Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed several bills into law on Sunday that would boost voting accessibility in the state as COVID-19 threatens to interrupt the upcoming elections this year.
One of the measures included removing Lee-Jackson Day, a tribute to Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, and replacing it by making Election Day a state holiday.
One of the laws also rolls back the state’s notorious voter ID requirements, which were major hurdles to voting that disproportionately targeted people of color and low-income citizens.
“Voting is a fundamental right, and these new laws strengthen our democracy by making it easier to cast a ballot, not harder,” Northam said in a statement. “No matter who you are or where you live in Virginia, your voice deserves to be heard. I’m proud to sign these bills into law.”
Several states have moved toward enacting alternatives to in-person voting, such as voting by mail, as health experts urge the public to avoid gathering in large crowds to prevent spreading COVID-19.
However, President Donald Trump has made it clear that he opposes such efforts to make it easier to vote because he believes fewer Republicans would win elections.
“They had things, levels of voting that if you ever agreed to it you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again,” Trump said in March of House Democrats’ proposals in Congress’ sweeping $2 trillion coronavirus relief package.
Election day state holiday, killing voter id, no-excuse required absentee voting, nice job, Virginia. Now about passing that national popular vote compact legislation…
So proud of my state. Other legislation signed
Well, good for Gov Northam, and I’m so glad that he successfully fought off the ludicrous “yearbook blackface” allegations and refused to simply resign and slink away, as Democrats have grown accustomed to doing.
Now, my hope is that the GOP-side Virginians don’t decide to transfer their “Lee-Jackson” celebration to the new election day holiday by harassing and intimidating black voters… You know, just like the good old days.
It’s amazing how much a Democratic executive and legislature can accomplish for their state! Time to draw a contrast with the “do nothing, government as enemy” Republican Party. “If you really LIKE bad government, vote GOP!”
That’s just fine. Everyone know that what Yankees call “MLK Day” is actually Robert E Lee day.