The League of Women Voters of Virginia opposes HB 1863. The bill would unduly restrict early in-person voting to 14 days for a Primary Election. Since ballots must be ready 45 days before an election for mailing to military and overseas voters, there is no reason to make voters at home wait longer. Many of those voters work long hours, work multiple jobs, care for children, or care for elders, including some combination of those demands. Many who are themselves elderly must rely on others to get to the polls. Many voters have long commutes and cannot be sure they could get to their polling place on Election Day. Yet, they prefer to vote in-person. They should not be deprived of the opportunity they already have to vote conveniently. We urge the committee to reject this bill.
The League of Women Voters of Virginia opposes HB 1863. The bill would unduly restrict early in-person voting to 14 days for a Primary Election. Since ballots must be ready 45 days before an election for mailing to military and overseas voters, there is no reason to make voters at home wait longer. Many of those voters work long hours, work multiple jobs, care for children, or care for elders, including some combination of those demands. Many who are themselves elderly must rely on others to get to the polls. Many voters have long commutes and cannot be sure they could get to their polling place on Election Day. Yet, they prefer to vote in-person. They should not be deprived of the opportunity they already have to vote conveniently. We urge the committee to reject this bill.