Virginia House Rejects Election Reforms
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(Tuesday) March 2, 2010
Today, the Virginia House of Delegates rejected reforms to simplify absentee voting and create fair representative districts. The decision was made in a 7:00 a.m. Elections subcommittee meeting. State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) sponsored legislation that would have created a seven-member bipartisan commission to redraw districts for the Virginia House, Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives following the 2010 census.
State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) sponsored a bill that would have allowed qualified voters to cast an absentee ballot in-person without providing an excuse or reason for why they can not vote on Election Day. Both bills passed the Senate but were defeated on an unrecorded voice vote in the House subcommittee and will not be heard by the full committee.
Virginia law states that politicians are empowered to draw their own districts every ten years following a census. The process has resulted in majority parties drawing districts that protect incumbents and discourage competition. Deeds’ redistricting bill would have created the Bipartisan Redistricting Commission, meant to create more fair and competitive districts. The bill passed the Senate.
“Redistricting ought to produce competitive, contiguous districts that keep communities of interest together. Right now elected officials choose their constituents and that is patently unfair.” said Deeds. “I regret that the House failed to see the wisdom of the measure.”
If Howell’s bill had become law, Virginia would have joined 32 other states that allow no excuse in person absentee voting. Virginia voters are currently required to meet one of a series of excuses in order to vote absentee in person or by mail. SB83 would have removed the requirement of an excuse for those wishing to vote absentee in person. Individuals wishing to vote absentee by mail would still be required to meet one of the statutory excuses. In the 2008 presidential election, over 323,000 Virginians voted absentee in person. Senator Howell’s bill passed the Senate 29-10.
“It’s unfortunate the House refuses to make it more convenient for citizens who want to vote,” said Howell. “This would have simplified the process and eliminated unnecessary hoops for people who want to exercise their rights.”
The House Elections sub-committee also rejected a bill from State Sen. John Miller (D-Newport News) that would have allowed any qualified voter 65 or older to vote by absentee. Despite passing in the Senate 34-6, it was rejected in the House on a voice vote last week.