Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Elections
 
Board
State Board of Elections
 
chapter
Voter Registration [1 VAC 20 ‑ 40]
Chapter is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Action 2015 Voter Registration Application Regulation and Form Update
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 8/3/2015
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7/30/15  8:44 am
Commenter: William McCraw, frmr Chief Election Ofcr & frmr Electoral Brd mbr

Voter Registration
 

The Voter Registration form merely "asks" Are you a U.S. citizen? with a warning that to vote ineligibly is a felony. Who and How is this requirement enforced?! Voting is one enormous privilege as a U.S. citizen. This should be enforced when registering to vote by requiring the applicant to show I-9 documents proving they are a legal U.S. citizen, and eligible to register to vote ...like applying for a U.S. Passport, or proving eligibility for certain jobs. 

This would allow ALL legal and eligible voters to vote, and protect their vote by preventing anyone who is not a U.S. citizen and/or is not otherwise ineligible to vote from voting. To not even have the question of US citizenship on the form is one more step in the wrong direction of going soft and making it easier and easier for those who are not legal citizens or eligible to vote to register to vote, show an ID, and cast a fraudulent vote.                                      This issue is similar to the Photo ID requirement when going to the polls to cast your vote. A voter has a name/face/address - let's see an ID that matches so that 1 voter = 1 vote. Here, let's take it a step further so that that 1 voter's vote is a legitimate one and not a fraudulent one. To remove the question of US citizenship just opens the door further by not even asking or implying that you have to be legal and eligible in order to vote here.

 

 

 

CommentID: 40997