Public Comments for: HB1222 - Assistance for certain voters outside of the polling place; expands definition of disability.
Last Name: Boyd Organization: League of Women Voters of Virginia Locality: Arlington

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the fundamental right to vote and supports measures that seek to enhance voter access and voter participation. Curbside voting is one of the ways that Virginia localities ensure that having a disability is not a barrier to voter participation. The current law focuses on physical disabilities, but those are not the only disabilities that can be barriers to voting inside a polling place. HB1222 would add developmental disabilities which is a step in the direction of increasing voter access. HB43 and HB441 are more inclusive and would cover mental and emotional health which can fluctuate unpredictably. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the greatest degree of inclusion for persons with disabilities. Additionally, HB441 provides for training of Officers of Elections on how to provide assistance to voters outside the polling place. Therefore, the League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB441 as providing the most help to the largest number of voters with disabilities.

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