Category: Politics

Friday update (02/15): Verifiable voting

Weekly update of my legislative agenda issue. Also in the House P&E subcommittee on Elections this morning were some verifiable voting bills. I'm told that SB69, which would have allowed absentee voting without any reason, failed. SB62, which deals with registration receipts, passed the subcommittee as well as the full committee but was referred to … Continue reading Friday update (02/15): Verifiable voting →

Voting: why not reprogram the machines?

A couple of letters to the editor today in the Virginian Pilot raise the issue of privacy in voting [1, 2]. I'll ask the same question I asked back in 2005: given that we have computerized voting machines, why can't they be programmed to allow the voter to choose whether they want a Republican or … Continue reading Voting: why not reprogram the machines? →

Redistricting bill dead

By a 3-2 voice vote this morning, the House P&E subcommittee on Elections killed SB38, the bipartisan redistricting bill that passed the Senate last week. An attempt by Del. Jim Scott to have the bill heard by the full P&E committee was shot down on a 10-8 vote, which I understand was also unrecorded. Too … Continue reading Redistricting bill dead →

Opinion, please: Republicans voting for Obama

I've been hearing about Republicans crossing over and voting in the Democratic primary for Obama. Since I didn't witness such behavior at my own precinct while I was there (and, in fact, my precinct captain called me later in the evening to say he hadn't seen any of the usual Republicans at our precinct), I … Continue reading Opinion, please: Republicans voting for Obama →

ALERT: House P&E subcommittee Friday 7AM!

The House P&E subcommittee on Elections meets Friday morning at 7am. On the schedule are a number of bills that I have been following, including bipartisan redistricting, verifiable voting, absentee ballots and recount procedures. These bills have already passed the Senate. It is critical that we contact the members of this committee and ask for … Continue reading ALERT: House P&E subcommittee Friday 7AM! →

Thursday update (02/14): Real estate tax relief

Weekly update of my legislative agenda issue. The Virginian Pilot editorial board took on the issue of the homestead exemption in a three-part series last weekend (1, 2, 3). Objections to this method of relief, which is not automatic and the localities will have to adopt, ring a bit hollow to me. Honestly, I don't … Continue reading Thursday update (02/14): Real estate tax relief →

Results Watch Parties

It's been a busy day for anyone who has been working on the campaigns. In just a few minutes, the polls will close. Join fellow Democrats around the state to watch the results roll in. Norfolk - The Norfolk City Democratic Committee invites all Democrats to come to The New Belmont to watch results. Virginia … Continue reading Results Watch Parties →

Payday lending bill passes

HB12, the revised bill I mentioned last week, passed this House this morning on a 91-7 vote. Kudos to the majority of Delegates who voted for this bill.