Va. senior citizens denied no-excuse absentee voting
RICHMOND – Their age alone still won’t entitle senior citizens to vote by absentee ballot.
The last remaining legislative measure to allow no-excuse absentee voting by Virginians 65 and over was rejected by a House subcommittee today. That means they will still have to choose from a list of specified excuses – such as disability, business travel or extended work hours – to qualify for an absentee ballot.
“We’re putting senior citizens in a position of lying,” state Sen. John Miller, D-Newport News, patron of the Senate-passed measure (SB724), told the panel.
Neither his plea nor the support of the State Board of Elections, the League of Women Voters and the state registrars’ association was enough to sway the subcommittee, which killed a similar House measure last month.
It appears that no expansion of voting rights will be approved by this year’s General Assembly. To the contrary, legislation (HB1337, SB719) shortening the list of acceptable forms of voter identification is moving toward passage.
-Bill Sizemore, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot
February 12, 2013 - 2:45 PM
Why don’t the Republicans do away with voting completely. They could flip a coin. Of course the coin they use might have two heads or two tails and they would want to make the call.
This is certainly no surprize, that’s the way things are going for seniors these days, from the states, the feds, health insurance, health care, social security, taxes, “getting old ain’t for sissies” but as I head down that lonesome road I ain’t giving in or giving up. Again, like it’s been said before, the Titanic’s going down, it’s every man for himself, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Linnie G.
Yet another method of the GOP trying to disenfranchise any groups that they think might vote against them. For all their bluster about patriotism, you’d think if the GOP in Va actually believed their patter, they’d want to make it easier for the populace to vote. They falsely claim the ‘silent majority’ approves of their myopia, yet they’re afraid to make it easier for the populace to vote. Instead, they come up with myriad ways to discourage voting. Same old story, different page.
“Again, like it’s been said before, the Titanic’s going down, it’s every man for himself, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.’
Which is just the way the GOP likes things.
To my knowledge, Don…the only person to publicly come out and stupidly admit that voting should be banned was a Democrat…the Governor of North Carolina. 2012. Of course, these items don`t penetrate the liberal `bubble of utopian safety`.
The GOTP cannot win the White House unless they can disenfranchise traditional Democratic voters. They know this and all efforts are aimed at just that. Not allowing it to be easier for the elderly to vote helps them keep the camel’s nose from under the tent.
I hope there is a federal commission that comes up with federal election guidelines which will take precedence because MORE Americans need to vote and it needs to be easier than it is currently for all voters. It is a disgrace that lines are hours long and that absentee ballots are counted so late. For something as important as which party will be taking their marching orders from those who rule this nation, it needs to look fair and open.
What is so hard about voting on election day? If there is a reasonable reason they cannot, then they will be allowed to vote early. Makes total sense.