• Home
  • Opinion
  • Quizzes
  • Redistricting
  • Sections
  • About Us
  • Voting
  • Events
  • Civic Ed
  • Campaign Finance
  • Directory
  • Election Dissection
  • Fact Check
  • Glossary
  • Independent Voter News
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Subscriptions
  • Log in
Leveraging Our Differences
  • news & opinion
    • Big Picture
      • Civic Ed
      • Ethics
      • Leadership
      • Leveraging big ideas
      • Media
    • Business & Democracy
      • Corporate Responsibility
      • Impact Investment
      • Innovation & Incubation
      • Small Businesses
      • Stakeholder Capitalism
    • Elections
      • Campaign Finance
      • Independent Voter News
      • Redistricting
      • Voting
    • Government
      • Balance of Power
      • Budgeting
      • Congress
      • Judicial
      • Local
      • State
      • White House
    • Justice
      • Accountability
      • Anti-corruption
      • Budget equity
    • Columns
      • Beyond Right and Left
      • Civic Soul
      • Congress at a Crossroads
      • Cross-Partisan Visions
      • Democracy Pie
      • Our Freedom
  • Pop Culture
      • American Heroes
      • Ask Joe
      • Celebrity News
      • Comedy
      • Dance, Theatre & Film
      • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
      • Faithful & Mindful Living
      • Music, Poetry & Arts
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Your Take
      • American Heroes
      • Ask Joe
      • Celebrity News
      • Comedy
      • Dance, Theatre & Film
      • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
      • Faithful & Mindful Living
      • Music, Poetry & Arts
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Your Take
  • events
  • About
      • Mission
      • Advisory Board
      • Staff
      • Contact Us
Sign Up
  1. Home>
  2. Voting>
  3. voter identification>

Virginia set to make history with repeal of photo ID voting law

Geoff West
February 06, 2020
Voter ID at polling place

A polling place in suburban Virginia last fall.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Virginia appears ready to make history as the first state to repeal a requirement that voters show photo identification before being permitted to cast a ballot.

A bill passed Tuesday by the state Senate would drop that restriction on voting. It was enacted eight years ago when Republicans were in charge in Richmond and said they feared what's proven to be a mostly non-existent threat of voter fraud.

Since winning control of the General Assembly last year, Democrats have declared a number of priorities for changing the state's culture — including making it easier to vote. The party now controls all the levers of state power for the first time since 1993.


The Senate legislation, passed 21-19 along party lines, would still require voters to prove their identity by providing documents showing their name and current address. A voter registration card, utility bill, bank statement or paycheck would suffice. Those were valid forms of identification before the photo ID law took effect.

The measure now heads to the House, which will be meeting until early March. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam is sure to sign it, because the legislative agenda he released in January included a repeal of the photo ID mandate.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

Eighteen states have enacted laws that require a person to provide valid photo identification to vote, specifically a state-issued ID, military ID or passport.

Civil rights groups have repeatedly challenged those laws in court, however, arguing the requirements are veiled attempts by GOP lawmakers to suppress turnout by low-income voters, students and minorities. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, say photo IDs are needed to prevent rampant voter fraud, a claim that has little empirical evidence.

From Your Site Articles
  • How Virginia's move against partisan gerrymandering might be short ... ›
  • Democrats wins in Virginia, Kentucky could lead to reforms - The ... ›
  • Poll: Virginia voters want electoral, redistricting reform ›
  • Voting rights advocates hail victories in Virginia, Nevada - The Fulcrum ›
  • Virginia is first Southern state to adopt voting rights act - The Fulcrum ›
Related Articles Around the Web
  • Virginia's Voter ID Law Disproportionately Affects Minorities; Make ... ›
  • SB 65 Voter identification ›
  • Virginia governor announces bill to repeal voter ID requirement ... ›
  • Voter ID Laws: Virginia Governor Proposes Repealing Photo ID ... ›
voter identification

Want to write
for The Fulcrum?

If you have something to say about ways to protect or repair our American democracy, we want to hear from you.

Submit
Get some Leverage Sign up for The Fulcrum Newsletter
Confirm that you are not a bot.
×
Follow
Contributors

Hypocrisy of pro-lifers being anti-LGBTQIA

Steve Corbin

A dangerous loss of trust

William Natbony

Shifting the narrative on homelessness in America

David L. Nevins

Reform in 2023: Leadership worth celebrating

Layla Zaidane

Two technology balancing acts

Dave Anderson

Reform in 2023: It’s time for the civil rights community to embrace independent voters

Jeremy Gruber
latest News

Three practical presidential pledges to promote national prosperity

James-Christian B. Blockwood
17h

Meet the Faces of Democracy: Justin Roebuck

Mia Minkin
17h

Podcast: Why Is Congressional Oversight Important, and How Can It Be Done Well? (with Elise Bean)

Kevin R. Kosar
Elise J. Bean
30 May

Chipping away at election integrity: Virginia joins red state exodus from ERIC

David J. Toscano
30 May

Your Take on congressional incivility

Lennon Wesley III
26 May

White House plan to combat antisemitism needs to take on centuries of hatred, discrimination and even lynching in America

Pamela Nadell
26 May
Videos

Video: Honoring Memorial Day

Our Staff

Video: #ListenFirst Friday YOUnify & CPL

Our Staff

Video: What is the toll of racial violence on Black lives?

Our Staff

Video: What's next for migrants seeking asylum after Title 42

Our Staff

Video: An inside look at the campaign to repeal Pennsylvania’s closed primaries

Our Staff

Video: Where the immigration debate stands today

Our Staff
Podcasts

Podcast: AI revolution: Disaster or great leap forward?

Our Staff
25 May

Podcast: Can we fix America's financial crises?

Our Staff
23 May

Podcast: Gen Z's fight for democracy

Our Staff
22 May

Podcast: Political Football, Inc.

Our Staff
19 May
Recommended
Three practical presidential pledges to promote national prosperity

Three practical presidential pledges to promote national prosperity

Big Picture
Meet the Faces of Democracy: Justin Roebuck

Meet the Faces of Democracy: Justin Roebuck

State
Podcast: Why Is Congressional Oversight Important, and How Can It Be Done Well? (with Elise Bean)

Podcast: Why Is Congressional Oversight Important, and How Can It Be Done Well? (with Elise Bean)

Test Unlisted
Hypocrisy of pro-lifers being anti-LGBTQIA

Hypocrisy of pro-lifers being anti-LGBTQIA

Diversity Inclusion and Belonging
Chipping away at election integrity: 
Virginia joins red state exodus from ERIC

Chipping away at election integrity: Virginia joins red state exodus from ERIC

Big Picture
Video: Honoring Memorial Day

Video: Honoring Memorial Day