2012.02.02
With Bolling’s help, Senate passes absentee voting restriction
Virginians would have to wait at least five days after registering to vote to cast an absentee ballot under legislation passed by a divided state Senate today.
Senate Bill 57 would apply to a 15-day window in an election cycle between the time absentee balloting begins and the deadline for voters to register. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, called that window “an opportunity and invitation to fraud.”
Obenshain’s bill provides for an interval of at least five days between the time a voter registers and a registrar processes the voter’s absentee ballot application. The bill contains an exception for military and overseas voters.
“From 45 days out [to an election]to 30 days out, I can go in to the registrar and register and [say], ‘Oh, by the way, I’m not going to be in town for Election Day so, while I’m here, just let me step into the voting booth and cast that vote,’” Obenshain said after today’s Senate floor session. “And now, of course, you don’t need an ID to do either.”
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cast the tie-breaking vote to pass Obenshain’s bill.
All 20 Senate Democrats opposed the bill and some openly questioned the need for the legislation.
“Remember, these are people who come in and register,” said Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax. “They verify their address. They verify their identity. They verify their citizenship and their right to vote. And then they’re given five days to wait to cast that vote.”
Petersen noted that Virginians face a much shorter wait to purchase a gun and said Obenshain’s bill would put “undue and unreasonable restriction” on voting rights.
The full Senate has yet to act on a separate measure that would require voters to present valid identification at the polls in order to vote. Voters who can’t show identification would cast provisional ballots that would be counted only if their identities can be verified. Democrats have assailed the legislation as attempts to suppress the voting rights of minorities and seniors. The bill’s sponsors argue that the legislation will protect the integrity of the election process.
– Michael Sluss
Another jobs creation bill coutesy ofdVa. Republicans.
Comment by dave — February 2, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
I will grant you that I could have missed the voter fraud cases that have been perpetrated in Virginia. I will also grant you that I could have missed the information on how exactly these restrictions and extra burdens to voting will not “suppress the voting rights of minorities and seniors”. If someone would care to enlighten me, I would be grateful. And if you tell me why “the integrity of the election process” has been tainted and requires this “remedy”, that would sure be a bonus. For people who like small government and liberty, you TP/GOPrs sure masquerade as “nanny” pretty darn well. Funny how you LOVE those “activist” pols when they are doing your bidding.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 2, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
I just love Republicans trying to keep legitimate voters from casting a ballot. Disgusting.
Comment by gdad — February 2, 2012 @ 8:22 pm
It appears that this is just a waiting time for the voter – not time that the Registrar NEEDS for researching/processing of the absentee ballot. Voter fraud is not a significant problem in Virginia (or probably in any other state). More attention should be paid to LEGISLATURE fraud.
Comment by Marilyn — February 3, 2012 @ 6:41 am