Today, a photo voter I.D. law went into effect here in Virginia. (More information on the new law from the VA Department of Elections can be found here.)
Here’s a summation of the new provision from WDBJ2:
The new ID will be available in July for voters who do not have other acceptable forms of identification.
Other acceptable forms of photo ID include a Virginia driver’s license, a U.S. passport or any other photo ID issued by the United States, Virginia or one of its political subdivisions, a student ID issued by any institute of higher learning
in Virginia or any employee identification card.
The new IDs will be for voter identification only and cannot be used for anything else.
Poll taxes are unconstitutional, so states with voter ID laws have to provide photo identification to voters for free.
Under the new law, documents that do not contain a photograph of the voter are no longer acceptable forms of identification when a person is voting in person.
The new law allows voters without photo ID to cast a provisional ballot but they must present identification to their local electoral board within four days following the election for their vote to be counted.
This is a good step in the right direction for our state. Protecting the integrity of voters is crucial to vibrant and transparent elections. If you need an I.D. to board a plane, purchase alcohol, purchase firearms, check into hotels, set up bank accounts, et al., you shouldn’t be bothered with presenting an identification card at the polls.
Sic semper tyrannis!
