The Virginia Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections passed legislation Tuesday that would allow registered voters to cast absentee ballots in person without providing an excuse for not voting on Election Day. Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, the committee chair, joined six Democrats on the committee to advance Senate Bill 106, sponsored by Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg. The measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration. “In today’s society, many people are not able to get to their home polling location on Election Day and so the option to vote absentee is crucial to ensuring that we do not disenfranchise these voters,” Dance said in a statement.
“Currently, there are 19 statutory reasons to vote absentee, and over the last several years there have been bills proposed to add more excuses to that list,” she added. “The public is already confused about the absentee ballot application process, and I believe SB 106 simplifies the process.”
Senators also overwhelmingly endorsed legislation that would allow voters 65 or older to cast an absentee ballot without providing an excuse.
Full Article: Senate panel backs bills to ease absentee voting – Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia Politics.