Virginia Senate Republicans Make it Harder to Vote, Pass Photo I.D. Bill

Sen. Herring: Obenshain, Senate GOP fight to make it HARDER for people to vote (0.00 / 0)

HERRING: OBENSHAIN, SENATE GOP PUSH ANTI-VOTING AGENDA

Leesburg - Democratic Attorney General candidate State Senator Mark Herring (Loudoun & Fairfax) released this statement following the Senate's passage of a yet another Voter ID bill on a straight party-line vote:

"Senator Obenshain and his Republican colleagues are having a harder and harder time convincing people of their policies, so rather than change their politics, their solution is to make it harder and harder for people who disagree with them to vote.

"Rather than addressing the problem of long lines at polling locations or enacting common sense reforms that make it easier for our citizens to vote, Senator Obenshain, Delegate Rob Bell and Republicans in Richmond are putting more obstacles in the way of voting, making voting harder. Their misguided efforts are wrong, will cost the Commonwealth of Virginia more money and will disenfranchise voters all across the state.

"I introduced legislation that included several reforms that would have made voting easier such as allowing for more early voting, extending voting hours and a longer voter registration period. These reforms would have encouraged greater participation and strengthened the democratic process in our state. Instead, Republicans are focused on confusing voters and suppressing the vote."

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by: lowkell @ Fri Feb 15, 2013 at 20:33:55 PM UTC

Virginians (0.00 / 0)

Too many Virginians just don't care that some people don't have all the necessary ID's. Saw a post somewhere that you could use a conceal carry gun permit for ID. If true must be the work of this Obenshain dude.  

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by: Jim B @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 14:53:35 PM UTC

Voter Photo ID = Waste of Time (0.00 / 0)

Of course, once can simply use two non-photo ID documents to receive a photo-ID: (note, you can receive both a VA drivers license and a US passport without using documents that have a photo)

Process for receiving a Virginia Drivers license:

Primary Proof of Identity:
Official birth document issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction, or territory. (Birth documents issued by a hospital, notifications of birth registration, and foreign birth certficates are not accepted.)

Secondary Proof of Identity:
Social Security Card (the name on the card must match the name in DMV records)

Proof of Legal Presence:
Official birth document issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction, or territory. (Birth documents issued by a hospital, notifications of birth registration, and foreign birth certficates are not accepted.)

Proof of Virginia Residency:
Payroll check stub issued by an employer within the last two months

Proof of Social Security:
Social security card

Voila A photo ID card with no documents that have a photo ID-

So why don't people do this? Because its a felony to lie to obtain documents-
And "because no one would risk a felony conviction to give a politician one more vote."

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by: demomatic @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 19:25:39 PM UTC

Budget item (0.00 / 0)

So, is there a budget item to even make this a possibility yet? Without it (in order to get people free picture IDs), then this is absolutely in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.

~Will Rogers

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by: Paba @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 22:21:10 PM UTC