Posted on 08/21/2012 6:19:47 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Gottstein, Director of Communication
bgottstein@oag.state.va.us (best contact method)
804-786-5874
U.S. Department of Justice clears new Virginia voter ID law - Statement of Attorney General Cuccinelli
RICHMOND (August 21, 2012)- Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice granted preclearance (had no objection) to Virginia's new voter identification law. The new law will not only introduce additional forms of acceptable identification when voting, but also will change the procedure for those who vote and do not present identification. The law requires those people to vote provisionally and later present approved ID (current utility bill, bank statement, etc.) to their local registrar through email, fax, mail, or hand delivery to have their votes counted.
Virginia is one of 16 states under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 required to pre-clear (get federal approval for) changes in voting practices or procedures with the Justice Department.
During his tenure as attorney general, Cuccinelli has successfully precleared with the U.S. Department of Justice each change in election law and procedures, including the redistricting plans for Virginia's Congressional and General Assembly seats, and now the new change in Virginia's voter identification law.
"Securing our elections and protecting against voter fraud are critical components in preserving our representative democracy and the election process as a whole," said Cuccinelli. "I am pleased that the Department of Justice has once again precleared a change in election law that will help to defend the integrity of Virginia's democratic process and allow all voters to feel secure that their votes count and are not diluted by others committing fraud."
Glad to hear it. Any weeding out of fraudulent “voting” has MY vote!
But then again, the Commonwealth needs to get exemption from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in its entirety.
It is a step in the right direction, no doubt. It seems there are some weak points the frauds and cheaters can still exploit.
“”The law requires those people to vote provisionally and later present approved ID (current utility bill, bank statement, etc.) to their local registrar through email, fax, mail, or hand delivery to have their votes counted.””
An interesting statistic would be number of provisional ballots where the person DOES NOT later present approved ID.
If I were in charge of the voter rolls, those would be the first names I would check to see if they are valid citizens of the USA and residents in the precinct.
The law does not adequately deal with people who may try to vote from more than one residence (students, snow birds, etc)
So, how does a utility bill or bank statement prove a person is a citizen? It may prove residency, but citizenship is neither proven nor disproven.
This is a watered down bill and McDonnell had to be forced to sign it. This is far from the kind of bill many of us were pushing down in Richmond. The Reps had no stomach for pushing a photo ID real voter bill.
Most of the voter fraud occurs during early voting and absentee ballots.
“”Most of the voter fraud occurs during early voting and absentee ballots.””
If I were in charge of the voter rolls, I would closely check the absentee voters to verify they are legal.
IF a person is voting on electronic machines——
How do those PROVISIONAL votes get separated from the correctly ID’s voters???
I need more info as to how this will be handled.
I see provisional votes being co-mingled with proper voters actions.
Provisional Ballots are usually paper ballots, not machine ballots. The members of the election board votes on whether to allow each BEFORE they open them to see what vote is cast.
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