VA Passes Voting Reforms

Virginia State Lawmakers, on Feb. 26th, Approved a Package of Bills to make it Easier to Register and Vote in a State that will likely play a Crucial Role in deciding the Outcome of November's Election.

The Legislation changes Election Day to a State Holiday, Allows for "No-Excuse" Absentee Voting, establishes Automatic Voter Registration (AVR), and Repeals a Requirement that Voters Show Photo Identification at the Polls. This would make Virginia the First State to Repeal such a Law.

Passing Legislation to make it Easier to Vote Fulfills the Legislative Promises of Democratic Lawmakers who Won Control of the General Assembly last year and now Control Both the Statehouse and Governor's Mansion for the First time since 1993.

The Four Bills are expected to be Signed by Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who has expressed Support for Legislation aimed at Expanding Access to the Ballot Box. "We are one step closer to a more representative and inclusive Virginia," Northam said Tuesday in a Statement.

Democrats have Won the last Three Elections, with Hillary Clinton edging Donald Trump by about 6 Percentage Points in 2016.

One Elections-Related Bill that Failed to Advance Tuesday was a Proposal for Virginia to join, 15 other States and D.C., that have Signed on to the National Popular Vote Compact, an Agreement whereby a Participating State Agrees to Award All its Electoral Votes to the Winner of the Nationwide Popular Vote. The Compact goes in effect Only after States that hold a Majority (270) of Electoral Votes have Joined. Currently, the Compact has 196 Electoral Votes. The Proposal Passed the State House Two weeks ago but Failed to Advance Tuesday out of a Senate Committee, which Voted to Reconsider the idea in 2021.

On April 28, the Supreme Court is expected to Hear Two State Arguments in Cases to Resolve the Question of whether States can Legally Bind their Presidential Electors to Vote for a Particular Candidate. Should the Court decide that Electors are Free to Cast a Vote for whomever they Choose, the Ruling would essentially Undermine the Legitimacy of the Compact since States would have No Authority to Enforce it or any Candidate the Voters Picked in the Presidential Election.

On February 27th, the Virginia Legislature Passed HB 1103, which lets Localities use Ranked-Choice Voting for their Own Officers if they wish.










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