Advocates say proposed changes to Virginia’s voter registration form will help prevent voter disenfranchisement and simplify the process. But they’re not getting a warm reception from a number of state lawmakers and especially registrars. With less than a month away before the State Board of Elections meets again, some are asking that the Board scrap the revisions and start anew.
Under the proposals, registrants could forgo questions asking if they're mentally incapacitated, a felon, or a U.S. citizen. They could instead sign an affirmation that they are eligible to vote. Chesterfield County Registrar Larry Haake says this opens up a host of integrity problems. He says the affirmation doesn't work if a person misinterprets the questions or simply doesn’t read through them.
“So, their premise that the statement is sufficient is wrong.”
He says registrars are obligated to determine voting eligibility.
“If they indicate that they have been convicted of a felony or are mentally incapacitated, and have had their rights restored, then I have a duty to determine the circumstances surrounding the restoration of those rights.”
And Haake stresses the implications.
“If they don’t answer that box and sign that statement and they are a felon, then we have a deliberate act of omission that could be read as an intent to cover up the fact.”
Haake believes these changes could significantly bog down the elections process right before presidential balloting. He says if it truly wants the form to be easier, the Board should remove the check box and require applicants to fill in a bubble to make it more consistent with the voting process.
GOP lawmakers who are skeptical of the proposed revisions released public comment figures which suggest that nearly 90% of respondents also oppose the changes.
