ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORFOLK
Just three weeks after it became effective in Virginia, a law that allows people to register to vote when they renew their automobile licenses and registrations has added about 6,000 voters to the rolls.
Nationally, about 11.2 million voters were added during a yearlong period after the ``motor voter'' law took effect.
The total number of Virginia voters won't be known until 135 local voter registrar offices verify the thousands of new motor-voter applications, said Bruce Meadows, secretary of the State Board of Elections.
The law took effect in Virginia March 6. It was delayed because Gov. George Allen initially refused to implement what he said was an unfunded mandate on state government.
Democrats charged that Allen, a Republican, feared an influx of new voters more likely to vote Democratic.
Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act in 1993 to force states to make registration more accessible through motor-vehicle administrations, welfare and disability agencies, the U.S. mail, military recruitment offices and other outlets.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB