Va. House panel endorses tighter voter requirements

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The Associated Press
© February 3, 2012

RICHMOND

A bill tightening voter registration and in-person voting requirements has sailed through a House committee on the strength of a Republican majority.

By a 14-6 vote today, the Privileges and Elections Committee advances the latest GOP bill imposing a mandate to produce a government-issued photo identification at the polls.

But unlike other bills, all advanced mostly along party lines, this one requires new voters to supply photo IDs just to register.

Supporters say it brings accountability to voting by empowering local registrars to weed out non-citizens and others ineligible to vote and prevent fraud.

When pressed by Democrats to cite evidence of voter fraud, Republicans said there's no evidence because current law provides no way to catch fraudulent voters.

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Same argument, different result

Submitted by nadezhda on Fri, 02/03/2012 at 1:47 pm.

There is no evidence of voter fraud, but we need a law to prevent it.

There is no evidence of employment discrimination against gays, so we don't need a law to prevent it.

I am hearing a forked tongue.

What about those without driver's licenses?

Submitted by applestapler on Fri, 02/03/2012 at 1:20 pm.

Everyone has a birth certificate and a social security card, but neither of those have photos on them. Driver's licenses are the only government-issued photo card that could be used to vote, and now people without driver's licenses cannot vote.

Not accurate

Submitted by FOP1811 on Fri, 02/03/2012 at 1:32 pm.

"Driver's licenses are the only government-issued photo card" the Virginia DMV issued non driver license ID cards for many years. Have they stopped issuing them?

Sorry, driver's license or...

Submitted by applestapler on Fri, 02/03/2012 at 1:23 pm.

U.S. passport, I suppose. How many people that don't have a driver's license have a U.S passport, though? Do you think that people living below the poverty line could be severely affected by this new law? I doubt anyone who supports a family and only makes $11,000 a year has the extra cash to spend on a U.S. passport.

Is this a straw man or a boogey man?

Submitted by Not by Half on Fri, 02/03/2012 at 1:08 pm.

Honestly. Can I get a ruling o this particular flavor of nonsense?

"When pressed by Democrats to cite evidence of voter fraud, Republicans said there's no evidence because current law provides no way to catch fraudulent voters."

Conservatives in Richmond this year sure seem to have forgotten that they hate needless laws.