Fishwick statement on early voting

I missed posting this last week (was a wee bit busy) but John Fishwick, Democratic candidate for AG, issued a statement last week on early voting that got some press coverage.  The statement is below the fold. (Note to whoever is doing Fishwick’s website: the copy on your site is badly formatted.)

PRESS STATEMENT
Early Voting for Virginia

Virginia needs to change its laws and offer early voting for its citizens in all statewide elections.  Many states offer their residents early voting with the added benefit of “no excuse” voting, meaning that you can vote early for any reason at all.  Virginia is one of the states which does not allow for early voting other than that which is available through an absentee ballot.  This needs to change so that people don’t have to make excuses to vote early.

Current Law

Currently in Virginia a voter who desires to vote by Absentee Ballot must first complete  an Absentee Ballot application.  This application must be completed under threat of felony if the individual is found guilty of providing false information.  This application provides only a few “qualifying” reasons why a person is eligible to vote by absentee ballot, such as active military duty, a religious obligation, out of town travel, disability, illness or pregnancy, serving as an election official, and working for at least eleven of the thirteen hours during which the polls are open.  Significantly, the Absentee Ballot application fails to provide for what other states have recognized as an acceptable reason to vote absentee, which is the “just because I want to” reason.  Virginia needs to adopt this “no excuse” voting, in order to help alleviate long lines at the polls on election day, to make voting more accessible for voters, and to increase voter participation.

Proposed Law

I have looked at what other states are doing and it is obvious that the residents of Virginia would be well served by following their lead.  New state laws in Virginia should provide:
A.  Early voting for every national and state election;
B.  Early voting by the use of voting machines;
C.  A permanent polling place for early voting, such as the registrar’s office, for every voter in that locality available from between 20 and 5 days prior to any scheduled election; and
D.  In counties and cities with larger populations, at least one additional temporary polling place for early voting, such as the public library or community center, for every voter in that locality available prior to any scheduled election.

Every eligible voter in Virginia has the right to vote.  Election reform such as early voting without the necessity of an excuse makes voting more accessible and more convenient to the citizens of Virginia.