Senate Republicans vote for strict mail-in absentee voting restrictions

Tuesday afternoon the Republican-controlled Senate Privileges and Elections Committee ok’d an extreme proposal to restrict some of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens from being able to participate in the democratic process on a party line vote. Delegate Jeffrey Campbell’s (R-Marion) bill HB 1318 requires that Virginians who apply for a mail-in absentee ballot include a photocopy of their photo ID with their application form.

Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) said, “The reason for having photo ID in the first place – whether you agree with it or not – is that when you go to the poll, you hand the poll worker your ID so that they can look you up to make sure that you are the person that is in the ID. When you’ve got someone who’s registering or doing their vote electronically, no one can see that voter. There is no one to compare the ID to and no use for the ID. Furthermore, there is no evidence at all that fraud has occurred anywhere in Virginia in recent history where anybody has voted fraudulently by absentee mail.”

Senator John Edwards (D-Roanoke) said, “Many elderly Virginians have given up their drivers’ licenses and they don’t have any photo ID. This is an unnecessary burden that makes no sense, the sole purpose of which is to restrict participation in the democratic process.”