House Dems Celebrate National Voter Registration Day Amid GOP Attempts to Suppress Vote

“Voting is a fundamental right, and our representatives should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder,” said House Democratic Leader David J. Toscano and Caucus Chair Charniele Herring. “House Republicans this year killed eleven Democratic bills that would have made it more convenient for Virginians – including students, seniors, and people with disabilities – to exercise this right. Meanwhile, they passed legislation – vetoed by Governor McAuliffe – that would have made it harder for people to vote. Creating barriers to voting depresses turn-out and results in a democracy that is less representative of the people it was intended to serve. On this National Voter Registration Day, we re-commit ourselves to the fight to ensure that the voice of every eligible Virginian who desires to cast a ballot can and will be heard.”

In addition to passing Delegate Buddy Fowler’s legislation that would have required people requesting absentee ballots by mail to submit photo ID, House Republicans this year killed the following Democratic bills:

1. A bill sponsored by Del. Cliff Hayes that would allow seniors 65 and older to vote absentee
2. A bill sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek that would allow seniors 65 and older to vote absentee
3. A bill sponsored by Del. Rip Sullivan that would create early, no-excuse voting in Virginia
4. A bill sponsored by Del. Betsy Carr t­hat would create no-excuse absentee in-person voting available 21 days before an election
5. A bill sponsored by Del. Cliff Hayes that would create in-person no-excuse absentee voting
6. A bill sponsored by Del. Betsy Carr that would make it easier for residents of assisted living facilities to vote
7. A bill sponsored by Del. Rip Sullivan that would make it easier for caregivers to vote
8. A bill sponsored by Del. Vivian Watts that would make it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to vote
9. A bill sponsored by Del. Mark Sickles that would make it easier for child caregivers and people without a means of transportation to vote
10. A bill sponsored by Del. Rip Sullivan that would make it easier for Virginia college students to vote
11. A bill sponsored by Del. Steve Heretick that would repeal the photo ID requirement