Forgot to bring an ID card on Election Day? Starting July 1, Virginia voters will have to go home and get it.
Gov. Bob McDonnell signed identical bills Friday afternoon to toughen the procedure for voters who don’t bring a valid form of identification to the polls. Under the new law, voters will have to fill out a provisional ballot and come back to the polling place with the ID or send it in via fax or email before their vote is counted.
McDonnell also issued an executive order to give every Virginia eligible voter a voter card at a price tag of $1.3 million.
Previously, voters could sign an affidavit swearing under penalty of perjury that they are who they claim to be. Democrats said the changes were an attempt to suppress votes.
McDonnell previously attempted to soften the bill by allowing the voter to sign a provisional ballot and, once election officials confirmed it matched the signature on file, the vote would be counted.
But lawmakers rejected that amendment last month, with Republicans claiming it weakened electoral protections and Democrats saying it added to the work load poll workers. McDonnell called the original bill “unreasonable” and considered vetoing it.
Instead, McDonnell signed the bill and issued an executive order instructing the State Board of Elections to issue voter cards to all state voters for use at the polls. Election workers can also contact voters who cast provisional ballots to remind them to send in a copy of their ID card.
“While I think the legislation would have been improved with the signature comparison provision that would have virtually eliminated the need for nearly anyone to have to return with an ID later in the week, the legislation returned to me, coupled with the above additional steps to be implemented by executive order, is an important step in securing our elections and preventing any possible fraud,” McDonnell said.
