Bolling casts tie-breaking vote on voter ID bill

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cast the tie-breaking vote on Monday in support of a floor amendment to SB719 regarding voter identification requirements.

The purpose of the legislation is to tighten voter ID requirements by removing utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, etc. from the list of acceptable forms of ID that can be provided at the polls. Bolling’s vote was to advance a floor amendment offered by State Sen. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) to delay the effective date of these proposed changes to 2014 and to condition the implementation of the changes on the appropriation of funds to make voters aware of the changes.

“Let me be clear, I support the purpose of SB719. I think it is a reasonable effort to tighten voter identification requirements and assure greater integrity in the voting process,” Bolling said. “However, we just changed Virginia’s voter ID requirements in 2012, and we cannot change these requirements every year. I am concerned that this would create unnecessary confusion among voters about what forms of ID are required at the polls.

“As such, I have been clear throughout this year’s legislative session that I do not believe that any additional changes to our voter ID requirements should be made this year. I felt that the floor amendment had the practical effect of accomplishing this goal. I will support final passage of SB719 with the amendment in place.”