Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 11, 1994 TAG: 9410260010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: VIRGINIA DESIMONE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A "motor voter" system will allow citizens to apply to register to vote when they apply for, renew or change the address on their driver's licenses. This makes good sense for all of us. It certainly should facilitate voting for those 18 to 24 who currently have the lowest percentage involvement in the political process of any age group in the country.
Are you moving between elections? In our highly mobile society, forgetting to change an address in time could prevent you from voting in an election you very much want to be part of. Almost everyone remembers to change the address on their driver's license, though, and under motor voter this change could also serve to change your voting address.
Those who do not have a driver's license will be able to use new mail-in registration applications, which will be widely available through a variety of locations, including many state and local government agencies. Have you or someone you know failed to register because age or a disability made it difficult to access current registration sites? Nationally, only 25 percent of our citizens with disabilities are now registered to vote.
These changes will make it more convenient to make your voice heard on Election Day. It all sounds so logical, we marvel that we haven't been doing it this way all along.
The National Voter Registration Act was passed by Congress in 1993. It requires states to provide for voter registration by mail for all federal elections. To allow persons who have registered by mail the right to vote in state and local elections, Virginia must change its Constitution, which currently requires voter registration in person. The alternative would be to maintain two separate voter-registration lists. That would be expensive and would create great Election Day confusion among voters.
Motor-voter registration will contain safeguards against fraud. The portion of the driver's-license application for voter registration, as well as the new mail-in forms, will list the same eligibility requirements for voting in Virginia that are in effect now, including citizenship, residence and age. Those who wish to register to vote will be asked to sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, attesting that they qualify to vote under the law. Registrars will continue to verify and process the application forms as they do now.
Will it cost more? Virginia must bear the cost of switching to the new system. But this will have to be done anyway for federal elections. Over the long term, registration costs should be reduced with a mail-in system.
A negative vote on the amendment to extend the motor-voter system to state and local elections would mean that election officials will have to keep separate lists and set up separate ballots for persons eligible to vote only for federal offices. This would mean extra costs for Virginia taxpayers, and would be an administrative nightmare.
In addition to the costs, imagine the confusion and frustration experienced by voters at the polls if election officials must explain that they, having registered by mail, can vote only in certain elections!
Voting is a fundamental right in a democracy. A simple and convenient voter-registration system is necessary to ensure that all eligible citizens may exercise this right. Motor voter will help eliminate barriers set up by government in some places to make it more difficult for some people to vote. All Virginians are urged to vote "yes" on Constitutional Amendment No. 2 on the November ballot.
Virginia DeSimone is president of the League of Women Voters of Virginia.
by CNB