THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 3, 1995 TAG: 9510030286
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Democratic leaders said Monday they will urge the 1996 General Assembly to once again pass ``motor voter'' legislation that Republican Gov. George F. Allen vetoed earlier this year.
Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr. and Del. James M. Scott of Fairfax County made the announcement a day before a U.S. District Court hearing on Allen's challenge of the National Voter Registration Act.
The federal law, which took effect Jan. 1, requires states to register voters at motor vehicle and social services offices and by mail.
Allen filed suit in May to block implementation of the law in Virginia.
The 1995 General Assembly approved legislation to implement the motor voter law after Virginians approved the change in a referendum.
Allen vetoed the bill, calling it an unfunded federal mandate and saying it would lead to election fraud.
Beyer accused Allen of thwarting the will of the people.
``Virginia is the only state in the country in which voter registration was approved by voters in a constitutional referendum,'' Beyer said. ``Our voters said yes. This is a Virginia mandate.'' by CNB