RICHMOND -- Attorney General Bob McDonnell proposed a series of election reforms Tuesday aimed at reducing lines at the polls, improving absentee voting and increasing the accuracy of vote counts.

McDonnell, the likely Republican nominee for governor, also called for measures that would clarify voter residency guidelines and allow voters to wear campaign T-shirts, buttons and stickers in the polling place. The reforms, which will be considered during the upcoming General Assembly session, were proposed in response to issues that surfaced in Virginia during the recent presidential and congressional contests.

In a conference call with reporters, McDonnell gave the state board of elections high marks for how it handled the heavy turnout for the Nov. 4 election. But, he said, "With every election we learn a little bit more about things that we could do better to serve the voters, to reduce waits, to solve problems."

McDonnell's proposals include reducing the number of registered voters needed to create a polling precinct, a move that would create more polling places and reduce the likelihood of lengthy lines. Some organizations accused the state before the election of lacking sufficient voting equipment in precincts where heavy turnout was anticipated.

McDonnell's proposal would reduce the minimum voter threshold for a precinct from 5,000 to 3,500. He predicted the cost would be minimal.

"We don't have it fully costed out yet, but we fully understand right now that there's really no money for new programs in Virginia," McDonnell said.

Other proposals in McDonnell's package include:

n Ensuring that registrars get absentee ballots to voters in a more timely way, particularly military members serving overseas. Some service members received absentee ballots too late to return them in time for this year's election, resulting in a lawsuit.

n Amending state law so that voters can wear campaign T-shirts and stickers to their polling place without penalty. The state board of elections ruled before the election that such paraphernalia could not be displayed, and the American Civil Liberties Union has sued to overturn the ban. McDonnell said his proposal would not affect the prohibition on electioneering at the polling place.

n Establishing uniform guidelines for determining a voter's residence. Registrars have interpreted the requirements differently, particularly in college towns where students have registered using their college addresses.

n McDonnell also called for legislation requiring the appointment of a "closing official" responsible for overseeing the tabulation of votes. McDonnell said election officials who work for 13 hours at the polls are prone to make errors during the post-election canvassing process.

Under his proposal, a separate election official would arrive an hour before the polls close to oversee all aspects of closing the precinct and reporting the results.