Va. Elections Board Backs Strict Voter ID Law

The Virginia State Board of Elections voted 2-0 Wednesday in favor of a new policy that prohibits voters from using any form of photo identification that expired more than 12 months before Election Day. The Republican-led board voted with the Democrat absent, The Washington Post reports.

Valid forms of ID are now restricted to the following:

•A Virginia driver’s license or DMV ID card

•Any ID issued by the U.S. Government, Virginia Government or any Virginia local government, provided it contains a photograph. Examples include passports, military IDs, naturalization certificates, or senior IDs issued by the Sheriff’s Office

•A Valid United States PassportAn employer photo ID with photograph

•A student ID card, with photograph, from any Virginia college or university

•A free Virginia Voter Photo ID Card obtained through any local general registrar’s office

The vote reversed a decision in June that allowed expired but otherwise valid forms of voter identification under a new voter ID law passed June 1, the Washington Post reports.

Virginia is one of eight states that require voters to present a photo ID. 31 states require voters to show some form of identification.

On Feb. 20, 2013, the Virginia House of Representatives passed a strict photo ID bill that required all voters to present a form of photo identification. Those without photo ID are required to cast a provisional ballot, though the ballot will not be counted unless they obtain proper identification by 12 p.m. the Friday following the election.

According to Tram Nguyen, co-director of Virginia New Majority, about 300,000 Virginia voters do not have DMV-issued driver’s licenses or other forms of identification.

The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University reports that more than 3.2 million Americans do not possess any form of government-issued photo ID. Obtaining a photo ID is especially difficult for the elderly, minorities, the poor and young adults aged 18 to 24 due to reliance on public transportation or the inability to pay for a driver’s license, the Center reports.

Voters can obtain a free photo ID from any local registrar’s office, according to voting rights advocates. Voters can also visitwww.GotIDVirginia.org or call the election protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Image: Patch File Photo