There's more tinkering going on with Virginia’s voting registration process. This will lead to more arguments about what the change will mean for the sanctity of casting a ballot in the commonwealth.

What the state board of elections is considering doesn’t seem like big deal, but some voter registrars and elected officials see no need to change it.On the current registration form are questions with “yes” or “no” boxes to check. One asks if the person is a U.S. citizen and whether the applicant is 18 years old—two requirements to vote.

Another question asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony and, if so, whether voting rights were restored. In addition, it asks if the applicant has been judged mentally incapacitated and, if so, whether a court restored the capacity. Applicants are also asked if they are registered to vote in another state.

Under the current rules, anyone who fails to check any of those boxes has the application rejected, although registrars often contact the applicant to let them know the consequences of the omission and send them a new form.

The proposed new form will still ask those questions and adds an asterisk by each one saying it must be answered or the application will be denied.

However, there is a change in the affirmation section where the applicant signs his or her name. The new form says that the applicant affirms being a U.S. citizen, and is not prohibited from voting because of a felony or incapacity. In essence, it gives the applicant another chance if a box goes unchecked.

Under the proposed rules, if an applicant signs the affirmation but leaves the question boxes blank, the application would not necessarily be disqualified.

The registration changes are part of several modifications proposed to the form by the Department of Elections, the administrative arm of the state board of elections. The proposal to change that produced some strong opposition at a meeting last week at the board of elections.

“I think what we have here is a solution in search of a problem,” said Sen. Thomas A. Garrett Jr., a Republican who represents part of Louisa County. “I don’t think, nor have I heard, that we have an epidemic of individuals who are befuddled by the prospect of checking a block yes or no as to whether they are a felon not restored, mentally incompetent or a citizen.”

Some registrars believe that applicants don’t actually read everything in the affirmation section and maybe signing when, in fact, they could be an ineligible voter.

Greg Riddlemoser, the registrar in Stafford County, urged the board not to make the changes. He pointed out that the Virginia constitution and the Code of Virginia requires that the yes/no eligibility questions be asked and answered.

He said there are other practical reasons as well. Changing the layout of the form means retraining those who must deal with it regularly and that means retraining the staffs throughout Virginia. Processing a modified form changes business practices at registrars’ offices.

Alterations to the forms should take place only when the General Assembly makes changes in the law that require changes in the form, Riddlemoser said.

In addition, registration forms are distributed by other state and local agencies—such as DMV and social services—as well as nongovernment advocacy groups, such as the National Rifle Association and League of Women Voters.

Clearly, theses changes are not going to encourage voter fraud, which some allege. But the modifications being proposed also aren’t likely to improve the quality of the voting process either and could actually create more confusion.

Considering all this, the change doesn’t seem needed and should be turned down.