Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required.
The passage of SB168 would significantly alter how registered voter data is handled and maintained within Virginia. It establishes strict guidelines for deleting names from voter lists, ensuring that any individual who is deceased, no longer qualified to vote due to felony conviction, adjudication of incapacity, or determination of non-citizenship is promptly removed from the rolls. By enforcing these measures, the bill aims to uphold the integrity of elections and ensure the accuracy of voter registration, which could also contribute to reducing instances of voter fraud.
Senate Bill 168, aimed at enhancing the integrity of the voter registration process in Virginia, mandates that the Department of Elections maintains a robust system for managing voter registrations and verifying voter identities. Under this bill, the Department is responsible for implementing a centralized record-keeping system that includes all registered voters, ensuring comprehensive maintenance of the voter registration data. Furthermore, it requires protocols for general registrars to follow when entering or deleting voter records, particularly around issues such as deaths, disqualifications from voting, and citizenship verification.
However, the bill has sparked debates around its implications for voter access and disenfranchisement. Critics argue that the stringent measures for voter deletion, especially concerning felony convictions and citizenship verification, may disproportionately affect marginalized groups and those who have already served their sentences. Additionally, the inclusion of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE Program) as a method for validating citizenship is viewed by some as problematic, raising concerns about privacy and the potential for erroneous disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
Additionally, the bill necessitates that individuals visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for services like applying for or renewing a driver's license must disclose their citizenship status. Those who indicate that they are U.S. citizens can opt to have their information sent to the Department of Elections, thus effectively streamlining the voter registration process for eligible individuals. This aspect has been positively received as it could facilitate broader voter participation, provided it is implemented fairly.