A fair, free, and accessible democracy

August 30, 2012

WAMU reports, "Voters in Virginia have about six weeks left to update their registration if they have moved, because those who have moved and failed to update their registration risk being turned away from the polls. It happens after every federal election: thousands of voters are purged from the rolls because they are inactive voters."

Progressive Point: America was founded on the principle that we're all created equal and voting is the one thing that brings us all together and makes us equal as Americans. It is our duty to vote, but in Virginia and many other states across the country, conservative politicians are passing new voting laws designed to manipulate elections by restricting access for voters who might not vote for them.

Our voting system should be free, fair, and equally accessible to everyone--no matter what you look like or how much money you make. But if folks like Mitt Romney and Ken Cuccinelli can't count on your vote, they'd rather you not be counted at all. They're rewriting our laws to make it harder for minorities, seniors and students to vote. We're Americans--it's our responsibility as citizens to participate in our great democracy, even if some politicians are manipulating our voting laws to stop us.

Get the Facts:

• Virginia voters who have recently moved have until October 15th to update their registration to ensure their ability to vote in this year's election. (WAMU, August 29, 2012)


• The new voter ID law passed in Virginia forces voters who do not bring one of the approved forms of ID to the poll to cast a provisional ballot that will only be counted if they report to their election office with an approved ID within three days of the election. (Virginian-Pilot, July 30, 2012)


• Implementing these voting restrictions will cost Virginia between $522,000 and $1.26 million. (Washington Times, March 15, 2012)


• Proponents of the new Virginia legislation making it harder to vote say it's necessary to solve the problem of voter fraud, but even the bill's sponsor admits that voter fraud is not a problem and could not name an instance of it occurring. (YouTube)


• Currently in Virginia, "ex-felons must apply to the governor to have their voting rights restored after a waiting period." One of Virginia New Majority's goals is to have them restored automatically. Additionally, they are working to allow "no-fault" absentee voting which allows voters to vote absentee without needing an excuse as it is currently. (Washington Post, August 14, 2012)

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