ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610070135
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SO YOU'RE one of those who rush to the mall just before the stores close on Dec. 24 to do your Christmas shopping. And you're part of the traffic jam at the post office on April 15, frantic to get your income-tax return postmarked before midnight.
OK. Procrastination is not a federal crime. Your vote on Nov. 5 will count no less because you waited until the last minute to register. But the last minute is rapidly approaching. The deadline is today at 5 p.m.
That's today. 5 p.m.
Due to recent changes in election laws, registering has never been easier. The federal motor-voter law, for instance, means you no longer have to go to the registrar's office in your community. If it's more convenient, you can sign up at the Department of Motor Vehicles branch nearest your home or workplace, or at many public-assistance agencies, such as the welfare or health department.
And Virginia's legislature changed state law not so many years ago to permit statewide registration. That means you need not be on your home turf to register. If you're a Virginia resident and happen to be traveling in the Old Dominion today, you can sign up in any city or county to vote in the locality in which you live.
Virginia, incidentally, does not have a minimum-residency requirement. Just moved to the state? No problem. You can still register, assuming you're 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, mentally competent and have never been convicted of a felony.
So what is your excuse?
From news accounts, it appears that thousands upon thousands of previously unregistered citizens have taken advantage of the motor-voter law's relaxed rules to register to vote in Virginia and other states. That's swell. It indicates an increased interest in the democratic process that Americans should cherish - the bedrock of which is the right to choose those we want to lead our government of the people, by the people and for the people.
The motto, ``Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow,'' looks cute on a needlepoint pillow - but don't sit on it. Tomorrow will be too late to register for the Nov. 5 elections.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB