ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 4, 1996 TAG: 9610040054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
Virginia voters may have to wait in longer lines than usual when they go to the polls Nov. 5 because of new procedures set by the federal motor-voter law, election officials said.
The law requires new voters who registered by mail to present identification when they vote. Those voters who don't have an ID with their printed name and a signature will be asked to fill out a form.
``It hasn't been that way in Virginia before,'' said Charlotte Cleary, voter registrar in Arlington County. ``It's a new process. It will slow things down a little bit at the polls.''
Voters who registered in person or who have not changed their registration recently will not need identification, she said.
People who mailed in registrations can use a utility or credit card bill as IDs as long as it includes their address, officials said.
The new rules took effect in March after Gov. George Allen gave up fighting the federal law, which forces states to register voters at the Department of Motor Vehicles and by mail.
Allen had argued the 1993 law would increase the potential for fraud and impose new costs.
Election officials said those fears have been realized, at least partly.
Some fraud probably is occurring, said Bruce Meadows, secretary of the state Board of Elections.
``We'll do the best that we can to weed them out,'' he said.
As for costs, registrar offices are staying open longer and have hired temporary employees to process registration forms.
Some problems have arisen with incomplete or bogus registrations. And some people simply don't understand what they're doing.
``The applications from the DMV offices are the biggest problems,'' said Fairfax Registrar Robert Beers. ``We've received applications from 8-year-olds and from many people who are not citizens.''
In the past, voters could register only in the presence of an election official. But by making it easier to register, the law also made it easier for people to make mistakes on the forms.
Beers said his office used to reject about 25 registration applications each year because of mistakes. This year, it has rejected thousands.
``People forget to sign them or forget to fill in their Social Security number or date of birth,'' said Alexandria Registrar Beverly Beidler.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB