To the Editor:
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) commends the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for its 2016 Legislative Program that includes specific requests in support of qualified Virginians’ right to vote.
The Legislative Program asks for “no-excuse” absentee voting and extended polling hours; legislation to find an appropriate balance between “maintaining integrity of elections” without interfering with the right to vote; examining effects of voter ID law before enacting any future voter ID laws. In addition, ….“reactions at the state and federal levels to the recent Supreme Court decision, striking down Section IV of the Voting Rights Act which eliminated the requirement that changes to Virginia’s election laws be ‘pre-cleared,’ should be closely monitored. Additionally, the Legislative Program also requests greater state financial support for election administration.”
The LWVFA also commends the Board of Supervisors for its foresight in recently purchasing new voting machines and in training election staff to use them before the 2016 Presidential election.
The LWVFA will continue to lobby for the introduction and passage of bills that would increase voter participation in elections and would protect eligible Virginians’ constitutional right to vote.
Helen Kelly
League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area