The Democratic Party of Virginia Voter Protection Council commends the Virginia Department of Elections ("ELECT") for all of the excellent work it has done to promote free and fair elections in Virginia. We particularly thank ELECT for its efforts to simplify the voter registration process with its draft voter registration form and corresponding regulations . Virginians deserve a common sense registration process free of traps and barriers to the ballot. We believe that ELECT's new voter registration forms will help all voters across Virginia, regardless of party.

We would, however, like to make one recommendation to the draft registration form. Under the draft form, gender identification is not a material omission. We agree with this change, especially since the federal registration forms do not require voters to select a gender. Since the draft forms make gender identity optional, we believe that the form should be changed so that voters can write in their gender. The form should read Gender: ___________ rather than provide a box to check.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your draft registration form and related regulations.

Sincerely,
Matthew Weinstein and Georgina Cannan
Co-Chairs, Voter Protection Council, Democratic Party of Virginia