Could action this week in the General Assembly have an impact on the presidential election in November? Virginia Democrats think so, and Tuesday morning they rallied in Richmond against a bill they say will make it more difficult for many Virginians to vote.
Show up at the polls on Election Day without an acceptable form of identification, and current law requires you to sign an affidavit declaring you're a qualified voter. Then you would cast a regular ballot. The proposed legislation would require you to use a provisional ballot that wouldn't be counted until your status has been confirmed. Supporters say it's designed to protect against voter fraud.
Leaders of Roanoke's civil rights organizations disagree and say it's no coincidence the bill is coming up in advance of the presidential election.
Brenda Hale is President of the Roanoke Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Provisional ballots are not ballots that are counted on the day of election," Hale told News7, "and we know that the average citizen that has to use a provisional ballot may not come back to prove and document that they had a right to come to the ballot box, so we do not support that."
Bishop Edward Mitchell is President of the Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. "And it's critical that we be able to go and vote without having any trouble when we get to the polls," Mitchell said.
House Bill 9 is expected to win final approval from the House of Delegates on Wednesday.
