Will voting facilities likely be swamped with people at 6 a.m.? (Arlington: lawyers, office)

[NoVA_Lurker]

I'm not into politics much and haven't voted in Virginia before. This thread made me question the requirements/process, so I looked at the state website.

Voting in Person

This website from the State Board of Elections indicates that there were some changes made earlier in 2012 and all voters in Virginia are now required to show a form of ID. However, it does not say a photo ID - voter registration cards, bank statement, utility bill, etc that show name and address appear to be acceptable.

Just adding information for anybody looking for the requirements.

[stpickrell]

Tysons, is the person asking you for photo ID one of the election officers or a vigilante from a group like True the Vote?

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

Tysons, is the person asking you for photo ID one of the election officers or a vigilante from a group like True the Vote?

This was in 2008 and sadly it was one of the election officers in the Herndon region (where I lived previously)

[FC Merrifield]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

I am not white, and neither is my brother. Both of us have been confronted in the past 2 elections about having to show proper ID, which by the way no photo ID is STILL needed which I needed to repeat loudly in 2008 to the crowd of people around me as the 55 year old man was questioning me for it.

I am not white, and neither is my sister. Neither of us have been confronted in the past 2 elections about having to show proper ID. Does this anecdote refute your anecdote or do anecdotes not really prove anything?

I actually did voluntarily show my ID just because I thought it would make the process go quicker. So did all those white people around me.

[spencgr]

You DO need to show ID in Virginia. It's the law.

Voting in Person

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by spencgr

You DO need to show ID in Virginia. It's the law.

Voting in Person

This year you have to show valid ID.

NOT PHOTO ID

Just valid ID.

In previous years you didnt at all.

[CAVA1990]

I think there used to be a provision that you didn't need ID if you were known to a poll worker but that's no longer the case. VA's ID requirement doesn't seem that onerous since a photo ID isn't required as it is now in some of the other states.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I think there used to be a provision that you didn't need ID if you were known to a poll worker but that's no longer the case. VA's ID requirement doesn't seem that onerous since a photo ID isn't required as it is now in some of the other states.

I am actually not opposed necessarily to Virginia's ID law. It allows you to use the voter registration card or utility bills as ID. That is reasonable. What is unreasonable is

1) Intimidation via rules that dont exist by poll officers (Photo ID)
2) Requiring photo IDs that cost money that not everyone has, and oh by the way 9 out of 10 of the people who dont have them are minorities who vote largely Democrat and the laws being imposed are by GOP governors.
3) Getting rid of early voting hours that again keep people who have to work on election day from being able to vote, or atleast making it much more difficult for them to do so.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

I am actually not opposed necessarily to Virginia's ID law. It allows you to use the voter registration card or utility bills as ID. That is reasonable. What is unreasonable is

1) Intimidation via rules that dont exist by poll officers (Photo ID)
2) Requiring photo IDs that cost money that not everyone has, and oh by the way 9 out of 10 of the people who dont have them are minorities who vote largely Democrat and the laws being imposed are by GOP governors.
3) Getting rid of early voting hours that again keep people who have to work on election day from being able to vote, or atleast making it much more difficult for them to do so.

Tell your state senator and delegate to support this bill:

Bill Tracking - 2013 session > Legislation

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Tell your state senator and delegate to support this bill:

Bill Tracking - 2013 session > Legislation

Mark Keam knows and is trying.