Monday, July 9, will kick off of a new voter education drive, “Take a Friend to the DMV.” This campaign in voter ID states is meant to educate potential voters about the documents necessary to vote after the passage of restrictive laws designed to limit voter turnout, especially among Democratic demographic groups.
In Virginia, Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond is participating in the drive. There, a DMV mobile customer service center will be onsite at the church to provide photo ID’s.
The restrictive, unnecessary law passed in Virginia this year is less draconian than in some other states. The law Bob McDonnell signed allows a voter to present one of a number of identifications, including 1. a voter registration card; 2.social security card; 3. Virginia driver’s license; 4. any identification card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency; 5. a student identification card issued by a 4-year college; 6. an employee ID card with a photo; 7. a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck with one’s name and address. McDonnell also directed the State Board of Elections to send a new voter card to all registered voters.
Confusion about the law is rampant because of the way the corporate media has “reported” the law, leading many people to believe that a photo ID is the only thing accepted. It’s incumbent on all of us to educate people about what the law does and does not require.
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