AG Ken Cuccinelli: US DOJ clears new Virginia voter ID law

From Cuccinelli email ^

[Gopher Broke]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brian Gottstein, Director of Communication

bgottstein@oag.state.va.us (best contact method)

804-786-5874

U.S. Department of Justice clears new Virginia voter ID law - Statement of Attorney General Cuccinelli

RICHMOND (August 21, 2012)- Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice granted preclearance (had no objection) to Virginia's new voter identification law. The new law will not only introduce additional forms of acceptable identification when voting, but also will change the procedure for those who vote and do not present identification. The law requires those people to vote provisionally and later present approved ID (current utility bill, bank statement, etc.) to their local registrar through email, fax, mail, or hand delivery to have their votes counted.

Virginia is one of 16 states under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 required to pre-clear (get federal approval for) changes in voting practices or procedures with the Justice Department.

During his tenure as attorney general, Cuccinelli has successfully precleared with the U.S. Department of Justice each change in election law and procedures, including the redistricting plans for Virginia's Congressional and General Assembly seats, and now the new change in Virginia's voter identification law.

"Securing our elections and protecting against voter fraud are critical components in preserving our representative democracy and the election process as a whole," said Cuccinelli. "I am pleased that the Department of Justice has once again precleared a change in election law that will help to defend the integrity of Virginia's democratic process and allow all voters to feel secure that their votes count and are not diluted by others committing fraud."

[ScottinVA]

Glad to hear it. Any weeding out of fraudulent “voting” has MY vote!

[103198]

Go Cooch!

But then again, the Commonwealth needs to get exemption from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in its entirety.

[GregoTX]

"The law requires those people to vote provisionally and later present approved ID (current utility bill, bank statement, etc.)..."

It is a step in the right direction, no doubt. It seems there are some weak points the frauds and cheaters can still exploit.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

“”The law requires those people to vote provisionally and later present approved ID (current utility bill, bank statement, etc.) to their local registrar through email, fax, mail, or hand delivery to have their votes counted.””

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An interesting statistic would be number of provisional ballots where the person DOES NOT later present approved ID.

If I were in charge of the voter rolls, those would be the first names I would check to see if they are valid citizens of the USA and residents in the precinct.

[PapaBear3625]

The law does not adequately deal with people who may try to vote from more than one residence (students, snow birds, etc)

[Linda Frances]

Obama knows he is going to lose, and will set up this election with pre-chosen victims who did not get to vote because the voter ID plan did not work. They will try to hold on to power, even if it means civil war. These people do not know how to act justly. They only know how to manipulate and corrupt our country.

[Real Cynic No More]

Glad to hear it. Any weeding out of fraudulent “voting” has MY vote!

So, how does a utility bill or bank statement prove a person is a citizen? It may prove residency, but citizenship is neither proven nor disproven.

[kabar]

This is a watered down bill and McDonnell had to be forced to sign it. This is far from the kind of bill many of us were pushing down in Richmond. The Reps had no stomach for pushing a photo ID real voter bill.

[kabar]

This bill doesn't prevent voter fraud to any great degree. The big change is that no longer will people be able to have their provisional ballots put in to the vote tally immediately. In the past, people could get provisional ballots and have them counted. Then after the fact, the provisional ballots would reviewed. By that time, the vote had been cast.

Most of the voter fraud occurs during early voting and absentee ballots.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

“”Most of the voter fraud occurs during early voting and absentee ballots.””

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If I were in charge of the voter rolls, I would closely check the absentee voters to verify they are legal.

[ridesthemiles]

IF a person is voting on electronic machines——

How do those PROVISIONAL votes get separated from the correctly ID’s voters???

I need more info as to how this will be handled.

I see provisional votes being co-mingled with proper voters actions.

[Gopher Broke]

Provisional Ballots are usually paper ballots, not machine ballots. The members of the election board votes on whether to allow each BEFORE they open them to see what vote is cast.