Elections / Voting Rights
Richmond, Virginia—Returning citizens and their families are excited to see that Democratic members of the Senate Privileges and Elections Subcommittee #1 passed Senator Mamie Locke’s SJ223, which would grant all returning citizens the right to vote after completion of their sentence. This is the first step towards restoring civil rights for people who have been […]
Elections / Voting Rights
News
Kiggans Doesn’t Cut It
by Kimberly R. Nario While we’re all being bombarded with political ads of candidates repeating their best qualities in their most unassuming tones—while sometimes talking sh*t about their opponents—let me remind you of some things one candidate may have failed to mention in her ads. Jen Kiggans apparently has a problem saying President Biden won […]
News
Same Day Voter Registration
It’s fall, y’all! And that means not only is it spooky season, but it’s also my personal favorite, election season. That’s right, it’s time to start thinking about who we are voting for and making our plans vote, if we haven’t already. One new thing we have in Virginia now is same-day voter registration. You […]
Press Release
ICYMI: Youngkin Once Again Prioritizes Wealthy Corporations Over People’s Needs with Selection of Susan Beals as Commissioner of Virginia Department of Elections
Richmond, VA—On Friday evening, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Susan Beals, a former aide to Republican Senator Amanda Chase, for the role of Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections. While the former Commissioner, Chris Piper, known for his nonpartisan approach, had no experience working with a political campaign, the opposite is true for Susan Beals. […]
News
Virginia Absentee Voting Deadlines Approaching for Fall 2021 Election
Last year, absentee turnout in Virginia for the November 2020 General Election hit record numbers. In addition to no-excuse early voting, the General Assembly passed legislation to create drop boxes for absentee ballots at local election offices, fund prepaid return postage for people voting by mail, and remove the necessity of a witness signature.
News
First Read: Voting for More than Just Candidates in this Primary
With the Democratic primary this week, we’re all thinking about the importance of the right to vote. Regardless of which Democratic candidate is elected, they will stand up for voters, especially voters of color, who are most often targeted for disenfranchisement. No matter our race, background, or zip code, most of us believe that for […]
News
ICYMI: Virginia Leads the Way for Voting Rights Expansion
Richmond, Virginia—The enormous gains made around the expansion of voting rights in Virginia serve as an example for other states to follow as Republicans across the country push for new restrictions to disenfranchise voters, especially voters in Black and Brown communities. The Virginia Voting Rights Act enshrined voting rights into state law, requiring prior notification […]
News
Voting Rights Act of Virginia Passes House
Richmond, Virginia—Progress Virginia today celebrated house passage of the Voting Rights Act of Virginia. HB1890, sponsored by Delegate Marcia Price, would be the first state Voting Rights Act passed in the South to ensure everyone is able to make their voice heard in our democracy.. “We’re thrilled that members of the House of Delegates kicked […]
News
Laws That Make Voting Easier Benefit All of Virginia
In the November elections, we broke voting records in part because of temporary measures passed in response to the pandemic. Through the establishment of secure drop boxes and satellite locations, the provision of pre-paid postage to return absentee ballots, and the elimination of the witness signature requirement, we were free to choose the voting method […]
News
Take It from This Guy: Voting Can Make You Feel “Happy, Joyous and Free”
Although Bobby Lee was 60 years old when he cast his first votein 2016, his age didn’t keep him from feeling like a kid again. “The first time voting, I felt like I was 18,” he said about his visit to the polls. “Happy, joyous, and free.” “I think it’s very, very important to take […]