Voters should choose our leaders instead of politicians choosing voters

September 25, 2012

The Roanoke Times editorializes, "If you're a registered voter and are planning to vote in the Nov. 6 presidential, congressional and other elections, keep your eye out for an official-looking envelope from the State Board of Elections in your mailbox. New voter identification cards have started to arrive... And when you get your new voter ID, open it right away and check that your name and address are correct. If you need to change either, you can fill out a form on the back of the ID and return it to your local registrar's office -- but quickly. Oct. 15 is the deadline to update your registration by mail, fax or carrying it in. Or to register for the first time, for that matter."

Progressive Point: America was founded on the principle that we're all created equal. Voting is the one thing that brings us all together as Americans. From its founding principles to the Voting Rights Amendments, our Constitution guarantees our right to vote--whether man or woman, young or old, rich or poor.

But conservative politicians in the Commonwealth have been manipulating our election laws to make it harder for working Virginians, seniors and veterans to vote. Now voters are required to show specific types of ID that politicians know many people don't have and didn't need before. Across the country, politicians are removing options for working parents to vote early or on weekends, and taking away opportunities from new voters, seniors, and veterans to get help with their voter registration paperwork. This is America--voters should choose our leaders instead of politicians choosing voters.

Get the Facts:

• The absolute deadline to have you and your families' voter registration up to date in Virginia is 5pm on Monday, October 15. This includes an October 15 postmark. (Roanoke Times, September 25, 2012) 


• Tea Party-affiliated groups are recruiting 1 million volunteers to bully in targeted communities on and before Election Day. (Common Cause, September 10, 2012)


• 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)

Forward to a Friend via email

Share on Facebook

Tweet it: Voters should choose our leaders instead of politicians choosing voters http://bit.ly/Rf5lPV via @ProgressVA