BY WESLEY P. HESTER

Another bill to tighten voting requirements by requiring photo identification at the polls is working its way through the state’s House of Delegates.

House Bill 569, sponsored by Del. Daniel W. Marshall III, R-Danville, would make a series of changes to existing voting laws, including requiring photo ID and proof of citizenship to register.

The bill would allow for easier sharing of information between the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Board of Elections and local registrars to make obtaining a photo ID simple, and would also permit the SBE to issue photo ID cards.     

If a voter showed up at the polls without photo ID, they would be force to cast a provisional ballot that would

A similar but less stringent measure (House Bill 9) passed the House earlier this week, requiring anyone who shows up at the polls without any identification to cast a provisional ballot. That bill did not, however, require photo ID, meaning a voter registration card or social security card would suffice.

Unlike HB9, though, Marshall’s bill would not take effect until next year, meaning it would not impact this year’s elections.

House Bill 569 was sent to the House Appropriations Committee on a 14-6 vote despite objections from Democrats concerned that the measure would prevent the elderly and others from voting.

Del. Mark D. Sickles, D-Fairfax, asked why such a measure was necessary when there was little evidence of voter fraud in the state.

Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, answered that there were only few examples because “there’s absolutely no way to catch the people.”