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Democracy shouldn't be built on lies, even little white lies, but Virginia law forces some voters to fib so they can participate.
Lowering barriers seems a worthwhile goal in a nation where voter turnout is sometimes measured in the teens. But a handful of Virginia lawmakers is determined instead to perpetuate an ethical dilemma for thousands of constituents who just want to cast a ballot.
On Monday, in the early holiday hours, a group of Republican members of the House of Delegates dustbinned yet another effort to open early voting to any Virginian who wants to cast a ballot.
Under the current system, to qualify to vote absentee, voters must sign a form and give one of 17 reasons - including a business trip or a pregnancy - as to why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day.
The law's restrictions, originally designed to make absentee voting easier, now stands as an impediment to involvement. That's a truth most voters recognize even as their elected leaders cling to rules written in a time before traffic gridlock and two-income families.
The result of busy lives and outdated laws is that many Virginians who want to vote early for practical reasons must ignore the law and make up excuses, sometimes at the behest of folks charged with enforcing election law.
"I might miss my place in heaven because I have to tell a lie in order to vote," quipped Del. Rosalyn Dance, a Petersburg Democrat who sponsored bills this year to take the moral ambiguity out of early voting.
Dance's bills were blocked by a six-member House subcommittee that tabled the measures in a party-line vote. Republicans opposing the bill included Dels. John Cosgrove of Chesapeake and Chris Jones of Suffolk.
There is still time for those legislators to reconsider, but they showed no sign of reversal at Monday's meeting, a depressingly familiar rehash of past debates.
About 80 people managed to find the fifth floor committee room in time for the 7 a.m. meeting, which had been announced the previous Friday.
They crammed themselves into a space with a posted capacity of 49. Dozens stood shoulder to shoulder at the rear of the room, unable to hear the discussion. During the public comment period, a young woman apologetically began, "I'm just a voter," and asked that the bills be passed.
After the legislation had been tabled, she and the others trudged off.
If the process doesn't sound very democratic, it's not.
Most people who can't get to the polls on Election Day aren't going to drive to downtown Richmond at dawn to request a change in the law. They'll just continue to disobey the law until their elected leaders decide it's their job to promote democracy, not tie it in knots.
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2 ways to keep the big boys in the drivers seat
Early , shmearly. we should vote on the Sunday either before or after our current assigned day to vote. If you're sick a poll worker [more on that next] can come validate your ID and record your vote. If abroad a consulate or embassy or the armed forces can do the same, that same day. All other circumstances can be handled by the 2 institutions as needed.
In this last election I was denied the opportunity to serve on the Board of Elections because I'm not a member of either the Democratic or Republican parties. A Virginia law forces me to swear that I am a Republican or a Democrat in order to work at the polls. That is a denial of both my right to freedom of speech as well as freedom of assembly. 1st amendment:
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.
It abridges my voting rights as much as the poll tax since the outcome of an election is determined by the Board's count and integrity.
Lastly we would all be better off if we had parliamentary democracy with our Bill of Rights. We need a way to make sure that neither party feels so powerful that it rides over the people the way that Bush did. The Dems a
I am appalled that the Pilot
I am appalled that the Pilot would condone voter fraud as unavoidable. Virginia law says that an election will be held on a certain day, and that, except for voters in certain circumstances, there's no voting early. Voters are either in those circumstances or not; there's no "ethical dilemma" or "moral ambiguity." Voters are not "forced to fib" so they can vote, any more than ineligible drivers are "forced to fib" so they can get driver's licenses. According to the Pilot, "...many Virginians who want to vote early for practical reasons must ignore the law and make up excuses..." This is ridiculous. They WANT to vote early. Unfortunately, that's against the law. I'm sure we each have things we'd like to do, if only those pesky laws didn't get in the way.
Perhaps we should expand early voting, but we shouldn't do it to legitimize voter fraud.
Voter Fraud?
In an age where I can recieve unsolicited paperwork in the mail to register the minor children in the household as legal voters, and then be encouraged to absentee vote, it seems some skepticism and caution is in order.
The potential for abuse and fraud in early voting is there, and if/when such news breaks, what intellegent person is going to be surprised by it?
fAILURE OF GOVERNMENT
Ok-we experienced a larger than normal voter turn-out three months ago. Great!
Should those voters who deem this exercise of freedom worthwhile and continue to participate-hopefully intelligently-then those in Richmond and local governments need to set up more polling places.
Don't make absentee voting less restrictive, make polling more effective.
Nice opinion...
Except you didn't even bother to explain why one might be against the bill. Why even have an election day? Let's just vote anytime we feel like it? Let's set up polling stations with volunteers, for weeks so that those two income families and folks stuck in traffic can pick their day to cast a ballot. Oh, and 17 reasons is just too restrictive. I don't care one way or another, but just give us a little information other than voters may have to lie. Based on exit polls, I don't think voters have a problem lying!