Photo ID and Voting

Rob believes that it is critically important that only eligible citizens are able to vote, and that the person registered must be the person who actually comes to the polls to vote.

According to a Richmond-Times Dispatch story about voter fraud in 2008, Virginia State Police have issued 39 warrants for voter fraud and have identified another 194 instances where a violation likely occurred.   Other cases are still under investigation.  Where warrants have been issued, a majority has resulted in convictions.

Rob supported House Bill 9, which will require any voter without valid identification to cast a “provisional ballot” that will be kept separate from other ballots.  Bell has also voted for House Bill 569, which would require actual photo identification for voting.  (It includes provisions for issuance of free photo identification to anyone who does not have one.)  It would also require registrars to check citizenship status for someone registering to vote, to keep illegal voters off the rolls altogether.   This bill was not successful.

Rob knows that Virginia has a history of very close elections, and the Commonwealth needs to ensure that this sort of voter fraud is never allowed to overturn the actual will of the people.