Public Comments for 02/08/2022 Privileges and Elections - Election Administration
HB130 - Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (voter referendum).
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sarah DeVoe
Please support both bills.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be------with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Sincerely, Janet Hollis
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. I cannot believe that we are still fighting to protect the right of all Virginians to vote. It is the basis of our democracy! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kathe Wood Falzer
I strongly support a Right to Vote amendment, a constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This corresponds to the following bills: HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 Virginians who served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. This is retrograde and unacceptable. Pass these bills!
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Susan Carron
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Lucia Anderson 16007 Laconia Circle Woodbridge 22191 leander17@comcast.net
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Virginia's voters must be the final voice in the outcome of elections -- and all eligible citizens should have a guaranteed and unfettered right to vote. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Debra van Opstal
For heaven's sakes, if you deny voting priviledges ANY adult citizen of the United States of America, you should NOT have the right to charge them ANY kind of taxes - local, state, or federal. That is TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
I support the right of all adults, with few exceptions as specified in the bill, to vote.
MESSAGE Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Abra Smith
Dear members of the Privileges and Elections Committee, Please vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment, HB 130. Passing this amendment would ensure that the voters of Virginia make the ultimate decision to affirm that every person who meets the qualifications set forth in the Constitution. Thank you.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bill HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Gina Caceci
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you, Sincerely, Barbara Cannon
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration.
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Once a person has served their prison sentence, they should have all their rights restored. If we are afraid that prison does not rehabilitate people, then we should revamp the prison system.
Delegate Head, members of this subcommittee. My name is Chris DeRosa. I am the leader of the Arlington/Falls Church chapter of Spread the Vote, a 501c3 organization that is powered by volunteers in our community. I am writing to ask for your support of HJ9 (and identical bills HJ28 and HJ72) and report it to the full P&E committee with a recommendation that the committee report the bill to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote. Our volunteers have worked with dozens of returning citizens who wanted their voting rights restored. Almost all believed that their civil rights had been lost permanently, for life. Many were surprised to find out that they could have been voting for as many as 5 or 6 years because their rights had already been restored. For various reasons – homelessness, lack of access to the internet - they had not been notified. They had no clue. For years, they were denied access to one of their fundamental rights. Even now, these returning citizens must complete all terms of their sentence, including probation, and “beg” the Governor for restoration. It’s estimated that nearly 6% of registered voters in Virginia cannot vote because of a felony conviction. That’s nearly 400,000 voters. Even now, 12,000 Virginia voters are disenfranchised every year. That is wrong. They return to their communities after serving their sentences, and yet they cannot vote for the officials who will make laws and set budgets that affect their lives as well as the lives of their family and friends. We have come to realize that the disenfranchisement language in our Constitution was an attempt (a successful one) to suppress the vote of Black Virginians and other people of color. It’s the hateful vestige of Jim Crow laws from the late 1800s and early 1900s as represented by the words of Delegate Carter Glass : (we will) “discriminate to the very extremity… permissible… under the Federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every negro voter who can be gotten rid of, legally…” Most of those who are disenfranchised are, indeed, people of color. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Black men in Virginia cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement. This is a form of racial injustice. And keep in mind, many were trapped by the extremely low felony threshold of $200 that persisted for 38 years, from 1980 until 2018. If you stole a phone or pair of shoes worth $201 in early 2018, you were charged with a felony. Yes, if you steal, you should be punished; but the punishment should not include permanent disenfranchisement. Virginians don’t lose their first Amendment rights or their right to an attorney while they are accused, convicted, or imprisoned. Why do we take away their voting rights? Let us end permanent disenfranchisement in Virginia. Please vote YES on HJ9 (and HJ28 and HJ72) as well as companion referendum bills HB130, 416 and 795. Let the voters of Virginia vote on the proposed amendment in November 2022.
The VA NAACP doesn't support legislation that limits access to voters. Hb1090 Hb149 hb121 hb 249 hb 178 hb24 Support Hj9 hj130
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
Dear Privileges and Election Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be - with Virginia’s voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Joy M. Smith
I am writing in support of bills HJ9 and HB130. I urge you to pass legislation that protects and ensures the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Donna McMillen
I urge a NO vote on this bill, for the reasons stated at these links: http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/pdf/LM145.pdf (especially pages 7-11) and https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/commentary/there-are-good-reasons-felons-lose-the-right-vote. These papers lay out clear and compelling reasons for prohibiting the vote to felons in most circumstances. None of these reasons have anything to do with the race of the felon.
I urge a NO vote on this bill, for the reasons stated at these links: http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/pdf/LM145.pdf (especially pages 7-11) and https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/commentary/there-are-good-reasons-felons-lose-the-right-vote. These papers lay out clear and compelling reasons for prohibiting the vote to felons in most circumstances. None of these reasons have anything to do with the race of the felon.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michelle
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Tara Casey
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Linda Cole
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge you to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Molly (MaryAlice) McClenon
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Barbara Kates
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Andrianne Konstas-Salvette
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Cyane Lowden
My name is Avohom Carpenter and I am the President of the Chesterfield NAACP. The Chesterfield County NAACP supports HB130 and HJ9 by our local Delegate Mike Cherry and all the similar bills that are also carrying the same language. The passage of the Constitutional amendment and voter referendum are vital to Virginia reaching the values that we preach of being a place of second chances and to erase the stench of Jim Crow the era that this legislation was born out of. It's time that all Virginians that have paid their debt to society are able to become full citizens and full participants in our democracy. For so long I have spoken to people who have felt diminished, marginalized, degraded and second class because even after their debts were paid they were still disenfranchised and unable to complete their civic duty to their community and country. I remember the encounter I had with a citizen who had committed a crime in their youth and now in her late 60s still was denied the ability to be a full citizen. This women had been a nurse, raised her children and was a grandparent but felt incomplete. I had helped her apply to get her rights restored and 2 months later Governor Northam signed an order to restore her voting rights. She called me overwhelmed and crying because she was so overjoyed and finally for the first time in her life felt whole in our society. These bills are beyond partisan politics, its about people. Real people in our communities, families, and places of employment who deserve second chances and to be whole again. I strongly encourage members of this community and the General Assembly to pass these bills.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Judith K Hingle
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
I believe the purpose of prison is to rehabilitate offenders not just to punish them. Therefore, when a person has successfully completed their sentence and been returned to society, they should have their voting rights returned.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Robin Smith
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, James and Dorothy Joslin
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. People who have paid their debt to society should have their right to vote restored and become fully reintegrated into civil society. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Let voters decide this important issue during the 2022 elections. Thank you for considering this input.
It is my position that once felons have served their time and have been released from incarceration, their right to vote should automatically be restored, and if it takes a constitutional amendment, that's what it takes. I want to see this amendment on my ballot this fall. Please make that happen. Thanks, Laura
It is my position that once felons have served their time and have been released from incarceration, their right to vote should automatically be restored, and if it takes a constitutional amendment, that's what it takes. I want to see this amendment on my ballot this fall. Please make that happen. Thanks, Laura
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections.. My ancestors fought diligently for the right to vote and this important decision should remain, with each voter. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sharon T. McGlone
MESSAGE Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely- Jacque Meriam
I urge the Privileges and Election Committe Members to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this decision in the Virginia voters during our 2022 elections. Thank you for consideration, Sincerely, Joanne Glass
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Beth Alley
I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Virginia voters need to be able to voice their opinions on this matter. People who have paid their debt to society need to be able to register to vote. Let voters decide this important issue during the 2022 elections. Pat Fege
Dear Members of the House P & E Committee I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Once a person has served the sentence that the judge and/or jury determined was appropriate for the crime, the person should have the rights of serving the Commonwealth and country restored. There is mounting evidence that people who do have their citizenship respected are far less likely to be incarcerated again because they have been restored to the community. Yours sincerely, Sidney Johnson
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. The exact language passed last year and must be passed again this year. Virginia must guarantee the right to vote to all citizens, including convicted felons who have completed their sentences. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Karen Gatz Annandale, VA 22003
I urge the Committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and associated bills. There is no more important civil right to citizens than that of choosing their elected officials who are sworn to represent them. Allowing the voters to decide whether or not felons who have served their sentences should regain their right to vote should be decided during the 2022 elections by the citizens of Virginia.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sheila Sandford
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sandra Tarpinian
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. There is no more important civic role than participating in our democracy. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. I have worked the polls for many years and have complete faith in Virginia's voting system and voters. Let the Voters decide! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Liz Herlich
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration.
I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of HJ9 and HB130 to allow the voters of Virginia to decide to automatically restore the right to vote to persons who have served their period of incarceration after conviction for a crime. Voting is the most fundamental right of citizens in a democracy, and individuals who have made mistakes should have that right restored once they have served their sentence. The citizens of Virginia support the proposed constitutional amendment and should be given the opportunity to show that support through a referendum on the ballot in November 2022. Thank you.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nancy J. Brown
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Robert Roop
Individuals who have completed their terms of felony incarceration have fulfilled their debt to society. They should be able to participate in and contribute to society. Their right to vote, enshrined in the Constitution of the United States, should be automatically restored.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Barbara F. Greiling
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, When I am shown past harms, such as the Jim Crow era bill that stripped felons and people under court-ordered supervision of their right to vote, I can attempt to address the wrong or ignore it. This is a past harm that I would like to be able to address. Therefore, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters like me during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sarah Thomas Mayhew
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, Those who have paid their full debt to society and have been deemed fit for release should have the opportunity to choose the people who represent them and to engage fully in civic life. I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bill: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Gail Christie
Vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, N Priddy
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Mary Valder
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. A similar bill passed the General Assembly last year with bipartisan support. The right to vote is sacred and should not need to be requested back after having served time for the crime.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members: I urge passage of all bills related to the Right to Vote amendment (HJ9 and HB 130). Please enable this process to reach its appropriate conclusion, namely each voter's ballot in the 2022 election. I look forward to my opportunity to cast my vote restoring this most precious of rights to returning citizens after the completion of their time of incarceration. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Anne Earle Strange
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections
I am in support of HJ9 and HB130. Give the voters a chance to make this a Constitutional amendment.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Brenda Davis
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Anne Geraty
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bill HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Margaret Knight
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, We urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Shirley and Don Shirley Payne
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kelly Coleman
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Right now, Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. The current resolution, which takes away the right to vote for life for all former felons unless restored by the Governor, was an intentionally racist decision that we must revert. When written into the constitution in 1902, this amendment was meant to “eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State.” Within a year of the new constitution being put in place, the number of registered African-American voters decreased by 85%. 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. I strongly support the right to vote amendment because no one should be kept from participating in our democracy.
As a man of faith and Christian values, I pray that this issue be given careful consideration and truly reflect the values of our citizens. No one should be deprived of their right to vote. As a man of the cloth, I urge you all to think of Christ and how we accept all of our neighbors as equal. Doing prison ministry for decades, I have been blessed to get to know people who have served time inside of Virginia's correctional facilities. What is more corrective than being able to participate in the civic process? As a man of faith, I know that this body will do what is spiritually right and allow all of our neighbors to be able to vote. I work with so many young men and women who come to our church for forgiveness and we gladly accept them with open arms. To be forgiven and allowed to return to this society a whole man or woman is something we should all be striving to support. This should be on the minds and hearts of all of us.
People who are walking freely in our society have a right to vote and I hope that you give us the chance to vote and not have to worry about waiting for any one Governor to make the decision. Please support HB130.
I'm in favor of this legislation, as I agree with the delegate's belief that a person should not be subjected to a lifetime sentence, by not being able to vote, after they serve the sentence imposed by the judge/jury. Upon release from incarceration, they should be able to exercise their right to vote, period. Thank you for your consideration.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. I am a college professor who works with first year students on civic responsibility, and we talk about both the right and responsibility of voting. Virginia lags behind the rest of the country in granting these rights to formerly incarcerated people--Virginians deserve to live in a state where every single voice matters and each of us has the opportunity to be represented in our government. My students know this truth and I am hoping that this house will follow suit.
It's time to let Virginian’s decide this issue. I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9, and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. NOBODY SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIFE. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot.
I strongly support HB130, HB795, HJ9 and HJ72. The automatic and full restoration of voting rights for people upon release from incarceration is long overdue. The current system disproportionately affects people of color. Denying the right to vote to those who have served time within the prism of an already systemically and historically racist incarceration system is geared at furthering disenfranchisement and suppressing their voice. Supporting these bills should not be controversial - they are essential.
I strongly support the full restoration of voting rights for people that have served their sentence, as stated in HB 130, 416, and 795 and HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment automatically to restore the right to vote upon release from prison. The current system that denies former felons the right to ever vote again disproportionately impacts persons of color and serves to perpetuate systemic and structural racism. One’s voting rights should be automatically restored upon the person’s release from incarceration. We are a system built on the right for each person to cast their vote equally. Once a person has completed the sentence for their crime, they should not continue to be punished in perpetuity. We expect formerly incarcerated persons to become fully engaged members of society upon their release, so how can we continue to unfairly disadvantage them by denying them the right to vote and have their voices heard? Please ensure these bills are passed in this General Assembly session so that we may begin to address historical inequity and systemic racism.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. Mass incarceration has served as modern-day slave labor for this state and country, many unjustly placed being bars due to widespread systemic racism and injustice. Virginia can’t continue to be one of two states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone, unless their rights are restored by the Governor. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot. It is time to let Virginians decide.
Virginia enshrines a policy which was specifically designed to disenfranchise black and brown citizens. To be sure, the “problem is so serious that one in five Black Virginians cannot vote…even though those citizens only account for about 20% of Virginia’s population.” Indeed, over half of those disenfranchised are African American. This is a problem which should not be solved through executive clemency. Though voter disenfranchisement has been part of Virginia’s Constitution since 1868, the Jim Crow Era 1902 Constitution specifically added felon disenfranchisement to repress black citizens. As Shennette Garrett-Scott elucidates in Banking on Freedom, the political and economic success of black business, drew the rancor of the state. These efforts culminated in state Democrats calling a constitutional convention in 1901. Though the 1902 constitution affected many aspects of black life, two examples stand out. Economically, it formed the State Corporation Commission (SCC), which by 1910 was a powerful regulatory body that unduly focused on black enterprise. For example, the first black owned bank in the United States was singled out for an audit by the chief examiner of the SCC, because “its success challenged the logic of Jim Crow.” Two days after the audit began, the examiner declared the bank insolvent and placed it under SCC receivership. This resulted in the extraction of nearly $300,000 (about $8 million in 2020) from the Black community into state coffers. From a suffrage perspective, Carter Glass, Democrat and influential actor within the 1901 constitutional convention, praised the suffrage restrictions as an important step toward "eliminate(ing) the darkey as a political factor" (he also wanted to keep poor whites from voting, too). The vision of Glass did not take long to realize as only 33 voters were registered in Jackson Ward, a Richmond African-American business district, in 1903. Jackson Ward had 2,983 Black voters in the late 1890s. If the 1902 constitution was written by Democrats during Jim Crow backlash, the 1972 constitution was foregrounded in the emerging Republican “tough on crime” framework. And though the Civil Rights Movement and the Twenty-Fourth Amendment did force the state to drop poll taxes and literacy tests, it still included the felon disenfranchisement provision because it is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. Importantly, Virginia still attempted to keep Black citizens from registering to vote. For example, in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case South Carolina v. Katzenbach (1966), Virginia joined South Carolina to argue that the preclearance provisions, which required states “with the worst histories of voting discrimination” to clear their voting changes with the federal government, of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were unconstitutional. The court upheld the Voting Rights Act 8-1. More recently, even the Koch Brothers support restoring voting rights because voting is the only sustainable way to achieve societal progress. However, though civic duty may be a contributing factor, they are also concerned with the cost of recidivism as the national prison system costs $182 billion annually and over 70% of those released from prison are arrested within five years. I support this bill and it should receive wide support. It is time to strike the felon disenfranchisement provision from this constitution to ensure all Virginian's can participate politically in the Commonwealth.
