Senate Bill SB 1 looks out for the integrity of Virginia’s voting process by striving to ensure that anyone who votes is legally entitled to do so. Simple.
By requiring any one from a list of qualifying identifications at the polling place, it does just that. It allows the following forms of ID, quoted from the bill in its current form:
“…any one of the following forms of identification: his Commonwealth of Virginia voter registration card, his social security card, his valid Virginia driver’s license, or any other identification card issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth of Virginia; or any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer’s business; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck that shows the name and address of the voter.
Senator Donald McEachin, in a press release dated today, April 26, 2012, has requested Governor McDonnell veto this bill, which passed with bi-partisan support in the General Assembly because he says:
“Senate Bill 1 will systematically disenfranchise the poor, the elderly, the youth, and the disabled, and I call on Governor McDonnell to veto it right away,” said Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico). “The fact is that some of the most vulnerable members of our society will be disenfranchised by this bill, and Governor McDonnell should veto it.”
And, as if redundancy would make his argument stronger, in the next paragraph he quotes Senator Edwards:
“This voter ID bill has the effect of undercounting the ballots certain constituencies [sic] — the young, the poor, the disabled, and minorities. Over the past decades, we have been building a more inclusive society in Virginia. Governor McDonnell should stand against this attempt to turn back the clock and veto this bill,” said Senator John Edwards (D-Roanoke City).
Who they both leave out are the qualified voters, of both parties, who are always disenfranchised when someone not qualified to vote does so anyway. It happens folks. There’s no way to tell how often, but if it can happen, it will happen. Once is too many.
The ID requirements a very simple, if you don’t have a qualifying picture ID, there are several other alternatives available. Let’s list them.
1) Voter Registration Card. That’s obvious.
2) Social Security Card. OK, we all got one of those right?
3) Valid Virginia Driver’s license. Or if you don’t have that,
4) Any other identification card issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States. That’s pretty inclusive if you ask me, but there’s more.
5) Any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. But wait, there’s more.
6) Any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer’s business. And then there’s my favorite.
7) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck that shows the name and address of the voter.
If you don’t have, or can’t get at least one of these, maybe, just maybe you are not really qualified to vote. I don’t see any that discriminate. So just pick one.
I had a favorite uncle, shuffled off this mortal coil 3 years and a few weeks ago, who I loved to have conversations with. One of the few Democrats in my family, we shared a love for words and phrases and I loved him so. When confronted with wisdom like this he would often shake his head and say, “That boy is educated way beyond his intelligence.” So thank you Sen. McEachin, for bringing Dan’s memory to mind for me today.
