Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a pair of bills designating Election Day a holiday and expanding the commonwealth’s early voting programs.
“Voting is a fundamental right, and these new laws strengthen our democracy by making it easier to cast a ballot, not harder,” Northam said in a statement. “No matter who you are or where you live in Virginia, your voice deserves to be heard. I’m proud to sign these bills into law.”
One of the measures Northam signed scraps the state’s requirement that voters show a photo ID prior to casting a ballot.
“Voter ID laws disenfranchise individuals who may not have access to photo identification and disproportionately impact low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities,” Northam said.
Northam also signed into law measures that expand absentee voting timelines to “ensure access to the polls.”
In two-thirds of the states, any qualified voter may vote absentee without offering an excuse, and in one-third of the states, an excuse is required, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“Virginia’s photo ID law was designed to make it more difficult to vote,” said Del. Joe Lindsey, a Democrat. “It is past time we repealed this law, and I’m grateful to the governor for helping us get it done.”