The VA State conference NAACP ate in full support of expanding to vote to ensure Democracy is met. We strongly support this bill!
People from all parties and walks of life support second chances, including law enforcement, faith-based groups, families, businesses, and a large majority of Virginians. In recent polls 66% of those polled believed that people who’ve served their time should be given the opportunity to vote. The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is a coalition of more than 25,000 people of faith and goodwill. All faiths believe in restoration. All faiths offer a path to redemption. One is not forever punished through the perpetual condemnation of their acts if they seek a second chance. A second chance—not to do wrong, but a second chance to get it right, to do right by others, themselves, and their communities. This constitutional amendment gives all people who have been formerly incarcerated the ability to earn back their voting access, one of the bedrocks of to being fully, engaged members of their community. This constitutional amendment embodies the principle of restoration. We urge the passage of HB130 / HJ9 out of subcommittee to the full committee and onto the House floor. Ultimately, we should let the people decide on their November ballot.
I urge a NO vote on this bill, for the reasons stated at these links: http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/pdf/LM145.pdf (especially pages 7-11) and https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/commentary/there-are-good-reasons-felons-lose-the-right-vote
HB 130 - Once felons have served their prison term they should have voting rights restored - no exceptions, no fines to repay.
Please vote NO to HB130. "Participation" in "crime" is a valid reason for someone not being allowed to vote, and is specifically mentioned as such in Section 2 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. When people misbehave, they can either have their privileges taken away, or be confined. When your kid misbehaves, you can send him to his room (confine him), or take away some of his privileges. Similarly, when a grown-up misbehaves, you can confine him by putting him in prison (which costs taxpayers a whole lot), or take away his privileges, like the right to vote (which costs taxpayers nothing), or both. Keeping felons from voting isn't anymore unfair than keeping teenagers from voting. Actually, it's less unfair. Most high-school freshman have better judgment and more intelligence than the average criminal. Yet high-school students can't vote (most of them can't, those under age 18). Even though most of them are good kids who will soon be working and improving our society.
LRIDD supports this bill and the accompanying HJ9. Here's why: 1) The legislature should give voters the opportunity to vote in fall 2022 to amend our constitution to guarantee the right to vote for all citizens 18 and over. 2) Government should not be able to take away your right to vote permanently as a punishment or without a specific finding that you lack the capacity to understand voting. VA is one of 2 states that do this. 3) HJ9 and HB130 would, if approved by the voters, give all Virginia citizens a constitutionally guaranteed right to vote except when they are in jail or prison on a felony conviction or if a judge has found they cannot understand voting. 4) The new constitutional language would replace Jim Crow and eugenics Era language that has resulted in disproportionate numbers of Black Virginians being disenfranchised and unfairly disqualifies from voting people whose disabilities do not render them incapable of understanding the act of voting. It is time to give voters a say and the opportunity to vote to constitutionally guarantee their right to vote and restore the vote to everyone not incarcerated or specifically found to lack the capacity to vote.
Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, and yet Virginia has not always wanted or made it easy for everyone to vote. The 1902 constitution included poll taxes, literacy requirements and constitutional understanding tests designed to keep Black people from the ballot box. It worked to dramatically reduce both Black and many poor White voters. Remnants of this terrible history remain. Virginia's constitution takes away the right to vote forever from people who have committed a felony but have served their time and who have returned to their communities. As a person of faith and goodwill, I believe in restoration. As a person of faith in a democracy, I believe that people who have served their sentences deserve a chance to choose the people who represent them. Restoration to the community requires restoration of voting rights in a democracy. A constitutional amendment is necessary to guarantee the right to vote for all Virginians 18 and over who are not serving time for a felony conviction. Our democracy is stronger and more representative of everyone's concerns when more people are allowed to participate in it.
I write in strong support this constitutional amendment. As people of faith and goodwill, we believe in restoration. As people of faith in a democracy, we believe that people who have served their sentences deserve a chance to choose the people who represent them. Restoration to the community requires restoration of voting rights in a democracy. Formerly incarcerated persons who have paid their debt to society cannot be full citizens if they are not permitted to vote. And full citizenship should be our goal for all citizens.
I strongly support HB 130, voter referendum, to automatically restore voting rights when time has been served for a crime and individuals reenter society.
I am a member of the League of Women Voters of the Greater Richmond Area and I strongly encourage you to pass HB 130. As someone who has worked to get people registered to vote, I have seen many instances where people convicted of a felony and who had as a result lost their right to vote, confused about what they had to do to get back their right to vote and very sad they could no longer exercise this fundamental right. I have also seen people previously convicted of a felony absolutely elated at the opportunity to vote once again. I believe this is a fundamental right all citizens in a democracy are entitled to and would be elated to see HB130 passed. Thank you for all you are doing to make this happen in Virginia.
As a resident of Roanoke County (24018), a retired pastor, and a member of the League of Women Voters (Roanoke Valley), I urge the support of HB130 and HB416. This united measure has bipartisan support along with the support of 65% of Virginians. Automatically restoring the right to vote continues the work of rehabilitation which is the primary goal of our criminal justice system. Returning citizens who have this right restored and subsequently vote are less likely to re-offend and more likely to find the fullness of life and prosperity that we all wish for every citizen of the state of Virginia. Please continue the process begun in 2021 that will allow me the privilege of voting for this constitutional amendment in November. Thank you.
Dear House P & E Committee: Re: HB 130 -Returning citizens who have served their time in jail or prison should be able to vote. Voting is such an important and vital civic engagement and increases participation in community life. There is bipartisan support and over 65% of Virginia's support. Please let voters have a voice at the ballot box whether to pass this legislation. Deborah H Travis, League of Women Voters
Please vote in support of a referendum to give Virginians the opportunity to restore voting rights to persons who have completed their sentences and have returned to civil society. The ability to vote is a sign that the person has really been received back as a citizen. He or she may well be working and paying taxes; the return of the right to vote solidifies re-entrance. There is evidence that restoring the right to vote reduces recidivism. While it is true that the governor can restore the right to vote to individuals who apply, much depends on whether the sitting governor has this restoration as a priority that he or she addresses readily. The amendment would restore voting rights regardless of this variable. The referendum had bipartisan support in the last General Assembly session. It is time now to give the voters a chance to speak; 65 percent of them do approve of restoring the right to vote, according to a Beacon Research Group poll. Please address this issue as a priority. Yours sincerely, Sidney Johnson
Election Integrity guarantees our voice is heard and the we can trust the system. It is foundational to the backbone of this country. It has been my astonishing revelation that this most SACRED of all abilities - believed to be held UP- in such esteem and REVERENCE yet in reality is trampled upon, disrespected and disgraced , given away with no value whatsoever in order to game the system. It is totally and completely unprotected. IT is UNTRUE. This reminds me of the snake oil salesmen who came into towns in the early days selling fakery and un-truths. As the American people come learn the truth - it IS happening now folks, make no mistake, they will ask the leadership to answer for this'd hold you accountable for this bait and switch. WE need real election integrity for LEGAL CITIZENS ONLY. WE NEED PRISTINELY CLEAN VOTER ROLLS. Here is the list of what we must do to repair and restore the trust of the American People. Establish laws enabling forensic audits and voter canvass Repeal same day voter registration Repeal no voter identification Repeal the permanent absentee ballot list Repeal no-excuse AB Repeal 3rd party mailing of AB Repeal ballot harvesting Eliminate AB drop boxes. We also want 1 day of voting, but anything less than 45 days would be better than nothing. Do not accept AB after Election DAY. Repeal pre-registration of 16 year olds Repeal automatic voter registration by DMV Please vote appropriately on ALL bills in support of these goals. Angela Boyer Great Falls Va 22066
As an educator, mother, voter, active member of my community, and resident of the city of Suffolk in this great Commonwealth, I strongly support HB416 and HB130. It is paramount that exfelons are able to rejoin society as active and engaged members. This includes regaining their right to vote immediately upon release without a potential "poll tax." This premise is supported by the majority of Virginia's from both sides of the aisle. Give the citizens of Virginia a chance to vote on this issue at the ballot box.
HB 130 is needed. Restore voting rights to citizens who have paid for their felonies by time in prison.
Please support HB 130 for a constitutional amendment that guarantees the sacred right to vote for all Virginia citizens who meet the constitutional requirements. Please eliminate all barriers to voting in our state. Thank you.
The Legal Aid Justice Center supports HB130. The right to vote is a fundamental right and is the very foundation of how our government and society operate. Without this right, a person has no meaningful opportunity to petition their government and no meaningful input into what laws will govern their day to day lives. The consequences of the criminal legal system fall disproportionately on traditionally marginalized people and having loss of voting rights tied to a felony conviction means the consequences of the loss of voting rights falls hardest on marginalized communities. The government, then, is missing the input of many communities throughout Virginia, communities that already struggle to be involved in government. Through my work in these communities, I have heard many genuinely mourn the loss of their right to vote and rejoice when that right was restored. Voting provides simple access to government decision making, and it should not be denied to a person who is no longer incarcerated. We ask that you all report this bill.
I support both HB130 and HB416. Voting is an important part of being an American, and those that have served their time should be given back the right to vote. We should not continue to punish those who have been convicted of a felony by stripping away their rights. Since voting is so fundamental to American society, let the voters have a say at the ballot box.
As a voter, taxpayer, a social justice advocate for SALT, and a member of a faith community, I firmly support the restoration of voting rights for those that have been released from prison. Punishment of the incarcerated should end once they have served their time. All rights should then be restored. I fully support the following statement posted on the ACLU web site: "Access to the ballot box is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time. These returning citizens pay taxes, are contributing members of society, and could be your neighbor. They have completed their sentence, been held accountable for their crime, and been deemed not to be a threat to public safety, yet have a lifetime ban on voting. That’s double jeopardy – punishing people for crimes for which they’ve already paid their debt. Taking away the right to vote should never be used as a punishment for crime." This decision to restore voting rights should not be left solely in the hands of whoever is the governor of Virginia.
Voting should be a universal right, once a person has met the basic qualifications. I strongly support HB130, the Constitutional amendment that will allow formerly incarcerated felons to vote as soon as they have served their sentences. These individuals should be allowed to vote even if they have unpaid penalties, fines, or restitution orders. Virginia has kept this law on the books far too long, in the face of its proven discriminatory impact on minority voters. Support for this bill is strong and bipartisan. Please support the bill as written and reject any attempts to amend it.
I feel strongly that we need to spell out what we believe, that everyone who qualifies must have the right to vote. That includes returning citizens. It means this right cannot be abridged. It ensures we have civic engagement for our communities. This is a bipartisan issue that the large majority of Virginians supports
Virginia is now one of 3 states that permanently disenfranchise every person with a felony conviction leaving it to the Governor via a complicated process to decide whose rights will be restored. After someone serves their time including probation and parole, it's only just to fully restore their civil rights. This antiquated constitutional law disproportionately impacts African Americans who make up 50% of Virginia's disenfranchised population. It's time to pass HB130 so voters can vote on whether to pass this legislation.
Please support the constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to the formally incarcerated. To be a strong community, we must have people who believe that they are a part of it, that what they do matters and that government is responsive to them. I have heard people who lost the right to vote say that it made them feel like a nobody, that they did not count, that it did not matter what they did. Instead we need people to feel a part of the whole, like they have a stake in a functioning society. Finally I have seen kids look wide-eyed as adults, who could not vote, discounted voting, said it did not matter. Not healthy for our society.
I support the bill, HB 130 and allowing citizens who have served their time, should be able to vote. Voting is an important civic engagement and increases participation in community life There is bipartisan support 65% of Virginians support Lets voters have a say at the ballot box whether to pass this legislation.
I support HB 130 , a Constitutional amendment on the right to vote. Voting is a fundamental right and ensures a vibrant democracy. Not being able to vote is a form of dispossession of one’s voice. This bill has bipartisan support and over 50% of Virginians support it.
I am writing in support of HB130. People who have paid their debt to society should be able to regain their right to register and vote. Voting is an important part of civic engagement and allows people to fully participate in the life of their community. Virginia voters should have the opportunity to voice their opinion about making this part of our Virginia Constitution.
I support HB130, the Right To Vote. This House Bill provides that every person who meets the qualifications set forth in the Constitution shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law. Voting is indeed a right and not a privilege. Everyone should be encouraged to Register and Vote. In fact, Registration should be automatic for those who are eligible. People should be encouraged to vote in every election, primary, general and special. No Barriers, obvious or subtle, should be put in place. Vote by mail should be accessible by all. It’s safer (paper ballot), secure, and economical. States and localities would not have to pay poll workers or rent spaces to serve as polling locations. Several states have had it in place for years and have no issues. Let VA continue to lead the way for the Right to Vote and may the Commonwealth not be dragged backward.
I strongly support HB130, which would give Virginians a say in whether returning citizens who have served their time should be able to vote. There is bipartisan support for this amendment and it is supported by 65% of Virginians. Let voters have a say at the ballot box!
I support HB130. Returning citizens who have served their time should be allowed to vote. Voting is an important civic engagement and will increase a returning citizen's engagement and participation in the community. 65% of Virginians support voting rights for returning citizens. Virginia voters should be given the chance to have a say by voting on this.
I am writing in support of having HB130 on the ballot as a constitutional amendment on Nov. 8, 2022. I believe in the fundamental rights of all citizens to vote. I particularly believe that felons should be able to vote once they have finished their incarceration. There is no good reason to do otherwise. I am also in favor of new language changing the current prohibition against those who are "mentally incompetent". This term does not really have any meaning at all. I have friends with disabilities who certainly have the intelligence and interest in how government runs. I think the new wording is much better to describe someone who should not vote. - "someone who lacks the capacity to understand the act of voting."
Voting rights are essential for civic participation and for a functional democracy in Virginia. Voting also increases participation in community life. The proposals in this legislation have bipartisan support from 65% of Virginians. Let the voters have their say at the ballot box whether to approve this constitutional amendment and restore voting rights to returning citizens who have served their time and should be able to vote in their communities.
I strongly support HB 130. The citizens of Virginia should be able to vote on a constitutional amendment to allow returning citizens to vote. The history of felon disenfranchisement in Virginia is a shameful part of our past. Those who have paid their debt to society should be automatically restored the right to vote.
Voting is a constitutional right and a civic duty. Inclusion in the voting rolls should reflect the full constituency of Commonwealth legal residents. Only then will decisions made by the legislature be fully reflective of those whom you represent. It is the Commonwealth's voters responsibility to vote, and it is your responsibility to ensure they can vote legally and with the greatest opportunity to participate.
Former felons deserve the right to vote when they rejoin society. It's critically important to pass this proposed amendment language exactly as it passed last year in order to get the issue before the people of Commonwealth, most of whom support its passage. Thank you! Phoebe Kent Williamsburg
Please vote for HB 130. Like 65% of Virginians, I believe that every qualified citizen should have the right to vote.
The constitutional right to vote should not be taken away from someone for the rest of their life just because they have committed a crime. When we strip people of their rights and liberties indefinitely, even though they have served their time, we are stripping them of their humanity and of their voice. We cannot pick and choose who is allowed to vote. It is a right for all citizens of our nation. Remember, we are one mistake away from being in that same situation. Would you want to be dehumanized and silenced for life? Rights belong to ALL people!
Voting should be simple, quick, and accesible to everyone. We have a lot of elderly and/or disabled residents, people who don't have access to a car, or members of the military serving overseas. Our legislators in Richmond should be working to make every Virginia's voice is heard. In addition, returning citizens should be eligible to vote once their sentence is completed. If they've served their time in prison as determined by a judge and/or jury, no purpose is served by denying them the right to vote.
We have a government by the people. Government works for the people. All adults have an inalienable right to have representation by the people who govern them. Restrictions of voting rights are abominable to human rights.
I urge that HB 130 be passed as is so that it can be put the voters of the Commonwealth of VA to decide and so that it can be a more permanent "fix" to the disenfranchisement of a whole class of citizens of our Commonwealth than merely passing a bill that can be changed with the next political change over. Folks who have done their time should not be kept from voting. Requiring that their fines or other financial encumbrances be met first is essentially a poll tax.
Hello. I am a voter in Alexandria, zip code 22314. I support this legislation and believe that incarcerated persons who have served their time should be allowed to vote when they are released. Voting is the most fundamental right we have and those who can vote are more invested in their communities. Thank you for your time
I strongly support HB 130, 416, and 795 - the constitutional amendment automatically to restore the right to vote upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would finally reverse the last of the racially discriminatory Jim Crow laws in Virginia- the provision in the 1902 Virginia constitution that provides for lifetime disenfranchisement upon conviction of a felony unless restored by the Governor. In support of the 1902 provision, Carter Glass stated that this would prevent “the darkies” from voting. Indeed, in just one year after the provision became effective, the number of black registered voters dropped precipitously. Virginia must not continue to be one of the very few states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone. Nor should any Governor be given plenary power to determine who can and cannot vote. Governors of both parties have exercised this power arbitrarily and capriciously. One Democratic Governor denied an application for restoration because the applicant had “moving violations.” One Republican Governor demanded applicants to describe their “church activities” in considering whether to restore the right to vote. Studies show that people who are denied the right to vote are more likely to reoffend. Once people are released into the community after completing a period of incarceration, they should be able to exercise the most precious right we have in a democracy - the right to vote.
We are basically the last state that does not restore the voting rights of felons. We should be ashamed of ourselves if we can't pass this and restore the sacred right of voting to people who have served their time. For gods sake, even FL managed to added this to their constitution. Surely The Commonwealth is superior to the State of Florida.
I urge the Committee to approve the constitutional amendment and related bills on the restoration of voting rights for persons convicted of a felony who have completed their sentences, HJ28 and HB416 (Del. Herring), HJ9 and HB130 (Del. Cherry), and HJ72, HB795, and HB796 (Del. Price). As Delegate Cherry said in a recent article, "My faith teaches me that people make mistakes, and they can be redeemed from those mistakes and become, in this case, contributing members to society again. I don’t think we should impose lifetime restrictions and punishments on people when the courts did not deem it necessary to give them a life sentence." My own faith teaches me the same lessons. The restoration of voting rights should be automatic upon a person's release from incarceration and should not be left up to the inclinations of whoever the governor may be at the time. Such restoration tells the person that he or she has been accepted back into society and is expected to fulfill his or her civic responsibilities while enjoying the rights of citizenship. Thank you for considering my views.
Virginia enacted several new voting laws in 2020 and 2021 to make voting more accessible during the pandemic. Early in-person voting hours were increased, mail-in absentee ballots no longer required a witness signature, more drop-box locations were available. These changes led to record voter turnout (with insignificant fraud) in both the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 gubernatorial election. Therefore I oppose any new bill that would restrict our rights to accessible voting.
I am a returning citizen. After nearly 19 years in prison I was granted a conditional pardon by Governor Ralph Northam, who also restored my civil rights. Being released into a world that accepts me in my totality, that believes in second chances and that treats me like an equal citizen has allowed me to start a small business, begin a successful social media campaign, operate fundraisers and give back to the community in many other ways. I was only released in August of 2021, yet have been able to accomplish so much because I have been accepted and embraced. We want people getting out of prison to succeed. Accepting them as full and participating members of society is a huge step on that process. To stigmatize or disenfranchise them is to increase the likelihood of recidivism and the creation of future victims. The passage of this bill will keep Virginia safer.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
Voting should be easy and available That means that voters should have every option available to them, including No-excuse absentee voting, mail in voting, in person early voting and in person election day voting at enough locations to prevent long lines. The photo ID requirement is based on a false narrative around a kind of fraud that does not happen so a photo ID should not be required. Mobile device voting should be available. I can bank and pay my taxes from my computer or phone, I should be able to vote that way as well
HB305 - Elections; appointment of Commissioner of Elections, membership of Board, effective date.
I am opposed to 2 provisions of this bill. The first is (vii) which requires that audits of ballot scanner machines must take place prior to the certification of election results. I don't believe this is necessary. Each scanner is tested before the election. If a scanner malfunctions on election day an audit would be appropriate. Further, I'm not sure the audits can be completed before certification in larger jurisdictions and the law doesn't explain what happens if that process is not completed before certification date. Finally, if the election margin is large, the result is unlikely to change after a time-consuming and costly audit. The other provision I oppose is (ix) which requires a legible postmark on an absentee ballot. Postmarks are only critical if a ballot is received after election day, to prove that the ballot was mailed in accordance with law. Why would you need to have a legible postmark on a ballot that was received before the polls closed, except to exclude voters? Also, a voter cannot control the legibility of a postmark because they don't control the machines, nor do they control the weather--rain can smudge postmarks. I believe this proposed change serves no legitimate purpose. Also, disallowing "other official indicia of confirmation of mailing" makes this provision even more punitive.
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
HB205 would make it illegal for an election official to accept money from any individual or entity except the government to fund an election, protecting public elections from influence by private wealthy individuals and entities. HB305 would increase the number of members of the State Board of Elections from five to six, three members from each party. Currently, the Commissioner of Elections is appointed by the Governor, but if this bill is adopted the Commissioner would now be appointed by a supermajority of the State Board of Elections instead. The bill also includes provisions to improve accuracy of the voting roll, require voter ID, require election audits, better manage drop off locations, and more.
This bill provides for Election Board members to serve a term of six years, Even the governor of Virginia serves a term of only 4 years. The Election Board must not have a longer term than elected officers in Virginia. I oppose this bill. It also provides a long list of requirements for voter ID which are not necessary for providing the security of virginia votes.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
HB416 - Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (voter referendum).
I strongly support a Right to Vote amendment, a constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This corresponds to the following bills: HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 Virginians who served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. This is retrograde and unacceptable. Pass these bills!
Delegate Head, members of this subcommittee. My name is Chris DeRosa. I am the leader of the Arlington/Falls Church chapter of Spread the Vote, a 501c3 organization that is powered by volunteers in our community. I am writing to ask for your support of HJ9 (and identical bills HJ28 and HJ72) and report it to the full P&E committee with a recommendation that the committee report the bill to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote. Our volunteers have worked with dozens of returning citizens who wanted their voting rights restored. Almost all believed that their civil rights had been lost permanently, for life. Many were surprised to find out that they could have been voting for as many as 5 or 6 years because their rights had already been restored. For various reasons – homelessness, lack of access to the internet - they had not been notified. They had no clue. For years, they were denied access to one of their fundamental rights. Even now, these returning citizens must complete all terms of their sentence, including probation, and “beg” the Governor for restoration. It’s estimated that nearly 6% of registered voters in Virginia cannot vote because of a felony conviction. That’s nearly 400,000 voters. Even now, 12,000 Virginia voters are disenfranchised every year. That is wrong. They return to their communities after serving their sentences, and yet they cannot vote for the officials who will make laws and set budgets that affect their lives as well as the lives of their family and friends. We have come to realize that the disenfranchisement language in our Constitution was an attempt (a successful one) to suppress the vote of Black Virginians and other people of color. It’s the hateful vestige of Jim Crow laws from the late 1800s and early 1900s as represented by the words of Delegate Carter Glass : (we will) “discriminate to the very extremity… permissible… under the Federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every negro voter who can be gotten rid of, legally…” Most of those who are disenfranchised are, indeed, people of color. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Black men in Virginia cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement. This is a form of racial injustice. And keep in mind, many were trapped by the extremely low felony threshold of $200 that persisted for 38 years, from 1980 until 2018. If you stole a phone or pair of shoes worth $201 in early 2018, you were charged with a felony. Yes, if you steal, you should be punished; but the punishment should not include permanent disenfranchisement. Virginians don’t lose their first Amendment rights or their right to an attorney while they are accused, convicted, or imprisoned. Why do we take away their voting rights? Let us end permanent disenfranchisement in Virginia. Please vote YES on HJ9 (and HJ28 and HJ72) as well as companion referendum bills HB130, 416 and 795. Let the voters of Virginia vote on the proposed amendment in November 2022.
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Right now, Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. The current resolution, which takes away the right to vote for life for all former felons unless restored by the Governor, was an intentionally racist decision that we must revert. When written into the constitution in 1902, this amendment was meant to “eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State.” Within a year of the new constitution being put in place, the number of registered African-American voters decreased by 85%. 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. I strongly support the right to vote amendment because no one should be kept from participating in our democracy.
I'm writing in support of HB 416, the voter referendum. Incarcerated felons who have paid their debt to society by serving their time and have returned to society should be able to vote. Participation in our democracy is a right of every citizen and an important civic activity. Being able to vote allows returning citizens to participate in community life and encourages engagement in other aspects of good citizenship. 64% of Virginians support this referendum. Please pass the referendum as written so that it can be on the ballot this coming November. Let the voters decide this issue then.
I am in support of house pill 416. I believe it is right of every citizen to vote in all elections. Access to voting in a manner that does not place barriers to legal voting is essential for our democracy.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. I am a college professor who works with first year students on civic responsibility, and we talk about both the right and responsibility of voting. Virginia lags behind the rest of the country in granting these rights to formerly incarcerated people--Virginians deserve to live in a state where every single voice matters and each of us has the opportunity to be represented in our government. My students know this truth and I am hoping that this house will follow suit.
I hope you will pass this Constitutional amendment. Every person who meets the qualifications set forth in the Constitution should have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth of Virginia and that such right shall not be abridged by law. -Returning citizens who have served their time, should be able to vote - Voting is an important civic engagement and increases participation in community life - There is bipartisan support - 65% of Virginians support Please let voters have a say at the ballot box whether to pass this legislation Thank you for protecting the right to vote!
It's time to let Virginian’s decide this issue. I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9, and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. NOBODY SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIFE. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot.
I strongly support HB130, HB795, HJ9 and HJ72. The automatic and full restoration of voting rights for people upon release from incarceration is long overdue. The current system disproportionately affects people of color. Denying the right to vote to those who have served time within the prism of an already systemically and historically racist incarceration system is geared at furthering disenfranchisement and suppressing their voice. Supporting these bills should not be controversial - they are essential.
I strongly support the full restoration of voting rights for people that have served their sentence, as stated in HB 130, 416, and 795 and HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment automatically to restore the right to vote upon release from prison. The current system that denies former felons the right to ever vote again disproportionately impacts persons of color and serves to perpetuate systemic and structural racism. One’s voting rights should be automatically restored upon the person’s release from incarceration. We are a system built on the right for each person to cast their vote equally. Once a person has completed the sentence for their crime, they should not continue to be punished in perpetuity. We expect formerly incarcerated persons to become fully engaged members of society upon their release, so how can we continue to unfairly disadvantage them by denying them the right to vote and have their voices heard? Please ensure these bills are passed in this General Assembly session so that we may begin to address historical inequity and systemic racism.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. Mass incarceration has served as modern-day slave labor for this state and country, many unjustly placed being bars due to widespread systemic racism and injustice. Virginia can’t continue to be one of two states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone, unless their rights are restored by the Governor. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot. It is time to let Virginians decide.
I am Diane Shea and live in south Stafford County, 22406. I am writing to say that I believe that citizens returning from prison after serving their sentences should be allowed to vote without restriction. Voting is not only the constitutional right of all citizens, but is also an important way to help develop civic engagement for ex-felons who are resuming their participation in community life. As you know, there is bi-partisan support for HB 416, and 65% of Virginians support giving citizens the right to decide in the next election whether the Virginia constitution should be amended, allowing returning citizens who have paid their debt to society be given their right to vote automatically restored. Thank you for your consideration.
Anyone who serves their time should have their rights restored with no other qualifications or penalties.
As a resident of Roanoke County (24018), a retired pastor, and a member of the League of Women Voters (Roanoke Valley), I urge the support of HB130 and HB416. This united measure has bipartisan support along with the support of 65% of Virginians. Automatically restoring the right to vote continues the work of rehabilitation which is the primary goal of our criminal justice system. Returning citizens who have this right restored and subsequently vote are less likely to re-offend and more likely to find the fullness of life and prosperity that we all wish for every citizen of the state of Virginia. Please continue the process begun in 2021 that will allow me the privilege of voting for this constitutional amendment in November. Thank you.
Voting is a right and responsibility for all citizens!
I strongly support this bill as a way of encouraging civic engagement by returning citizens and because it's the right thing for Virginia. Everyone deserves a second chance.
All citizens deserve the right to vote. Those who have served their time should have their voting rights restored. This important civil rights issue is supported by 65% of Virginians. Let them have their say on this issue at the ballot box.
Please support HB416! Voting is an important civic engagement and increases participation in community life. Returning citizens who have served their time should be aloud to vote.
Election Integrity guarantees our voice is heard and the we can trust the system. It is foundational to the backbone of this country. It has been my astonishing revelation that this most SACRED of all abilities - believed to be held UP- in such esteem and REVERENCE yet in reality is trampled upon, disrespected and disgraced , given away with no value whatsoever in order to game the system. It is totally and completely unprotected. IT is UNTRUE. This reminds me of the snake oil salesmen who came into towns in the early days selling fakery and un-truths. As the American people come learn the truth - it IS happening now folks, make no mistake, they will ask the leadership to answer for this'd hold you accountable for this bait and switch. WE need real election integrity for LEGAL CITIZENS ONLY. WE NEED PRISTINELY CLEAN VOTER ROLLS. Here is the list of what we must do to repair and restore the trust of the American People. Establish laws enabling forensic audits and voter canvass Repeal same day voter registration Repeal no voter identification Repeal the permanent absentee ballot list Repeal no-excuse AB Repeal 3rd party mailing of AB Repeal ballot harvesting Eliminate AB drop boxes. We also want 1 day of voting, but anything less than 45 days would be better than nothing. Do not accept AB after Election DAY. Repeal pre-registration of 16 year olds Repeal automatic voter registration by DMV Please vote appropriately on ALL bills in support of these goals. Angela Boyer Great Falls Va 22066
As an educator, mother, voter, active member of my community, and resident of the city of Suffolk in this great Commonwealth, I strongly support HB416 and HB130. It is paramount that exfelons are able to rejoin society as active and engaged members. This includes regaining their right to vote immediately upon release without a potential "poll tax." This premise is supported by the majority of Virginia's from both sides of the aisle. Give the citizens of Virginia a chance to vote on this issue at the ballot box.
My name is Dede Goldsmith and I live in Abingdon VA 24210. I write in support of HB416 because I feel that returning citizens who have served their time in fail should be able to vote. As voting members of society, they can more easily assimilate back into their communities and engage in other aspects of civic life. In my discussions with friends and family, there seems to be bi-partisan support. Please work to pass this bill. Thank you.
Please support HB 416. Those who have served time for crimes should be able to vote upon release. Voting is participating in civil society, the kind of activity that those who have served time should do to increase community. There is bipartisan support for the issue with 65% of Virginians support it. Voters should have a say at the ballot box on this issue. Anne Brennan Williamsburg, VA
I support both HB130 and HB416. Voting is an important part of being an American, and those that have served their time should be given back the right to vote. We should not continue to punish those who have been convicted of a felony by stripping away their rights. Since voting is so fundamental to American society, let the voters have a say at the ballot box.
As a voter, taxpayer, a social justice advocate for SALT, and a member of a faith community, I firmly support the restoration of voting rights for those that have been released from prison. Punishment of the incarcerated should end once they have served their time. All rights should then be restored. I fully support the following statement posted on the ACLU web site: "Access to the ballot box is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time. These returning citizens pay taxes, are contributing members of society, and could be your neighbor. They have completed their sentence, been held accountable for their crime, and been deemed not to be a threat to public safety, yet have a lifetime ban on voting. That’s double jeopardy – punishing people for crimes for which they’ve already paid their debt. Taking away the right to vote should never be used as a punishment for crime." This decision to restore voting rights should not be left solely in the hands of whoever is the governor of Virginia.
I am writing in support of HB416. The right to vote is the most important right of citizenship, and those who have paid their debt to society should be able to access this right. People can alter their lives and should be welcomed back into the community. In addition, changing the current prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting is also more than merely editing wording. It is also an important meaningful change.
I support HB 416.
I am supporting HB 416 that will allow returning citizens who have served their time be able to vote. Voting is an important civic engagement and increases participation in community life. There is bipartisan support 65% of Virginians support Lets voters have a say at the ballot box whether to pass this legislation. Thank you for your support, Sharon McGlone
I support HB416 because I believe voting is a responsibility as well as an inherent right. Returning citizens should be encouraged to take up their civic responsibilities so that they become invested in a strong, well-governed community. This will help prevent recidivism. While registering people to vote I have met people who needed to have their right restored and I have seen the joy when someone learns that he is now eligible to register. Sixty-five percent of Virginians across the political spectrum agree that returning citizens should be able to vote. Virginia voters should have the opportunity to pass the constitutional amendment. I ask you to support this bill and the constitutional amendment.
I strongly support HB 416 to restore voting rights automatically and immediately to returning citizens after they have completed their sentences and have repaid their debt to society. Returning citizens who have served their time should be able to vote; voting is a sign of civic engagement and increases participation in community life. There is bipartisan support with 65% of Virginians supporting automatic restoration of this important and fundamental civic right. The proposed constitutional amendment to correct this vestige of Virginia's Jim Crow past is long overdue- let Virginians decide to end this offensive legacy.
Voting should be simple, quick, and accesible to everyone. We have a lot of elderly and/or disabled residents, people who don't have access to a car, or members of the military serving overseas. Our legislators in Richmond should be working to make every Virginia's voice is heard. In addition, returning citizens should be eligible to vote once their sentence is completed. If they've served their time in prison as determined by a judge and/or jury, no purpose is served by denying them the right to vote.
I strongly support HB 130, 416, and 795 - the constitutional amendment automatically to restore the right to vote upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would finally reverse the last of the racially discriminatory Jim Crow laws in Virginia- the provision in the 1902 Virginia constitution that provides for lifetime disenfranchisement upon conviction of a felony unless restored by the Governor. In support of the 1902 provision, Carter Glass stated that this would prevent “the darkies” from voting. Indeed, in just one year after the provision became effective, the number of black registered voters dropped precipitously. Virginia must not continue to be one of the very few states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone. Nor should any Governor be given plenary power to determine who can and cannot vote. Governors of both parties have exercised this power arbitrarily and capriciously. One Democratic Governor denied an application for restoration because the applicant had “moving violations.” One Republican Governor demanded applicants to describe their “church activities” in considering whether to restore the right to vote. Studies show that people who are denied the right to vote are more likely to reoffend. Once people are released into the community after completing a period of incarceration, they should be able to exercise the most precious right we have in a democracy - the right to vote.
I urge the Committee to approve the constitutional amendment and related bills on the restoration of voting rights for persons convicted of a felony who have completed their sentences, HJ28 and HB416 (Del. Herring), HJ9 and HB130 (Del. Cherry), and HJ72, HB795, and HB796 (Del. Price). As Delegate Cherry said in a recent article, "My faith teaches me that people make mistakes, and they can be redeemed from those mistakes and become, in this case, contributing members to society again. I don’t think we should impose lifetime restrictions and punishments on people when the courts did not deem it necessary to give them a life sentence." My own faith teaches me the same lessons. The restoration of voting rights should be automatic upon a person's release from incarceration and should not be left up to the inclinations of whoever the governor may be at the time. Such restoration tells the person that he or she has been accepted back into society and is expected to fulfill his or her civic responsibilities while enjoying the rights of citizenship. Thank you for considering my views.
Virginia enacted several new voting laws in 2020 and 2021 to make voting more accessible during the pandemic. Early in-person voting hours were increased, mail-in absentee ballots no longer required a witness signature, more drop-box locations were available. These changes led to record voter turnout (with insignificant fraud) in both the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 gubernatorial election. Therefore I oppose any new bill that would restrict our rights to accessible voting.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
HB605 - Constitutional amendment; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition (submitting to qualified voters).
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
I support HB 605. Let's get this done and make it clear that no one is a second-class citizen in Virginia.
I completely agree with a written statement by the ACLU: Access to the ballot box is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time. These returning citizens pay taxes, are contributing members of society, and could be your neighbor. They have completed their sentence, been held accountable for their crime, and been deemed not to be a threat to public safety, yet have a lifetime ban on voting. That’s double jeopardy – punishing people for crimes for which they’ve already paid their debt. Taking away the right to vote should never be used as a punishment for crime. Currently, people with a felony conviction only have one way to gain access to the ballot box –through a governor’s restoration of those rights. This is a power that both Republican and Democrat governors have used to restore rights to thousands of returning citizens. But the process is cumbersome and inconsistent and could be eliminated by future governors. In addition, I am in agreement with a paper prepared by the Racial Justice Ministry at Saint John Neumann Catholic Community in Reston, VA, that made this point: Passing legislation, which moves the proposed constitutional amendment to the voter referendum required by our Constitution, gives Virginia’s voters the opportunity they deserve to decide on their form of government that they want – another right that is fundamental to republican principles of government.
My son should have the same rights in Virginia as everyone else. Please pass this bill and let Virginia vote on it.
Pass the bill! Don't be trash.
In 2015 the Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex/same-gender marriage. Virginia's constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between a man and woman is antiquated, bigoted, and does not represent the welcoming and inclusive state that we are. This bill is about equality and showing that all Virginians are deserving of the same rights that the federal government already ensures. I urge you, whether you agree with the amendment or not, to please support this bill and let Virginians decide. I know they will make the right choice in November. If Virginia is going to be the state for lovers, for equality and inclusion, and for business, then this amendment needs to be brought to a vote and passed.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
HB795 - Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (voter referendum).
I strongly support a Right to Vote amendment, a constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This corresponds to the following bills: HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 Virginians who served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. This is retrograde and unacceptable. Pass these bills!
Delegate Head, members of this subcommittee. My name is Chris DeRosa. I am the leader of the Arlington/Falls Church chapter of Spread the Vote, a 501c3 organization that is powered by volunteers in our community. I am writing to ask for your support of HJ9 (and identical bills HJ28 and HJ72) and report it to the full P&E committee with a recommendation that the committee report the bill to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote. Our volunteers have worked with dozens of returning citizens who wanted their voting rights restored. Almost all believed that their civil rights had been lost permanently, for life. Many were surprised to find out that they could have been voting for as many as 5 or 6 years because their rights had already been restored. For various reasons – homelessness, lack of access to the internet - they had not been notified. They had no clue. For years, they were denied access to one of their fundamental rights. Even now, these returning citizens must complete all terms of their sentence, including probation, and “beg” the Governor for restoration. It’s estimated that nearly 6% of registered voters in Virginia cannot vote because of a felony conviction. That’s nearly 400,000 voters. Even now, 12,000 Virginia voters are disenfranchised every year. That is wrong. They return to their communities after serving their sentences, and yet they cannot vote for the officials who will make laws and set budgets that affect their lives as well as the lives of their family and friends. We have come to realize that the disenfranchisement language in our Constitution was an attempt (a successful one) to suppress the vote of Black Virginians and other people of color. It’s the hateful vestige of Jim Crow laws from the late 1800s and early 1900s as represented by the words of Delegate Carter Glass : (we will) “discriminate to the very extremity… permissible… under the Federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every negro voter who can be gotten rid of, legally…” Most of those who are disenfranchised are, indeed, people of color. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Black men in Virginia cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement. This is a form of racial injustice. And keep in mind, many were trapped by the extremely low felony threshold of $200 that persisted for 38 years, from 1980 until 2018. If you stole a phone or pair of shoes worth $201 in early 2018, you were charged with a felony. Yes, if you steal, you should be punished; but the punishment should not include permanent disenfranchisement. Virginians don’t lose their first Amendment rights or their right to an attorney while they are accused, convicted, or imprisoned. Why do we take away their voting rights? Let us end permanent disenfranchisement in Virginia. Please vote YES on HJ9 (and HJ28 and HJ72) as well as companion referendum bills HB130, 416 and 795. Let the voters of Virginia vote on the proposed amendment in November 2022.
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Right now, Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. The current resolution, which takes away the right to vote for life for all former felons unless restored by the Governor, was an intentionally racist decision that we must revert. When written into the constitution in 1902, this amendment was meant to “eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State.” Within a year of the new constitution being put in place, the number of registered African-American voters decreased by 85%. 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. I strongly support the right to vote amendment because no one should be kept from participating in our democracy.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. I am a college professor who works with first year students on civic responsibility, and we talk about both the right and responsibility of voting. Virginia lags behind the rest of the country in granting these rights to formerly incarcerated people--Virginians deserve to live in a state where every single voice matters and each of us has the opportunity to be represented in our government. My students know this truth and I am hoping that this house will follow suit.
It's time to let Virginian’s decide this issue. I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9, and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. NOBODY SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIFE. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot.
I strongly support HB130, HB795, HJ9 and HJ72. The automatic and full restoration of voting rights for people upon release from incarceration is long overdue. The current system disproportionately affects people of color. Denying the right to vote to those who have served time within the prism of an already systemically and historically racist incarceration system is geared at furthering disenfranchisement and suppressing their voice. Supporting these bills should not be controversial - they are essential.
I strongly support the full restoration of voting rights for people that have served their sentence, as stated in HB 130, 416, and 795 and HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment automatically to restore the right to vote upon release from prison. The current system that denies former felons the right to ever vote again disproportionately impacts persons of color and serves to perpetuate systemic and structural racism. One’s voting rights should be automatically restored upon the person’s release from incarceration. We are a system built on the right for each person to cast their vote equally. Once a person has completed the sentence for their crime, they should not continue to be punished in perpetuity. We expect formerly incarcerated persons to become fully engaged members of society upon their release, so how can we continue to unfairly disadvantage them by denying them the right to vote and have their voices heard? Please ensure these bills are passed in this General Assembly session so that we may begin to address historical inequity and systemic racism.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. Mass incarceration has served as modern-day slave labor for this state and country, many unjustly placed being bars due to widespread systemic racism and injustice. Virginia can’t continue to be one of two states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone, unless their rights are restored by the Governor. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot. It is time to let Virginians decide.
As a voter, taxpayer, a social justice advocate for SALT, and a member of a faith community, I firmly support the restoration of voting rights for those that have been released from prison. Punishment of the incarcerated should end once they have served their time. All rights should then be restored. I fully support the following statement posted on the ACLU web site: "Access to the ballot box is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time. These returning citizens pay taxes, are contributing members of society, and could be your neighbor. They have completed their sentence, been held accountable for their crime, and been deemed not to be a threat to public safety, yet have a lifetime ban on voting. That’s double jeopardy – punishing people for crimes for which they’ve already paid their debt. Taking away the right to vote should never be used as a punishment for crime." This decision to restore voting rights should not be left solely in the hands of whoever is the governor of Virginia.
I strongly support HB 130, 416, and 795 - the constitutional amendment automatically to restore the right to vote upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would finally reverse the last of the racially discriminatory Jim Crow laws in Virginia- the provision in the 1902 Virginia constitution that provides for lifetime disenfranchisement upon conviction of a felony unless restored by the Governor. In support of the 1902 provision, Carter Glass stated that this would prevent “the darkies” from voting. Indeed, in just one year after the provision became effective, the number of black registered voters dropped precipitously. Virginia must not continue to be one of the very few states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone. Nor should any Governor be given plenary power to determine who can and cannot vote. Governors of both parties have exercised this power arbitrarily and capriciously. One Democratic Governor denied an application for restoration because the applicant had “moving violations.” One Republican Governor demanded applicants to describe their “church activities” in considering whether to restore the right to vote. Studies show that people who are denied the right to vote are more likely to reoffend. Once people are released into the community after completing a period of incarceration, they should be able to exercise the most precious right we have in a democracy - the right to vote.
I urge the Committee to approve the constitutional amendment and related bills on the restoration of voting rights for persons convicted of a felony who have completed their sentences, HJ28 and HB416 (Del. Herring), HJ9 and HB130 (Del. Cherry), and HJ72, HB795, and HB796 (Del. Price). As Delegate Cherry said in a recent article, "My faith teaches me that people make mistakes, and they can be redeemed from those mistakes and become, in this case, contributing members to society again. I don’t think we should impose lifetime restrictions and punishments on people when the courts did not deem it necessary to give them a life sentence." My own faith teaches me the same lessons. The restoration of voting rights should be automatic upon a person's release from incarceration and should not be left up to the inclinations of whoever the governor may be at the time. Such restoration tells the person that he or she has been accepted back into society and is expected to fulfill his or her civic responsibilities while enjoying the rights of citizenship. Thank you for considering my views.
Virginia enacted several new voting laws in 2020 and 2021 to make voting more accessible during the pandemic. Early in-person voting hours were increased, mail-in absentee ballots no longer required a witness signature, more drop-box locations were available. These changes led to record voter turnout (with insignificant fraud) in both the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 gubernatorial election. Therefore I oppose any new bill that would restrict our rights to accessible voting.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
HB796 - Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration.
NO MACHINES !! SEE FRANKSPEECH.COM, HOME PAGE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY, SPEAK WITH AMANDA CHASE IN VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
I urge the Committee to approve the constitutional amendment and related bills on the restoration of voting rights for persons convicted of a felony who have completed their sentences, HJ28 and HB416 (Del. Herring), HJ9 and HB130 (Del. Cherry), and HJ72, HB795, and HB796 (Del. Price). As Delegate Cherry said in a recent article, "My faith teaches me that people make mistakes, and they can be redeemed from those mistakes and become, in this case, contributing members to society again. I don’t think we should impose lifetime restrictions and punishments on people when the courts did not deem it necessary to give them a life sentence." My own faith teaches me the same lessons. The restoration of voting rights should be automatic upon a person's release from incarceration and should not be left up to the inclinations of whoever the governor may be at the time. Such restoration tells the person that he or she has been accepted back into society and is expected to fulfill his or her civic responsibilities while enjoying the rights of citizenship. Thank you for considering my views.
Virginia enacted several new voting laws in 2020 and 2021 to make voting more accessible during the pandemic. Early in-person voting hours were increased, mail-in absentee ballots no longer required a witness signature, more drop-box locations were available. These changes led to record voter turnout (with insignificant fraud) in both the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 gubernatorial election. Therefore I oppose any new bill that would restrict our rights to accessible voting.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
HB1102 - Gubernatorial appointments to boards; membership and terms.
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
Voter ID required, limit mail in ballots, no drop boxes, cutoff for registration to vote 2 -3 weeks prior, citizens only, clean voter registration polls weekly, modify length of residency to qualify to register
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Beth Alley
BOTH HJ9 and HB130. Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. "I say to people today, 'You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end." -- John Lewis "We have come a long way in America because of Martin Luther King, Jr. He led a disciplined, nonviolent revolution under the rule of law, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. We've come a long way, but we still have a distance to go before all of our citizens embrace the idea of a truly interracial democracy, what I like to call the Beloved Community, a nation at peace with itself." -- John Lewis Sincerely, Marilyn Karp BOTH HJ9 and HB130.
HJ9 - Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (second reference).
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sarah DeVoe
Please support both bills.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be------with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Sincerely, Janet Hollis
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. I cannot believe that we are still fighting to protect the right of all Virginians to vote. It is the basis of our democracy! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kathe Wood Falzer
I strongly support a Right to Vote amendment, a constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This corresponds to the following bills: HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 Virginians who served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. This is retrograde and unacceptable. Pass these bills!
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Susan Carron
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Lucia Anderson 16007 Laconia Circle Woodbridge 22191 leander17@comcast.net
For heaven's sakes, if you deny voting priviledges ANY adult citizen of the United States of America, you should NOT have the right to charge them ANY kind of taxes - local, state, or federal. That is TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
To maintain our democracy, it is important for all adults to be able to vote, with the exceptions of convicted felons serving prison sentences, and adults who are unable to understand the idea of voting. This right should be part of Virginia's constitution, spelled out specifically.
MESSAGE Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Abra Smith
Dear members of the Privileges and Elections Committee: Please vote in favor of the Right to Vote amendment and the referendum bill HJ9. Virginia's voters should have the responsibility for affirming the intent of our Constitution, that every person who meets the qualifications of being a voter shall be assured of their fundamental right to vote. Thank you for your service. Dede Goldsmith Abingdon, VA
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills HJ9. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Gina Caceci
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you greatly for listening to the people Sincerely, Barbara Cannon
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration.
All Virginia voters should be guaranteed fair and equal opportunity to vote and access to polling sites. I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Let Virginia voters decide.
To the Privileges and Elections subcommittee: I respectfully request your subcommittee recommend a Constitutional Amendment to implement automatic restoration of voting rights to those who complete prison terms for felonies. I actually think those serving time should be allowed to vote WHILE serving, as is allowed in the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont. Thank you for your consideration. —M Saucedo, Alexandria VA
Delegate Head, members of this subcommittee. My name is Chris DeRosa. I am the leader of the Arlington/Falls Church chapter of Spread the Vote, a 501c3 organization that is powered by volunteers in our community. I am writing to ask for your support of HJ9 (and identical bills HJ28 and HJ72) and report it to the full P&E committee with a recommendation that the committee report the bill to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote. Our volunteers have worked with dozens of returning citizens who wanted their voting rights restored. Almost all believed that their civil rights had been lost permanently, for life. Many were surprised to find out that they could have been voting for as many as 5 or 6 years because their rights had already been restored. For various reasons – homelessness, lack of access to the internet - they had not been notified. They had no clue. For years, they were denied access to one of their fundamental rights. Even now, these returning citizens must complete all terms of their sentence, including probation, and “beg” the Governor for restoration. It’s estimated that nearly 6% of registered voters in Virginia cannot vote because of a felony conviction. That’s nearly 400,000 voters. Even now, 12,000 Virginia voters are disenfranchised every year. That is wrong. They return to their communities after serving their sentences, and yet they cannot vote for the officials who will make laws and set budgets that affect their lives as well as the lives of their family and friends. We have come to realize that the disenfranchisement language in our Constitution was an attempt (a successful one) to suppress the vote of Black Virginians and other people of color. It’s the hateful vestige of Jim Crow laws from the late 1800s and early 1900s as represented by the words of Delegate Carter Glass : (we will) “discriminate to the very extremity… permissible… under the Federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every negro voter who can be gotten rid of, legally…” Most of those who are disenfranchised are, indeed, people of color. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Black men in Virginia cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement. This is a form of racial injustice. And keep in mind, many were trapped by the extremely low felony threshold of $200 that persisted for 38 years, from 1980 until 2018. If you stole a phone or pair of shoes worth $201 in early 2018, you were charged with a felony. Yes, if you steal, you should be punished; but the punishment should not include permanent disenfranchisement. Virginians don’t lose their first Amendment rights or their right to an attorney while they are accused, convicted, or imprisoned. Why do we take away their voting rights? Let us end permanent disenfranchisement in Virginia. Please vote YES on HJ9 (and HJ28 and HJ72) as well as companion referendum bills HB130, 416 and 795. Let the voters of Virginia vote on the proposed amendment in November 2022.
The VA NAACP doesn't support legislation that limits access to voters. Hb1090 Hb149 hb121 hb 249 hb 178 hb24 Support Hj9 hj130
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
Dear Privileges and Election Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be - with Virginia’s voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Joy M. Smith
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michelle
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Tara Casey
I support HJ9, HJ8, and HJ72. I believe convicted felons should have their voting rights restored upon their release from incarceration without further action being required. HOWEVER, I am asking that such persons be provided with clear information instructing them that they must register in order to exercise their right to vote. I am an Officer of Election and have had people whose rights were restored have to cast provisional ballots because they didn't realize their voter registration was CANCELLED when they were incarcerated and that their registration was NOT automatically reactivated when their rights were restored. I contacted the State after this happened twice and was told that while a voter registration form was provided to released persons they were not allowed to tell people that they had to register to vote, as Virginia does not require everyone to register to vote nor do we automatically enroll anyone to vote. I am asking that the State be allowed to tell released felons that their previous registration is no longer valid and they need to submit another registration request. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Linda Cole
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Andrianne Konstas-Salvette
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Cyane Lowden
My name is Avohom Carpenter and I am the President of the Chesterfield NAACP. The Chesterfield County NAACP supports HB130 and HJ9 by our local Delegate Mike Cherry and all the similar bills that are also carrying the same language. The passage of the Constitutional amendment and voter referendum are vital to Virginia reaching the values that we preach of being a place of second chances and to erase the stench of Jim Crow the era that this legislation was born out of. It's time that all Virginians that have paid their debt to society are able to become full citizens and full participants in our democracy. For so long I have spoken to people who have felt diminished, marginalized, degraded and second class because even after their debts were paid they were still disenfranchised and unable to complete their civic duty to their community and country. I remember the encounter I had with a citizen who had committed a crime in their youth and now in her late 60s still was denied the ability to be a full citizen. This women had been a nurse, raised her children and was a grandparent but felt incomplete. I had helped her apply to get her rights restored and 2 months later Governor Northam signed an order to restore her voting rights. She called me overwhelmed and crying because she was so overjoyed and finally for the first time in her life felt whole in our society. These bills are beyond partisan politics, its about people. Real people in our communities, families, and places of employment who deserve second chances and to be whole again. I strongly encourage members of this community and the General Assembly to pass these bills.
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
I believe the purpose of prison is to rehabilitate offenders not just to punish them. Therefore, when a person has successfully completed their sentence and been returned to society, they should have their voting rights returned.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Robin Smith
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, James and Dorothy Joslin
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, James and Dorothy Joslin
I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. People who have paid their debt to society should have their right to vote restored and become fully reintegrated into civil society. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Let voters decide this important issue during the 2022 elections. Thank you for considering this input.
It is my position that once felons have served their time and have been released from incarceration, their right to vote should automatically be restored, and if it takes a constitutional amendment, that's what it takes. I want to see this amendment on my ballot this fall. Please make that happen. Thanks, Laura
Dear Members of Privileges and Election Subcommittee I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. My ancestors fought diligently for the right to vote and this important decision should remain, with each voter. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sharon T. McGlone
I'm writing in support of HJ 9, the Right to Vote constitutional amendment. Please vote YES for HJ 9 and let Virginia voters decide in the November election whether people who have served their time should be able to vote. Thank you for supporting HJ 9.
MESSAGE Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely- Jacque Meriam
I urge the Privileges and Election Committe Members to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this decision in the Virginia voters during our 2022 elections. Thank you for consideration, Sincerely, Joanne Glass
I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Virginia voters need to be able to voice their opinions on this matter. People who have paid their debt to society need to be able to register to vote. Let voters decide this important issue during the 2022 elections. Pat Fege
I strongly urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Virginia voters need to be able to voice their opinions on this matter. People who have paid their debt to society need to be able to register to vote. Let voters decide this important issue during the 2022 elections. Pat Fege
Dear Members of the House P & E Committee I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Once a person has served the sentence that the judge and/or jury determined was appropriate for the crime, the person should have the rights of serving the Commonwealth and country restored. There is mounting evidence that people who do have their citizenship respected are far less likely to be incarcerated again because they have been restored to the community. Yours sincerely, Sidney Johnson
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. The exact language passed last year and must be passed again this year. Virginia must guarantee the right to vote to all citizens, including convicted felons who have completed their sentences. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Karen Gatz Annandale, VA 22003
I urge the Committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and associated bills. There is no more important civil right to citizens than that of choosing their elected officials who are sworn to represent them. Allowing the voters to decide whether or not felons who have served their sentences should regain their right to vote should be decided during the 2022 elections by the citizens of Virginia.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sandra Tarpinian
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sheila Sandford
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. There is no more important civic role than participating in our democracy. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. There is no more important civic role than participating in our democracy. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. I have worked the polls for many years and have complete faith in Virginia's voting system and voters. Let the Voters decide! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Liz Herlich
I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nancy J. Brown
I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of HJ9 and HB130 to allow the voters of Virginia to decide to automatically restore the right to vote to persons who have served their period of incarceration after conviction for a crime. Voting is the most fundamental right of citizens in a democracy, and individuals who have made mistakes should have that right restored once they have served their sentence. The citizens of Virginia support the proposed constitutional amendment and should be given the opportunity to show that support through a referendum on the ballot in November 2022. Thank you.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Robert Roop
Individuals who have completed their terms of felony incarceration have fulfilled their debt to society. They should be able to participate in and contribute to society. Their right to vote, enshrined in the Constitution of the United States, should be automatically restored.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Barbara F. Greiling
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, Those who have paid their full debt to society and have been deemed fit for release should have the opportunity to choose the people who represent them and to engage fully in civic life. I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bill: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Gail Christie
Vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Mary Valder
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nancy Priddy
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you.
Dear Delegate Cherry: Thank you for sponsoring the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. I wholeheartedly support your efforts on behalf of returning citizens and all other Virginia citizens. Sincerely, Sarah Thomas Mayhew
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members: I urge passage of all bills related to the Right to Vote amendment (HJ9 and HB 130). Please enable this process to reach its appropriate conclusion, namely each voter's ballot in the 2022 election. I look forward to my opportunity to cast my vote restoring this most precious of rights to returning citizens after the completion of their time of incarceration. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members: I urge passage of all bills related to the Right to Vote amendment (HJ9 and HB 130). Please enable this process to reach its appropriate conclusion, namely each voter's ballot in the 2022 election. I look forward to my opportunity to cast my vote restoring this most precious of rights to returning citizens after the completion of their time of incarceration. Thank you for your consideration.
I am in support of HJ9 and HB130. Give the voters a chance to make this a Constitutional amendment.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Brenda Davis
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Anne Geraty
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, We urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Shirley and Don Payne
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, This letter is in support of HJ9. I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Margaret Knight
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kelly Coleman
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Right now, Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. The current resolution, which takes away the right to vote for life for all former felons unless restored by the Governor, was an intentionally racist decision that we must revert. When written into the constitution in 1902, this amendment was meant to “eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State.” Within a year of the new constitution being put in place, the number of registered African-American voters decreased by 85%. 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. I strongly support the right to vote amendment because no one should be kept from participating in our democracy.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. I am a college professor who works with first year students on civic responsibility, and we talk about both the right and responsibility of voting. Virginia lags behind the rest of the country in granting these rights to formerly incarcerated people--Virginians deserve to live in a state where every single voice matters and each of us has the opportunity to be represented in our government. My students know this truth and I am hoping that this house will follow suit.
It's time to let Virginian’s decide this issue. I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9, and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. NOBODY SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIFE. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot.
I strongly support HB130, HB795, HJ9 and HJ72. The automatic and full restoration of voting rights for people upon release from incarceration is long overdue. The current system disproportionately affects people of color. Denying the right to vote to those who have served time within the prism of an already systemically and historically racist incarceration system is geared at furthering disenfranchisement and suppressing their voice. Supporting these bills should not be controversial - they are essential.
Fair Elections Center writes to voice its strong support for HJ9. Virginia voters should have a final say on whether to protect the freedom to vote in their constitution. Last year, the General Assembly passed SJ272, which would amend the state constitution to grant an affirmative right to vote for registered Virginia voters, restore the right to people with felony convictions upon their release from incarceration, and add protections for voters with certain disabilities. It has been reintroduced as HJ9 and must pass again this session to be placed on the ballot for final approval by voters. Virginia is one of only a few states that restores the freedom to vote to people with felony convictions based on clemency, not law. As with gerrymandering, this practice allows politicians to choose their voters by manipulating the composition of the electorate. It is also deeply unpopular, across party lines: 63% of Americans support restoration upon completion of sentence, including 62% of Republicans. Indeed, in Florida—which has a Republican governor and two Republican U.S. Senators, and where the majority of voters cast their ballot for the Republican presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020—voters adopted a constitutional amendment to restore the freedom to vote to returning citizens who have completed their sentences by an overwhelming margin, with 64.55% supporting the amendment. While Americans may deeply disagree on many issues, rights restoration is not one of them. Returning citizens are parents, caregivers, veterans, essential workers, small business owners, and community leaders. Once they have been released from incarceration and have rejoined society, they should have the same freedom as other Virginians to hold their representatives accountable and weigh in on laws affecting their rights, children, and livelihoods. Fair Elections Center respectfully urges the House Privileges and Elections Committee to approve HJ9 without amendment and send it to the floor for a vote.
Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, and yet Virginia has not always wanted or made it easy for everyone to vote. The 1902 constitution included poll taxes, literacy requirements and constitutional understanding tests designed to keep Black people from the ballot box. It worked to dramatically reduce both Black and many poor White voters. Remnants of this terrible history remain. Virginia's constitution takes away the right to vote forever from people who have committed a felony but have served their time and who have returned to their communities. As a person of faith and goodwill, I believe in restoration. As a person of faith in a democracy, I believe that people who have served their sentences deserve a chance to choose the people who represent them. Restoration to the community requires restoration of voting rights in a democracy. A constitutional amendment is necessary to guarantee the right to vote for all Virginians 18 and over who are not serving time for a felony conviction. Our democracy is stronger and more representative of everyone's concerns when more people are allowed to participate in it.
I write in strong support of passing this bill. How can we expect people who have served their time to feel invested in a society that refuses to allow their participation at the most fundamental levels? "Corrections" implys a second chance, but these voting laws imply otherwise. Hope is a powerful motivator, and I believe voting provides hope for ones future, which helps a person to re-invest in their life and community. Without that hope, why should felons they stay on the straight and narrow? Our society must allow re-integration if we have any hope of preventing recidivism.
I write in strong support this constitutional amendment. As people of faith and goodwill, we believe in restoration. As people of faith in a democracy, we believe that people who have served their sentences deserve a chance to choose the people who represent them. Restoration to the community requires restoration of voting rights in a democracy. Formerly incarcerated persons who have paid their debt to society cannot be full citizens if they are not permitted to vote. And full citizenship should be our goal for all citizens.
Voting is a right and responsibility for all citizens!
As a voter, taxpayer, a social justice advocate for SALT, and a member of a faith community, I firmly support the restoration of voting rights for those that have been released from prison. Punishment of the incarcerated should end once they have served their time. All rights should then be restored. I fully support the following statement posted on the ACLU web site: "Access to the ballot box is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time. These returning citizens pay taxes, are contributing members of society, and could be your neighbor. They have completed their sentence, been held accountable for their crime, and been deemed not to be a threat to public safety, yet have a lifetime ban on voting. That’s double jeopardy – punishing people for crimes for which they’ve already paid their debt. Taking away the right to vote should never be used as a punishment for crime." This decision to restore voting rights should not be left solely in the hands of whoever is the governor of Virginia.
Election Integrity guarantees our voice is heard and the we can trust the system. It is foundational to the backbone of this country. It has been my astonishing revelation that this most SACRED of all abilities - believed to be held UP- in such esteem and REVERENCE yet in reality is trampled upon, disrespected and disgraced , given away with no value whatsoever in order to game the system. It is totally and completely unprotected. IT is UNTRUE. This reminds me of the snake oil salesmen who came into towns in the early days selling fakery and un-truths. As the American people come learn the truth - it IS happening now folks, make no mistake, they will ask the leadership to answer for this'd hold you accountable for this bait and switch. WE need real election integrity for LEGAL CITIZENS ONLY. WE NEED PRISTINELY CLEAN VOTER ROLLS. Here is the list of what we must do to repair and restore the trust of the American People. Establish laws enabling forensic audits and voter canvass Repeal same day voter registration Repeal no voter identification Repeal the permanent absentee ballot list Repeal no-excuse AB Repeal 3rd party mailing of AB Repeal ballot harvesting Eliminate AB drop boxes. We also want 1 day of voting, but anything less than 45 days would be better than nothing. Do not accept AB after Election DAY. Repeal pre-registration of 16 year olds Repeal automatic voter registration by DMV Please vote appropriately on ALL bills in support of these goals. Angela Boyer Great Falls Va 22066
HJ28 - Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (second reference).
To the Privileges and Elections subcommittee: I respectfully request your subcommittee recommend a Constitutional Amendment to implement automatic restoration of voting rights to those who complete prison terms for felonies. I actually think those serving time should be allowed to vote WHILE serving, as is allowed in the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont. Thank you for your consideration. —M Saucedo, Alexandria VA
Delegate Head, members of this subcommittee. My name is Chris DeRosa. I am the leader of the Arlington/Falls Church chapter of Spread the Vote, a 501c3 organization that is powered by volunteers in our community. I am writing to ask for your support of HJ9 (and identical bills HJ28 and HJ72) and report it to the full P&E committee with a recommendation that the committee report the bill to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote. Our volunteers have worked with dozens of returning citizens who wanted their voting rights restored. Almost all believed that their civil rights had been lost permanently, for life. Many were surprised to find out that they could have been voting for as many as 5 or 6 years because their rights had already been restored. For various reasons – homelessness, lack of access to the internet - they had not been notified. They had no clue. For years, they were denied access to one of their fundamental rights. Even now, these returning citizens must complete all terms of their sentence, including probation, and “beg” the Governor for restoration. It’s estimated that nearly 6% of registered voters in Virginia cannot vote because of a felony conviction. That’s nearly 400,000 voters. Even now, 12,000 Virginia voters are disenfranchised every year. That is wrong. They return to their communities after serving their sentences, and yet they cannot vote for the officials who will make laws and set budgets that affect their lives as well as the lives of their family and friends. We have come to realize that the disenfranchisement language in our Constitution was an attempt (a successful one) to suppress the vote of Black Virginians and other people of color. It’s the hateful vestige of Jim Crow laws from the late 1800s and early 1900s as represented by the words of Delegate Carter Glass : (we will) “discriminate to the very extremity… permissible… under the Federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every negro voter who can be gotten rid of, legally…” Most of those who are disenfranchised are, indeed, people of color. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Black men in Virginia cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement. This is a form of racial injustice. And keep in mind, many were trapped by the extremely low felony threshold of $200 that persisted for 38 years, from 1980 until 2018. If you stole a phone or pair of shoes worth $201 in early 2018, you were charged with a felony. Yes, if you steal, you should be punished; but the punishment should not include permanent disenfranchisement. Virginians don’t lose their first Amendment rights or their right to an attorney while they are accused, convicted, or imprisoned. Why do we take away their voting rights? Let us end permanent disenfranchisement in Virginia. Please vote YES on HJ9 (and HJ28 and HJ72) as well as companion referendum bills HB130, 416 and 795. Let the voters of Virginia vote on the proposed amendment in November 2022.
I support HJ9, HJ8, and HJ72. I believe convicted felons should have their voting rights restored upon their release from incarceration without further action being required. HOWEVER, I am asking that such persons be provided with clear information instructing them that they must register in order to exercise their right to vote. I am an Officer of Election and have had people whose rights were restored have to cast provisional ballots because they didn't realize their voter registration was CANCELLED when they were incarcerated and that their registration was NOT automatically reactivated when their rights were restored. I contacted the State after this happened twice and was told that while a voter registration form was provided to released persons they were not allowed to tell people that they had to register to vote, as Virginia does not require everyone to register to vote nor do we automatically enroll anyone to vote. I am asking that the State be allowed to tell released felons that their previous registration is no longer valid and they need to submit another registration request. Thank you for your consideration.
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
Dear Privileges and Elections Committee Members, I urge the committee to vote in favor of the Right to Vote Amendment and the associated referendum bills: HJ9 and HB130. Passing the amendment places the responsibility for this important decision where it should be – with Virginia's voters during the 2022 elections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sandra Tarpinian
HJ57 - Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to marry, same-sex marriage prohibition.
I urge you to allow passage of HJ57 out of subcommittee so that it may reach the House floor for a fair vote. This important matter of basic respect to Virginians deserves consideration by the full House of Delegates. A large majority of Virginians favor the marriage equality sought by this Constitutional Amendment and the voters deserve the right to see it on this November’s ballot to express that. Thousands of Virginia citizens deserve to have their legal marriages respected by the Commonwealth. My faith calls me to respect the inherent worth and dignity of all people. I believe that this Constitutional Amendment articulates that respect. Respectfully, David McTaggart
As the mother of a intelligent, beautiful, and loving 32 year old gay daughter with a partner who she loves and we love, I ask you to not kill the Marriage Amendment HJ57. It should be allowed to come to the House floor for a fair debate and vote. I’m sure you know that a large percentage of Virginia voters are in favor of Marriage equality so we deserve the right to vote on this in November.
A very early good morning to you, Chair and Members of the Subcommittee. I urge you to pass HJRes 57 so that it can get a fair hearing in the full House of Delegates. As a person of faith, I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and that all adults deserve the right to marry the one they love. As the mother of two children born and raised in Virginia, affirming the right to marriage equality is very important to me personally. I dream that both my children will be able to live in Virginia with their life partners. Please support HJ57. Thank you.
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
I am a Unitarian Universalist minister, serving congregations in Mt. Vernon, Arlington, Burke, and Charlottesville since 1990. Our faith takes the side of love, and blesses the marriage between two people who love one another irregardless of race, sexual orientation, or gender. It has been my honor to be able to sign the Virginia marriage licenses of loving hetero couples for 25 years, and for same sex couples since 2014. Today I urge the right for same sex couples to marry to be codified in the Virginia Consitution. Please pass Constititional Marriage Amendment HJ 57!
Dear Mr. Speaker, Mr. Leader, and Mr. Chair, The Marriage Amendment to the Virginia Constitution (HJ57) was assigned late today, February 7, 2022, to be heard in the Privileges and Elections Subcommittee tomorrow, February 8: 2022, morning in a hearing beginning at 7am. I urge you to allow passage of HJ57 out of subcommittee so that it may reach the House floor for a fair vote. This important matter of basic respect to Virginians deserves consideration by the full House of Delegates. A large majority of Virginians favor the marriage equality sought by this Constitutional Amendment and the voters deserve the right to see it on this November’s ballot to express that. Thousands of Virginia citizens deserve to have their legal marriages respected by the Commonwealth. As a former Peace Corps Volunteer and retired Foreign Service Officer, I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people as a basic human right. Thank you. Respectfully, William Walls Arlington, Virginia
I urge the subcommittee to pass HJ57 out of subcommittee to allow the full House to vote on this amendment as passed last year. A majority of the house and a majority of citizens support freedom of marriage. For the subcommittee to kill this measure--at 7:00 am with little warning, no less--would be to deny the will of the people. You know the rules, and so do we. Pass it out of subcommittee. That is the moral thing to do. We are watching.
Dear Mr. Speaker, Mr. Leader, and Mr. Chair, I have learned that this action is set to come up for a Privileges and Elections subcommittee vote on February 8 and I urge you to allow passage of HJ57 out of subcommittee so that it may reach the House floor for a fair vote. This important matter of basic respect to Virginians deserves consideration by the full House of Delegates! A large majority of Virginians favor the marriage equality sought by this Constitutional Amendment, and the voters deserve the right to see it on this November’s ballot to express that. Thousands of Virginia citizens and families deserve to have their legal marriages respected by the Commonwealth. Thank you. Dana Cook Arlington, VA
Thank you to the chair person and the committee for the opportunity to speak in support of Del. Sickle’s bill HJ 57. This is the second time this bill will be heard by the House in hopeful preparation of it being put before the citizens of VA. I am Carol Schall and was, with my wife Mary, one of the plaintiffs in the Bostic case that led to marriage equality in Virginia in 2014. Since that time, support for Marriage Equality has grown in VA. Marriage Equality has been the law of VA for 7.5 years. During that time, there has been joy in families as they come together to celebrate love. During that time, children of same sex couples have had families who fully legally recognized by their state and country. During that time, we have enjoyed the simple yet profound honor of legally calling each other wife, and mom. There has not been great discord. There hasn’t been slippery slopes leading to demise. There has been joy and love and legal recognition. That’s all this bill supports. I humbly ask for your yes vote to move this bill to the floor Thank you!
As a clergy person in the United Church of Christ, and a supporter of Equality Virginia, I believe that the right to marry is an inherent right given to all people. I believe that all marriages should be treated equally under the law, regardless of the sex/gender of the partners. I have been moved to personally know gay men and women who have committed their lives to each other in the fullness of marriage. This sacred covenant of marriage deserves protection through this amendment. Thank you, Rev. Laura Martin
Dear Mr. Speaker, Mr. Leader, and Mr. Chair, We see that this action is set to come up for a Privileges and Elections subcommittee vote on February 8 and we urge you to allow passage of HJ57 out of subcommittee so that it may reach the House floor for a fair vote. This important matter of basic respect to Virginians deserves consideration by the full House of Delegates. A large majority of Virginians favor the marriage equality sought by this Constitutional Amendment and the voters deserve the right to see it on this November’s ballot to express that. Thousands of Virginia citizens deserve to have their legal marriages respected by the Commonwealth. Our faith family believes as a core principle in the inherent worth and dignity of all people. We believe that this Constitutional Amendment articulates that respect. Betsy Rosso on behalf of Equality UUCA Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA www.uucava.org
We urge you to allow passage of HJ57 out of subcommittee so that it may reach the House floor for a fair vote. This important matter of basic respect to Virginians deserves consideration by the full House of Delegates. A large majority of Virginians favor the marriage equality sought by this Constitutional Amendment and the voters deserve the right to see it on this November’s ballot to express that. Thousands of Virginia citizens deserve to have their legal marriages respected by the Commonwealth. Our faith affirms the inherent worth and dignity of all people as a core principle. We believe this Constitutional Amendment respects that basic principle.
HJ72 - Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (second reference).
I strongly support a Right to Vote amendment, a constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This corresponds to the following bills: HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 Virginians who served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. This is retrograde and unacceptable. Pass these bills!
To the Privileges and Elections subcommittee: I respectfully request your subcommittee recommend a Constitutional Amendment to implement automatic restoration of voting rights to those who complete prison terms for felonies. I actually think those serving time should be allowed to vote WHILE serving, as is allowed in the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont. Thank you for your consideration. —M Saucedo, Alexandria VA
Delegate Head, members of this subcommittee. My name is Chris DeRosa. I am the leader of the Arlington/Falls Church chapter of Spread the Vote, a 501c3 organization that is powered by volunteers in our community. I am writing to ask for your support of HJ9 (and identical bills HJ28 and HJ72) and report it to the full P&E committee with a recommendation that the committee report the bill to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote. Our volunteers have worked with dozens of returning citizens who wanted their voting rights restored. Almost all believed that their civil rights had been lost permanently, for life. Many were surprised to find out that they could have been voting for as many as 5 or 6 years because their rights had already been restored. For various reasons – homelessness, lack of access to the internet - they had not been notified. They had no clue. For years, they were denied access to one of their fundamental rights. Even now, these returning citizens must complete all terms of their sentence, including probation, and “beg” the Governor for restoration. It’s estimated that nearly 6% of registered voters in Virginia cannot vote because of a felony conviction. That’s nearly 400,000 voters. Even now, 12,000 Virginia voters are disenfranchised every year. That is wrong. They return to their communities after serving their sentences, and yet they cannot vote for the officials who will make laws and set budgets that affect their lives as well as the lives of their family and friends. We have come to realize that the disenfranchisement language in our Constitution was an attempt (a successful one) to suppress the vote of Black Virginians and other people of color. It’s the hateful vestige of Jim Crow laws from the late 1800s and early 1900s as represented by the words of Delegate Carter Glass : (we will) “discriminate to the very extremity… permissible… under the Federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every negro voter who can be gotten rid of, legally…” Most of those who are disenfranchised are, indeed, people of color. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Black men in Virginia cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement. This is a form of racial injustice. And keep in mind, many were trapped by the extremely low felony threshold of $200 that persisted for 38 years, from 1980 until 2018. If you stole a phone or pair of shoes worth $201 in early 2018, you were charged with a felony. Yes, if you steal, you should be punished; but the punishment should not include permanent disenfranchisement. Virginians don’t lose their first Amendment rights or their right to an attorney while they are accused, convicted, or imprisoned. Why do we take away their voting rights? Let us end permanent disenfranchisement in Virginia. Please vote YES on HJ9 (and HJ28 and HJ72) as well as companion referendum bills HB130, 416 and 795. Let the voters of Virginia vote on the proposed amendment in November 2022.
I support HJ9, HJ8, and HJ72. I believe convicted felons should have their voting rights restored upon their release from incarceration without further action being required. HOWEVER, I am asking that such persons be provided with clear information instructing them that they must register in order to exercise their right to vote. I am an Officer of Election and have had people whose rights were restored have to cast provisional ballots because they didn't realize their voter registration was CANCELLED when they were incarcerated and that their registration was NOT automatically reactivated when their rights were restored. I contacted the State after this happened twice and was told that while a voter registration form was provided to released persons they were not allowed to tell people that they had to register to vote, as Virginia does not require everyone to register to vote nor do we automatically enroll anyone to vote. I am asking that the State be allowed to tell released felons that their previous registration is no longer valid and they need to submit another registration request. Thank you for your consideration.
The Virginia League of Conservation Supports HB130, HB416, HB795, HB796, HJ9, HJ28 and HJ72. It is time for Virginia to pass the Constitutional Amendment that allows for the restoration of civil rights in the Commonwealth. Virginia LCV supports expanding access and Virginia is 1 of only 3 states that permanently disenfranchises voters. It is time that we as a Commonwealth move past this Jim Crow era law and catch up with the rest of the nation on this issue. This should not a partisan political issue but a chance that our values as a Commonwealth match the laws we have on the books.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. Right now, Virginia is one of two states that permanently takes away the right to vote from people with felony convictions, including those who have served their time, unless the Governor restores their right. The current resolution, which takes away the right to vote for life for all former felons unless restored by the Governor, was an intentionally racist decision that we must revert. When written into the constitution in 1902, this amendment was meant to “eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State.” Within a year of the new constitution being put in place, the number of registered African-American voters decreased by 85%. 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. I strongly support the right to vote amendment because no one should be kept from participating in our democracy.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virginians upon release from prison. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, would restore the right to vote to over 250,000 fellow Virginians who have served their time but are still denied a voice in their government. I am a college professor who works with first year students on civic responsibility, and we talk about both the right and responsibility of voting. Virginia lags behind the rest of the country in granting these rights to formerly incarcerated people--Virginians deserve to live in a state where every single voice matters and each of us has the opportunity to be represented in our government. My students know this truth and I am hoping that this house will follow suit.
It's time to let Virginian’s decide this issue. I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9, and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. NOBODY SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIFE. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot.
I strongly support HB130, HB795, HJ9 and HJ72. The automatic and full restoration of voting rights for people upon release from incarceration is long overdue. The current system disproportionately affects people of color. Denying the right to vote to those who have served time within the prism of an already systemically and historically racist incarceration system is geared at furthering disenfranchisement and suppressing their voice. Supporting these bills should not be controversial - they are essential.
I strongly support HB 130, HB 416, HB 795, HJ 9 and HJ 72 - the constitutional amendment to automatically restore the right to vote upon release from prison. Mass incarceration has served as modern-day slave labor for this state and country, many unjustly placed being bars due to widespread systemic racism and injustice. Virginia can’t continue to be one of two states that denies the right to vote for life to anyone, unless their rights are restored by the Governor. If someone has served their time, they should have their rights restored; 65% of Virginians agree that everyone deserves a second chance. This amendment, which passed in identical form last year, needs to pass one more time in order for it to be on the 2022 ballot. It is time to let Virginians decide.
HB46 - Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required.
I strongly support the requirement for a photo ID for voter registration and voting (HB46) This is a common sense, no hassle safeguard to defeat fraud. Similarly, we should ELIMINATE same day registration (HB185). There is simply no way to instantaneously verify that a person is who they claim to be. Furthermore, this imposes a huge, unnecessary burden on election officials or those who may be tasked with a forensic audit, etc. I support the reduction of the early voting period (HB39). Two weeks is adequate for those who must be out of town on business, etc. I support limitations on large amounts of outside funding (HB 205). American elections SHOULD NOT be for sale. As a retired Marine officer and current elections official, I am astounded that sober politicians persist in trying to subvert the Constitution (to which they took an oath) and enable voter fraud through the practices as listed above, as well as ballot harvesting and use of unsecured drop boxes! Through its lack of good judgment and integrity, persons on the Loudoun County School Board have already made us a nationally known laughingstock. Let's pray that similarly minded people in the State Senate DON'T expand our shame by opening our election processes open to rampant fraud.
I'm a Virginian in favor of safeguarding the election process. Since I am an Arlington county election officer, I know that preventing election fraud requires voters to be citizens verifiable by free voter ID and a verifiable pre-election day registration process. 14 days is plenty of time to vote. Same day voter registration is wrong because there is no way to verify eligibility and identity. The 45 day election season is an expensive use of taxpayer dollars for election operations. The longer election period provides greater opportunity for fraud and abuse by felons, identity thieves, or illegal inhabitants. It also is burdensome to unpaid poll watchers and other election operations volunteers. Increased demands on the postal service to deliver absentee ballots is asking for chaos and mass disenfranchisement. Election results will take longer to tabulate if there is a massive amount of mail-in voting. Absentee ballots make it much easier to forge a signature, impersonate a voter, or buy a vote in the privacy of one’s home than it is in a voting booth at the polls where oversight occurs. These are common sense election procedures.
I support HB 46. Preventing election fraud requires voters to be citizens verifiable by free voter ID and a verifiable pre election day registration process.
Providing a photo identification is a common expectation to participate is the most mundane aspects of societal life, such as to buy alcohol, cigarettes, board an airplane, go to the doctor, register children into schools, get a library card, work for any employer, and of course to drive a car. Voting is a privilege granted to citizens and residents of VA. Requiring a photo ID is not burdensome and should be expected. I've worked as an election official. At no time during early voting or on election day did any voters complain about showing their ID. Polling shows that the vast majority of Americans want photo identification requirements in order to receive a ballot. Support HB46!
Please move to report HB68, HB46, HB1082.
I am opposed to the portion of HB 46 that eliminates the permanent absentee voter list. It's a relatively small number of voters who use this process and most have a disability or mobility issue. Requiring them to submit a request for each election is an undue and unnecessary hardship. Please do not institute this provision and make life harder for people who already have to deal with challenges.
Please vote yes on HB46. I helped recruit election officers and poll watchers for last year’s November elections and 45 days of early voting is crazy! Now 21 days is still a lot but it’s much better. This ridiculous early voting month and a half is costing local registrars offices MILLIONS and cannot be maintained. This early voting for a month and a half HAS GOT TO GO! Thank you.
Distinguished Committee, I am writing in support of a YES vote on House Bill 46. I’ve been an election official ever since I became a citizen. Working in the last 2 elections felt like a slap in the face. Here I am getting up at 4 am, having arranged childcare for 17 hrs for my kids (single mom), forfeiting my income for the day, to support the democratic process, and I have to let people cast a ballot w/o an ID! Once a ballot is cast, you can never find it again. Thus dishonest people are protected and honest citizens' vote is diluted. By allowing people w/o ID to cast a PROVISIONAL ballot instead all interest are protected. This makes the situation as inclusive as possible (anybody who has a right to vote can vote, even w/o an ID, and can verify their status later) and as honest as possible (people who did not have a right to vote will not be able to verify their status later). Thus, all citizens are protect, nobody is disenfranchised, and nobody’s vote is diluted. A No vote is not a vote to protect immigrants, I am perfectly able to get an ID, it’s a vote to protect the ability of those who want to commit fraud, to do so. Please vote YES. Sincerely, c.l.
Please uphold the integrity of our elections and require Photo ID in order to vote. I'm in favor of HB46.
My name is Michael Rivera and I live in Leesburg Virginia. I am the minority that many people talk about like I am not in the room. My parents were born in Puerto Rico, I was born in the United States. I have had an ID since I was 14 years old despite growing up poor and my father not being able to speak English. It is incredibly insulting for anyone to declare that requiring a voter ID is a significant obstacle for black and brown people as if somehow your color determines your intellectual capacity. We are currently requiring cell phone apps and vaccine passports for people to eat with their families yet it’s somehow a burden to require an ID to exercise the most valuable and sacred right of being an American citizen. It is unfathomable to me how any elected politician can vote not to this bill and say that they are upholding their oath to protect and defend the constitution. Please vote YES on HB46
I work help desk in my local precinct. I can't believe the number of voters that come in to vote only to find out that they have been issued an absentee ballot. They don't know where the ballot is, did not request it and can't understand why they either have to come up with the absentee ballot or vote provisional. Oh yes, they understand provisional and want no part of it. REPEAL THE PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTER LIST NOW!! This is a no brainer that we should all be able to agree on!! JWV
Eliminating barriers to voting is important. It is unnecessary and unhelpful to require a photo ID or make it more challenging to vote absentee.
I have worked the polls as both an elections officier and a poll watcher. I have sat in on Dept of Elections meetings- i have seen and learned much. I am very concerned about the ability of fraud to infiltrate pur election processes. These things ate mandatory to improve them: Voter ID; mandatory and proper id with photo like your drivers license.. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP. Repeal the permanent absentee voter list; Ballots should be received by the close of polls on election day; NO SAME-DAY REGISTRATION. Demand CLEAN VOTER ROLLS. Demand audits- regularly. In every aspect of the process.
I work as a check in officer in my local precinct. Of the people that walk in and vote on election day, virtually all voters expect to present a picture ID. The vast majority present a drivers license. Case and point: Voters expect to present a picture ID to vote and do not complain. The NO ID requirement seems to be a legislative requirement! Stick to Election Integrity and require picture ID. JWV
Please move to report HJ9, HB130, HB605, HJ57, HB46, HB305, HB1102. Thank you.
We the people have right to vote and assure the vote is fair and represents the legal voters intent. This can only be done if the voters present picture ID proving they are who they claim to be. This is a reasonable expectation. As an election official - 100% of those voting at my precinct had picture ID. NO One claimed they were unable to obtain an ID. NO ONE
Correcting our laws so that a Photo ID is a requirement to vote is hugely important. Polling shows that over +75% of the nation agrees with that sentiment and we need to return Virginia to this standard to allow voting. We cannot allow people to appear before an election official with no photo identification and expect to be able to vote - our most precious privilege. As adults, we must show a photo ID, usually in the form of a driver's license, to enable us to do many things - buy alcohol, cash a check, deposit cash into a bank account, board a plane. We need to apply the same standard for these everyday actions to voting as well. The possibly for fraudulent voting is exponentially increased if voters are not required to show a photo ID. We must restore this standard to our voting processes if we are ever to restore public confidence in our election processes. Requiring a photo ID to vote will go a long way in increasing election integrity. We need to remove the option of registering to vote coincident with voting itself. Citizens must accept voting for the privilege and responsibility that it is - register ahead of time, inform themselves about the candidates and the issues, and show up in person and vote. We cannot allow arbitrary "conveniences" to supersede responsibility. Ballots must be received by Election Day. Voters must be responsible enough when requesting and mailing in Absentee Ballots to ensure they are received by Election Day. Similar to pre-registering and showing a photo ID, voters need to accept voting as the right and responsibility that it is. Voters should be responsible enough to be mindful of Election Day to request and return their ballots by the close of voting. Lastly, we must make voters request a ballot EACH TIME they need to vote absentee - voters should not be placed on a "forever" absentee ballot list to receive an absentee ballot. They should have to request a ballot for each election and there should be only a few acceptable allowable reasons for voting absentee - e.g., military, diplomatic, and ex-patriots living and working abroad should be able to request a mail-in absentee ballot. We need to do all we can to remove the possible causes of voter fraud and expect citizens to step up to their responsibilities for voting. Many of our laws were hastily changed due to transmission concerns surrounding COVID. Those laws need to be revoked and we should return to previous voting standards and protocols to reinstate voter integrity and voter confidence.
This selecting a "pronoun" is totall unacceptable. We know what we are and identify by our name or gender, which is only male" or "female." This other type of identification is total BS.
Please uphold election integrity and vote in favor of HB 46. THANK YOU!
Voter ID required, limit mail in ballots, no drop boxes, cutoff for registration to vote 2 -3 weeks prior, citizens only, clean voter registration polls weekly, modify length of residency to qualify to register
I just want to express my support for Del. Ware's HB46 bill to restore some pre-pandemic rationality to the election processes. Loosening up voter integrity laws does nothing but promote irregularities. There was nothing wrong with the laws that existed before the Democrats promoted relaxing these laws in order to introduce corruption. Thank you, RJ Hall Leesburg
We must restore confidence in our electoral process. As an Election Officer for Loudoun County, I support mandatory voter ID with pictures; limited absentee balloting and certainly no permanent absentee ballot list; no same day registration; and no drop boxes. Furthermore, all ballots must be received by the close of the polls on election day or they don’t count. Finally, we must reduce the length of early voting from 45 days to two weeks.
I am in FAVOR of HB46 for the following is NEEDED: Voter ID; Repeal the permanent absentee voter list; Ballots should be received by the close of polls on election day; NO SAME-DAY REGISTRATION!!! Thank you
I am providing feedback on HB46, HB121, HB1109. HB1101. As a Virginia resident I am in favor of the following election integrity initiatives: voter ID with a photograph, against same-day voter registration, ballots should be received by the close of polls on election day, and repeal the permanent absentee voter list.
Good morning Mr. Chairman, I am speaking in favor of HB46 by Delegate Lee Ware. My name is Srilekha Palle. I am an immigrant and have been living in the United States for over 2 decades. I am a mom, health care professional and active member of my diverse community. I migrated to United States looking for true democracy and I strongly believe that election integrity is the heart and soul of our democracy Without Election Integrity, We the People do not trust the process and Trust is the foundation of this great nation. I cannot fathom going anywhere and doing anything in the US without a valid photo ID. For that matter this statement is quite accurate in all the democratic counties in the world. When I am asked to show my driver's ID in every aspect of my life all day, why does showing a valid ID become an issue only when it comes to voting?. What stops an illegal immigrant fraudulently voting for a legal immigrant like me due to lack of ID requirement? How can you let people vote with a utility bill? Where is the picture to verify that it is you who you say you are? As a person of color and a woman, it is beyond me to understand why politicians consider this as racist. When a government official asks me to show my ID, I would never think it's racist. In fact it is the other way around. I consider it as a racist if the official assumes that just because I am a woman of color, I am incapable of procuring an ID for myself. When I am asked to show my ID, it instills confidence in me that they are protecting my individual identification. · . I am the Vice chair of our party elections; It is quite challenging to carry on the operations that start the early voting onwards 45 days. I would urge you to consider 7 days vs 45 days of early voting as 45 days of early voting is expensive and unnecessary. I would end by saying that A voter ID requirement can help prevent accidental voting at the wrong location, impersonation fraud, and unintentional inaccuracies in the voting record and voter roll. · I urge you as the Virginia legislature and Governor Youngkin to take action to protect our election integrity, especially, the election in 2022 and put trust back among people Thank you very much With Regards Srilekha Palle
Please vote in favor of HB 46. It is the sworn duty of all legislators to ensure that all registered voters in the Commonwealth of Virginia receive a fair election. Providing a valid driver's license or other valid identification with a photograph will be a good START at ensuring a valid vote. Our voting regulations have to be shored up in order for Virginians to regain faith in our election integrity, something we do not currently have. Republicans and Democrats alike should not only be WILLING, but should DEMAND that we do everything possible to see that our elections are fair and only true registered voters cast a ballot. If there is even ONE elected legislator who doesn't believe this, then he/she should be kicked out of office immediately by his/her constituents. Legislators are elected and paid to work for the benefit of his/her constituents; not to benefit him or herself.
Please vote YES on HB46 requiring voter identification containing a photograph. As an female who serves as an Election Official, I can attest to the positive comments I heard repeatedly while checking voters in to vote that we verify their ID prior to them receiving a ballot. Everyone presented a driver's license without even being asked to. Requiring a photo ID is basic and should be required for participating in our most sacred duty as a citizen, voting. This is not discriminatory in any way.
The Virginia State Conference NAACP opposes this legislation and other bill that would create barriers to the voting process. This bill would roll back reforms created recently by the general assembly. We call on members of this committee to reject this HB46.
I am an Election Official and fully support HB46 and ask you to vote yes . Showing a picture ID is essential to protect everyone from someone else casting an illegal vote posing as that citizen. Even when we ask someone to state their name & address to check out voter roll registry, citizens gladly produce their drivers license to us. Anybody can steal a piece of mail or make up a dummy bill to present if they are trying to cast a vote using someone else’s identity. Especially with voter history being readily online, it is too easy without a picture ID to cast a vote for a “seldom” but registered voter and I have witnessed this myself, that a woman came to vote and someone beat her to the polls and cast a vote in her name just because they stated the correct name & address! Please support this bill and vote “yes” on HB46 voter ID.
I am 100% in favor of HB46. This bill does nothing to make it harder for eligible citizens to vote. It just makes it harder to cheat. Many say there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Virginia, but that is not the issue. Any voter fraud is too much voter fraud. Let me assure you that there is evidence of voter fraud and it is reported by the local registrars. Whether it is prosecuted depends entirely on the local Commonwealth's Attorney. As a Chief Election Officer for many years, I’ve seen many instances of voters trying to cheat. Due to a well trained and impartial staff of Election Officers we have thwarted most of their attempts. The ID Confirmation (or “I am who I say I am) form is “enforced” by a felony charge. But I ask you to provide me with any way that a person can ever be found and charged with a felony. They don’t put their truthful information on the form, so there is absolutely no way to find them. Of course, I’m sure the legislators that came up with that bill, were well aware of that fact. Photo ID is required for almost everything. Doctor’s visits Emergency room visits Check cashing Certain purchases Certain transportation Renting a residence Getting a job Getting Covid-19 vaccine Library Picking up mail at the post office And on and on….. It is not difficult nor expensive to obtain a picture ID. In Virginia the Office of the General Registrar in each locality must provide citizens with a picture ID. Also, 45 day early voting is ridiculous. In the spring if 2021 primary election, we had fewer than 20 voters per day for the first three weeks. It gradually increased and on the next to last day of early voting we had approximately 85 voters and we finally went barely over 100 on the last day. Paying 10-12 election officials $125/day and the chief $150/day was extremely expensive. And this is only one of hundreds (thousands?) of locations state wide. And that’s just the cost for election officials. Of course the state doesn’t care because the localities pay the largest portion of the cost. I feel that one week early voting in primaries and 2-3 weeks in the general election is more than enough. Please consider these issues when voting on HB46.
I support photo identification for voting. As an election officer who checks voters in during both early voting and on Election Day, almost everyone who comes in to vote in-person, wants to show a photo ID. I have yet to see anyone complain about needing to show an ID. I guarantee that the number of persons who go to vote and find that they are listed as having already voted exceeds the number of persons who want to vote without photo identification.
Comments Document
I speak from experience as a Election Officer in the 2021 election. I became involved in the election system to give myself peace of mind that our elections are fair and secure, and this is my largest concern/issue. Without a unique photo identification for comparison to the person voting, the election officers at the voting precinct are left with only a name, and an address to verify the identity of the voter. If the voter has an illegal intent to vote for someone else, they need only remember the name and address of a person they know to be a registered voter. If the ballot they cast is provisional, then only a name and a passing signature which is not difficult to mimic in this digital age. Regurgitating names, address', and mimicking signatures are not a strong enough guard against willfully fraudulent voters anymore. Photo identifications can be obtained easily from many sources at zero cost that are on the list of accepted forms of ID. While many different forms of identification are acceptable IAW Virginia's current Voter ID requirements (See included PDF attachment below), Some forms of ID currently accepted can be stolen from mailboxes, picked up from trash, or harvested from unsecure locations, or simply given to another person who is willing to cast a vote in their place, such as a friend or family member. Legally, I can "prove" my identity to vote with a water or electric bill. Not requiring picture ID removes the last line of defense available to election officers who are there to work for the State, guarding against fraudulent voting. This is unacceptable and I believe Virginia does itself a great disservice by allowing same day registration, and the ability to vote without picture ID's. I support Voter ID with a photo 100%.
I strongly support this bill. Verifying and maintaining the integrity of our elections is one of, if not the most important functions of legitimate government. If there are actual issues with localities or communities that need better access to obtain legitimate ID's, those can and should be addressed separately and not handled by reducing or removing safeguards on the election process. Likewise issues for voter access to absentee ballots, or early voting locations can be addressed without hampering election security, chain of custody or election data integrity.
Hi, I am Sami Watson, Field Coordinator with Hamkae Center. We work with Asian American voters across the state and we oppose House Bill 46. Many Americans do not have a valid photo ID, and research has shown that restrictive identification requirements disproportionately impact elderly, minority, and low-income voters. Despite being the fastest growing ethnic voting bloc in the state and the country, AAPI voters may be deterred from casting a ballot due to the cost and time needed to acquire a valid photo ID in order to vote. Acceptable ID should include other forms of non-photo identification and voters should be able to cast a regular ballot by signing an ID confirmation statement, subject to felony penalty. Thank you.
Election Integrity guarantees our voice is heard and the we can trust the system. It is foundational to the backbone of this country. It has been my astonishing revelation that this most SACRED of all abilities - believed to be held UP- in such esteem and REVERENCE yet in reality is trampled upon, disrespected and disgraced , given away with no value whatsoever in order to game the system. It is totally and completely unprotected. IT is UNTRUE. This reminds me of the snake oil salesmen who came into towns in the early days selling fakery and un-truths. As the American people come learn the truth - it IS happening now folks, make no mistake, they will ask the leadership to answer for this'd hold you accountable for this bait and switch. WE need real election integrity for LEGAL CITIZENS ONLY. WE NEED PRISTINELY CLEAN VOTER ROLLS. Here is the list of what we must do to repair and restore the trust of the American People. Establish laws enabling forensic audits and voter canvass Repeal same day voter registration Repeal no voter identification Repeal the permanent absentee ballot list Repeal no-excuse AB Repeal 3rd party mailing of AB Repeal ballot harvesting Eliminate AB drop boxes. We also want 1 day of voting, but anything less than 45 days would be better than nothing. Do not accept AB after Election DAY. Repeal pre-registration of 16 year olds Repeal automatic voter registration by DMV Please vote appropriately on ALL bills in support of these goals. Angela Boyer Great Falls Va 22066
I raised my hand to speak in favor of this bill as did other speakers on the Zoom. We were elevated to be able to speak but were never called on and our presence was ignored by the person overseeing the Zoom, the Chair did not call for comments to be shutdown, we were simply ignored while others were allowed to speak. Please correct this in the future. Thank you
Good Morning, My name is Melody Clarke and I am in favor of HB46 by Del. Ware. My mother was a naturalized citizen who was very proud to be an American. She learned our Constitution and instilled her pride for our nation and our laws in me when I was a child. If you love our great Virginia as I do, please support Del. Ware and HB46 because Voter ID laws don’t “suppress” anyone’s vote. Among a variety of minority groups and political affiliations, no significant change in turnout occurred after voter ID laws went into effect. The simple reality is, election fraud often goes undetected; even when it is discovered, investigators and prosecutors often opt to take no action. I am happy to submit both the National Bureau of Economic research and the Heritage study into the record. This latest study echoes the conclusion of others, finding that voter ID laws don’t reduce voter turnout, including among African-Americans and Hispanics. These voters were just as likely to vote in states requiring photo identification as in those that don’t. It is just common sense to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. I appreciate Del. Ware recognizing this and urge you to show all of Virginia that you care too and vote in favor of HB46. Thank you Here are the pertinent links for my comments and the study https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/commentary/new-study-confirms-voter-id-laws-dont-hurt-election-turnout https://www.nber.org/papers/w25522
Since there has never been any significant fraud in Virginia elections, we should keep and expand measures that make it easier for all of our citizens to participate the the most sacred of our democratic rights. There is no reason to make access to the ballot box tougher. We need to keep early voting, mail-in ballots, drop boxes, and enough polling places so there are not unreasonable wait times. The more citizens included in this process the stronger their involvement and commitment to their community, state, and nation.
Election Integrity depends on 3 primary things: REAL VOTER ID, the ELIMINATION OF VOTER DROP BOXES and NO ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO BE USED w/ THE exception for military assignments out of state or country.
SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM - Please Reject Confidence that our elections are fair is important. This is the paradox, though: raising alarms about election security, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF CHEATING, is what undermines that confidence. Until you've made the case that there are people voting who shouldn't, or that there is cheating or foul play going on, there is no reason to make it harder to vote, which is what this bill does. We ALL benefit from widespread participation in elections. Making it less convenient and more expensive for people to vote is wrong. Please reject this bill. Thank you.
I support the following: 1) a decreased time-frame for voting from 45 Days to 1 week (7 days), 2) mandating that all voters must present a photo ID, and 3) repealing the provisions of law by which any registered voter may apply to receive absentee ballot for absentia
The VA State Conference doesn't support any voter suppression bills that cause barriers to vote. HB 24 46 185 187 544 780 944 941 942 1090
As a Virginia resident, I am opposed to all of the proposed bills for this session. I am concerned that the restrictions may further challenge low-income Virginians’ ability to participate in elections. Thank you for your consideration.
Please oppose HB24, HB46, and HB185. We should be supporting legislation that expands access to voting and creates a stronger democracy. We all benefit when more people are able to vote and have a direct influence in our democratic process. Requiring photo IDs and limiting same-day voter registration limit participation in our democratic process and do not make our elections more secure.
Comments Document
I am speaking in favor of HB46 by Delegate Lee Ware. My name is Kun Wang and Thirty-two years ago, I came to US from China for the Democratic Constitutionalism and religious freedom we have here in America that I did not have in my country. What make US special among all nations and attract millions of immigrants from all the world? To me, it is Democracy and Constitution. Election integrity is the foundation of Democracy. Without Election Integrity, Congress and the government do not have the trust of the people, therefore, we will lose the United States of America. Because of my love for this country, I was a first-time election officer last year. I was shocked by what I learned and cannot understand why anyone who cares for Virginia would not be in favor of requiring a valid photo ID. As an IT professional and Christian, I have following concerns regarding the election integrity in Virginia: 1. In Virginia, you can vote with an expired driver’s license, a student ID without a valid date or even just with a utility bill. What does that mean? It means the dead people can vote; non-residents can vote; and a young guy can vote for a 90-year-old grandma; and one-person, multiple votes. When boarding a flight, I need to show my driver’s license and have the photo matching with myself. How come we let people vote with a utility bill? It means politicians don’t care about the election integrity, which we the citizens care most about. 2. Name matching and address matching do not matter in Virginia now. As an election officer, I asked voters for their name and address. When the address not matching, we let them vote. When names not matching, for example, middle name mismatching, chief said, that was ok too. Without election integrity, we will lose our democracy and constitutionalism, consequently, lose our religious freedom. I urge you as the Virginia legislature and Governor Youngkin to take action to protect our election integrity, especially, the election in 2022 and put trust back among people. Thank you for taking my testimony. Kun Wang Fairfax, VA
Voting is a right guaranteed to all citizens. Unless ID's to be used for voting are provided easily and free to all eligible voters, voter ID requirements amount to voter suppression. There is no discernible voter fraud in any Virginia elections that would be addressed by these voter ID laws.
Virginia enacted several new voting laws in 2020 and 2021 to make voting more accessible during the pandemic. Early in-person voting hours were increased, mail-in absentee ballots no longer required a witness signature, more drop-box locations were available. These changes led to record voter turnout (with insignificant fraud) in both the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 gubernatorial election. Therefore I oppose any new bill that would restrict our rights to accessible voting.
Do not conflate privileges with rights. It is a privilege to drive, not a right. It also costs a lot of money to become a legal licensed driver. It should not cost any money to exercise a right. There are many citizens in our country who do not need a photo ID because their lives do not center around travel or activities that require an age verification like drinking alcohol. That said, I am not anti-photo ID. Satisfy the following conditions and you can have photo ID: All citizens receive a free citizenship photo ID upon turning 18 or being naturalized. These IDs are available for replacement in every local area that has a Walmart and Dollar General meaning it's as easy to get to as your corner store. This is how vaccination cards work. Getting a Covid-19 vaccination is easy and free and widely available. Make photo identification the same. We will support photo IDs for exercising our right to vote when they are free to citizens and widely available. Until then, voter identification fraud is so infinitesimal that it is statistically insignificant compared to the statistically significant percentage of people that will be disenfranchised for not having a photo ID.
Regarding HB1090, HB942, HB544, HB46, HB24, and HB121 = these voter id bills are actually unnecessary. There is no evidence that people are committing voter fraud on any meaningful scale, even in local elections. Voter ID laws can potentially deprive potential voters of their right to vote and/or reduce participation in local elections. As a conservative, I believe these kinds of laws are actually antithetical to what our country needs to be doing to increase civic participation. People like me have been forced to fill out provisional ballots in prior elections because it takes a while to get a govt photo ID and I know the cost can be prohibitive to people who don't think it's important. We should be making voting as reasonably easy and as low-cost as possible, and we should stop changing laws relating to voter ID and such so much because it can be confusing if this happens every other year. Thank you.
Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.
I oppose HB1090, HB121, HB24, HB46, and HB942, all requiring a photo ID to vote. This is completely unnecessary and serves only to make it more difficult to cast a ballot in the commonwealth. HB1090 in particular is absolutely disgraceful. It would strike current provisions of the law allowing voters with certain disabilities who require assistance in voting to be provided that assistance.