaine proposal, voters would continue to have a 45-day period to vote early and would cast ballots at their registrar's office.
Kaine said momentum from the presidential election, which spurred a record turnout and record number of absentee votes in Virginia, plus the fact that House of Delegates Republicans have decided to allow recorded votes in subcommittees, improves the bill's chances in the General Assembly session that begins Wednesday.
A subcommittee of the House Privileges and Elections Committee killed the measure without a recorded vote last year, after it passed the Senate 31-9.
The League of Women Voters, the Virginia Electoral Board Association, and the Voter Registrars Association of Virginia back the measure.
Kaine said the proposal could save money, because election officials wouldn't have to buy new voting equipment to accommodate heavy voting on Election Day and won't have to hire as much staff to work at the polls.
Dels. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg, and Robert H. Brink, D-Arlington, will sponsor the measure in the House. Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, is the Senate sponsor.
Kaine dismissed criticism that early voting might lock a voter into an unfortunate choice because of late-breaking news detrimental to the candidate.
"Voters who go to vote early only go when they've made up their mind. If they're still trying to decide, they don't," he said.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or
.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Eleazar – So because I think it’s a good idea to make voting easier, more efficient, and more inclusive I’m somehow selfish? Actually getting more voters to the polls ensures our democracy works as it should.
Randy – Tim Kaine is doing this to help the democrats? Cynical much? I would say it’s just as likely he wants to get as many voters, Republican or Democrat, to the polls as possible. Is that somehow threatening? Should we keep things the same so that less voters will actually vote? You’ve also accused Democrats of “perpetrate(ing) more voter fraud than Republicans”. Care to back that up with an unbiased source? Or did you just want to throw out some unsubstantiated claim to prove you base your beliefs more on emotion and feeling than actual fact?
Hjackson – look out. Your sheet and hood are showing. :)
Dave- It was a rhetorical question… I know how government works and why they want to reinvent the wheel. I was simply trying to state that I think it’s stupid.
Transplant- So are you saying it’s okay for one group to do something just because another does? What a wonderful 5th grade mentality (but he did it first!). With an attitude like that, neither side will ever be the first to concede anything! You’re just perpetuating the Republican stereotype. I’ve seen your posts on here before, I’m well aware of your attitude towards those who choose to be Democrats.
Since Tim Kaine wants it we can bet that it has nothing to do with promoting democracy or fraud fee elections. It’s because democrats have figured out they can manipulate the black vote to increase it since blacks vote almost 100 percent democrat For some reason blacks need all kinds of special considerations that other Americans don’t need.
Kaine since putting his carpetbags down on Virginia soil has proven time and again he will do just about anything to get the black vote. Ever wonder how he was “chosen” mayor in black controlled Richmond?
MeToo: regarding ‘reinventing the wheel’
Governments do this because it allows them to make laws to increase their power over us. Do a mental experiment. What would government do if the existing laws worked? They would be out of business. There is no incentive for politicians, of any party, to make goods laws or equitable taxes since they would eliminate their reason for ruling over us. The Founding Fathers had it right about not trusting our government and keeping it limited. Too bad we’ve chosen to ignore them. Sic Semper Tyrannis—while you can before Kaine & McCauliffe propose changing it to ‘it takes a village to govern Virginia’. (By the way, Republicans won’t mind—they like power too.)
“#4 Stop generalizing about Democrats, not everything thinks the same just because they aline with a certain party. “
Perhaps when Dem’s stop generalizing Rep’s as either rich fatcats or trailer trash then Rep’s might concede.
Partisans of both parties need to tone down the rhetoric
The way I look at it is, if Tim Kaine is proposing it, it needs to be severely and critically scrutinized. Democrats perpetrate more voter fraud than Republicans, Libertarians, Greens and Independents combined.
Don’t think Tim Kaine is doing this out of the goodness of his heart. He has a self serving agenda and, when the final product is put into practice, will be designed to benefit democrats alone.
You guys are responding based on the limited information contained in this news article, but, I instinctively distrust politicians regardless of party - there’s more to this than what Tim Kaine is saying and it isn’t for everyone’s benefit.
#1Adding additional voting time does not give democrats a voting advantage over republicans.
#2 Employers are required by LAW to give time off to vote on November 4th if your working hours extend beyond the voting times. If you work a job where you would not be able to leave during the day you qualify for absentee voting.
#3 Someone is always going to be inconvenienced by something. If you truly believe in the democratic process you wouldn’t be inconvenienced by exercising your hard earned right to vote.
#4 Stop generalizing about Democrats, not everything thinks the same just because they aline with a certain party. I’m a Dem, I don’t think convicted felons should get their voting rights back, I don’t want to see civil rights taken away, but it shouldn’t be carte blache to say and do whatever you want without regard.
#5 If you are physically disabled and unable to stand in line to vote, the electioners are required BY LAW to give you access without affecting your disability.
#6 We celebrate “labor day” (aka cook hotdogs and drink beer), but election day is not a national holiday? I’d think that would be the most important national holiday. Also, there’d be no excuse for not being able to go to vote on those days (baring physical limitations or sheer laziness).
#7 If you cannot seem to make it out on November 4th to vote, yet you clearly do not fit into the 1 of 17 reasons allowed for absentee voting, why should you be given additional days? Are you really that committed and concerned with politics or do you just decide to get involved when you hate your opponent?
#8 To the Board of Elections: gather statistics on polling locations that were over crowded and/or had technical problems. Then in the future, add additional voting machines/ ballot stations, whatever and have a few more back ups on reserve. Problem solved.
It always seems like politicians are trying to reinvent the wheel. Why not just go with most logical response that doesn’t require a total uphevel and cost to the taxpayer???
Henry
You demonstrate similar behaviors and attitudes. They aren’t helpful, either. So don’t get all sanctimonious on me.
The responses here are truly mind boggling. Many states, red and blue, have early voting or other alternatives to the traditional one day only voting opportunity that exists in Virginia. There is no evidence that it creates more fraud, etc. It’s a practical response to population growth, the constraints of employment, etc.
Pot calling the kettle black I see celtwom2591.
Physician heal thyself.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement