Attorney general backs reform of voting process

RICHMOND (AP) | Attorney General Bob McDonnell is backing legislation to streamline the voting process, standardize guidelines to determine voter residence, and ensure that all ballots are properly counted.

Mr. McDonnell on Tuesday outlined eight voting-related proposals to be considered in the upcoming General Assembly session. Many of the measures are a response to problems that arose in last month's presidential election, which saw historic voter turnout in Virginia and the nation.

The goal of the legislation is "better elections with less hassle for the voters and more clarity in the law," Mr. McDonnell said in a conference call with reporters.

One proposal is a measure to ensure that registrars send ballots in a timely manner to allow Virginians living abroad, including military members, to return their ballots in time to be counted. Last month, some ballots were received too late by some overseas voters, resulting in litigation.

Mr. McDonnell also wants to allow voters to wear campaign stickers, shirts and other items when they cast their ballots, which he said is protected by the First Amendment. The issue was the source of another election-related lawsuit over the interpretation of current state law that prohibits electioneering within 40 feet of the polling place.

"For a voter, for instance, to wear a button or T-shirt isn't a violation of the law," Mr. McDonnell said. "If you're going to a football game, you ought to be able to wear the T-shirt of your team."

He also said state law should spell out criteria for what defines a voter's residence and require the State Board of Elections to give local voter registrars uniform guidelines on determining the issue.

Some controversy occurred this fall when some registrars interpreted the rules differently, notably in college towns, with some creating their own ways to determine a potential voter's permanent residence.

Other measures include lowering the number of registered voters needed to create a new voting precinct to reduce long lines and shorten voting times; extending absentee voting to law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders; and having local electoral boards appoint a separate "closing official" to oversee each precinct's counting of votes instead of having that duty assigned to workers who might be prone to making errors after working long hours on Election Day.