ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602220034
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: What's on your mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: Virginia seems ready to pass the motor-voter law. How do we compare with other states in the proportion of people who vote, and in the proportion who register? Also, in states that have a motor-voter law, how many more people register? And last, which states don't have motor-voter?
R.B.M., Goodview
A: Virginia's voter participation ranks in the middle of the states when some key statistics are compared.
Of the state's voting-age population, 41 percent cast ballots in 1994. Virginia ranked 23rd among the states in participation in that congressional election, according to the League of Women Voters.
Virginia falls behind 43 other states in its percentage of registered voters, with 60 percent of its voting-age population registered.
However, 68 percent of those who were registered in '94 voted, ranking Virginia sixth in the nation by this measure.
The overall result was, well, average.
Other states' experience with motor-voter shows that registrations increase and more people actually vote.
The motor-voter law is intended to let people register at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and at welfare and disability offices, military recruiting centers and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries offices. They also can register by mail.
It's hard to pinpoint other states' average increase in registrations because some haven't implemented their motor-voter law effectively, and a few already had open registration.
Motor-voter went nationwide in 1995 with the National Voter Registration Act. New registrations totaled 8 million in the first nine months.
The League of Women Voters expects 20 million new people on the rolls for this year's election, up from 120 million at the start of 1995. It would be the largest increase of already-eligible registrants in this century.
Virginia filed suit to challenge the law, and lost. The resulting court order requires the state to comply with the national law by March 6.
The bill passed by the General Assembly would start motor-voter July 1, but the governor's office plans to send the bill back to the legislature as an emergency measure to be passed by a simple majority before March 6.
Two other states - Arkansas and Vermont - don't have motor-voter or an equivalent wide-open voting system. They were given time to amend their constitutions so they could comply.
Christmas leftovers
Q: Why hasn't Roanoke city picked up the Christmas trees yet? C.L., Roanoke
A: Too many storms, the city says.
After plans to grind the trees into mulch were snowed out several times, the city's regular garbage pickup started collecting Christmas trees this week, said J.R. Chocklett of solid waste management.
Residents should put them out with the trash.
Roanoke County picked up trees the week of Jan. 15.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RoatimesInfi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB