×
CLOSE CALL. Fears about de facto voter suppression are well-founded. Today I arrived at my local polling station in Virginia and ran the risk of not being allowed to vote. Virginia requires one form of identification -- of which the voter registration card mailed to you is acceptable. Voter registration card in hand, I was at first prevented from voting when they asked for a second form of ID and I had a driver's license that wasn't issued by the commonwealth of Virginia. (I had to explain to the worker that an out-of-state driver's license is acceptable if the voter also has the voter registration card.) Voting workers don't seem to be on the same page or understand the regulations correctly. Further, states that have passed requirements for a current driver's license with a correct address shut out people who are new to the area, in addition to legal immigrants. (And we all know how much of a pain in the ass going to the DMV is.) It makes me long for my home state of Minnesota, which is one of six states that advocates same-day voter registration. Students can show a student ID, and others can simply supply a utility bill or bring a registered voter that can vouch for them.
Tell us your experience here.
--Kay Steiger