I am opposed to the proposed changes to the Voter Registration Form and the revised regulation that supposedly interprets this form.  The proposed changes are in direct violation of the Code of Virginia Section  24.2-418 and Article II, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution (Qualifications of Voters) and Article II, Section 2 (Registration of Voters).

In addition, the requiements to completely fill out a short one page registration form and then separately attest to its validity is a small price to pay to reduce the chances for voter fraud within our Commonwealth. None of the current information on the registration form is a burden to the applicant.  In my opinion, nothing on the form should be considered a "non-material omission", but to consider citizenship, felony conviction status and competency as non-material is inviting fraud and non eligible persons to vote.  Similarly, full name and gender must be completed, especially with the increase in population within the Commonwealth, many with names that have been uncommon until recent years and are not able to be recognized on a gender basis by the average election offiical.

These changes appear to be a solution in search of a problem that does not exist. Virginians have been known in the past as holding themselves to a higher standard than other states.  Please do not make these changes in the regulations regarding voter registration and the Voter Registration Form.

Richard C. Worssam

City of Richmond, Assistant Chief, Election Official