ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120045
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
REGISTRARS in Roanoke city, Roanoke County and other localities report a significant increase in voter registration since the so-called motor-voter law went into effect in March.
Many local registrars say they've been too busy to tally the increase to date. But the State Board of Elections said recently the law probably accounts for more than 6,000 Virginians going on the voter rolls just in the short time it's been possible to register by mail or at Department of Motor Vehicle offices, welfare offices and a handful of other state agencies.
That's the good news. Virginians are taking advantage of the more convenient and accessible voter-registration process, as the law intended.
The not-so-good news is that many applications fail to pass muster because they haven't been filled out properly. When that's the case, registrars have to mail the forms back to the applicants with instructions for doing it the right way. That means additional paper work in local registrars' offices at a time when councilmanic elections are approaching - and extra paper work is the last thing registrars need.
The goof-up rate on applications isn't surprising. Registration by mail and at state offices where registrars aren't on hand to help is, after all, a new phenomenon in Virginia. (And Virginia, remember, was a latecomer to implementing the eased registration procedures. Though the law was passed by Congress in 1993, Gov. George Allen balked on it, and acquiesced only after losing a court challenge alleging that the law intruded on states' rights.)
Still, the fact that numerous applications are being rejected suggests that a public-education campaign would be helpful. Perhaps public-spirited civic organizations could conduct it - along with the State Board of Elections itself.
The idea, let's not forget, is to take the hassle out of registration. If applications have to be kicked back to would-be voters for corrections and rework, that partially defeats the purpose. If more public instruction is needed to ensure that the law works as well as it should, let's get on with it.
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