Monday, January 19, 2009
Early voting measure tabled in House subcommittee
RICHMOND -- A House of Delegates subcommittee voted this morning to table legislation that would expand early voting opportunities in Virginia, liking dooming initiatives advocated by Gov. Tim Kaine and Democratic lawmakers.
The six-member panel, part of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, voted down legislation (HB 1620) that would allow registered voters to cast ballots as much as 14 days before a November general election and another bill (HB 1894) that would enable voters to cast absentee ballots in person without providing an excuse. The bills were tabled on party-line votes of 4-2, with the Republican majority opposing the measures.
Similar measures remain alive in the Senate, but likely will face opposition in the same House subcommittee.
Kaine has advocated legislation that would allow in-person, no-excuse absentee voting. Existing state law requires voters to cite one of 17 excuses for casting an absentee ballot, including illness, disability or being out of town on the day of the election. Nancy Rodrigues, the secretary of the state Board of Elections, said the long list of criteria has created "an administrative nightmare" for registrars.
A separate early voting bill would open voting from 14 days before a general election until three days before the election at times and locations established by localities.Supporters said the measure could increase voter participation and reduce lines at polling places by providing more opportunities to cast ballots. Opponents raised concerns about logistical issues and costs that could be pushed onto cash-strapped local governments.
The subcommittee, which met at 7 a.m. in a small, overcrowded conference room, also voted to kill legislation that would create a bipartisan redistricting commission to help guide the once-a-decade process of drawing legislative district boundaries.
The six-member panel, part of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, voted down legislation (HB 1620) that would allow registered voters to cast ballots as much as 14 days before a November general election and another bill (HB 1894) that would enable voters to cast absentee ballots in person without providing an excuse. The bills were tabled on party-line votes of 4-2, with the Republican majority opposing the measures.
Similar measures remain alive in the Senate, but likely will face opposition in the same House subcommittee.
Kaine has advocated legislation that would allow in-person, no-excuse absentee voting. Existing state law requires voters to cite one of 17 excuses for casting an absentee ballot, including illness, disability or being out of town on the day of the election. Nancy Rodrigues, the secretary of the state Board of Elections, said the long list of criteria has created "an administrative nightmare" for registrars.
A separate early voting bill would open voting from 14 days before a general election until three days before the election at times and locations established by localities.Supporters said the measure could increase voter participation and reduce lines at polling places by providing more opportunities to cast ballots. Opponents raised concerns about logistical issues and costs that could be pushed onto cash-strapped local governments.
The subcommittee, which met at 7 a.m. in a small, overcrowded conference room, also voted to kill legislation that would create a bipartisan redistricting commission to help guide the once-a-decade process of drawing legislative district boundaries.
