Virginia Governor makes Election Day a Holiday, Expands Early Voting

[Milchshake]

Ongoing In: Virgina, the most progressive government in the US?

Really interesting to see how quickly Virginia went from a Red state, to Purple, to this shade of Progressive. It's like giving the center left more clout and political cover allows them them to accomplish more.



Virginia governor makes Election Day a holiday and expands early voting

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Sunday that he signed a series of new measures into law aimed at expanding access to voting in the commonwealth.

The new legislation will establish Election Day as a holiday, remove the requirement that voters show a photo ID prior to casting a ballot and, expand early voting to be allowed 45 days before an election without a stated reason.
"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."

[Spectral]

Really interesting to see how quickly Virginia went from a Red state, to Purple, to this shade of Progressive.

This is mostly the result of the continued growth and influence of the federal government as it spills over from the imperial capital to Virginia and Maryland. Most parts of Virginia are still basically West Virginia when it comes to politics.

[Thekri]

This is mostly the result of the continued growth and influence of the federal government as it spills over from the imperial capital to Virginia and Maryland. Most parts of Virginia are still basically West Virginia when it comes to politics.

Partially, that was what tipped the balance of power over to the democrats in the first place at least. Virginia is a perfect example of the GOPs worst nightmare. After the democrats take over, they strip away all the gerrymandering and voter suppression tools that the GOP was using to keep power, resulting in a state that no longer votes Republican.

The GOP is increasingly seeing the loss of statewide power in any state as a permanent loss. They can't keep power if they don't get to make the rules.

[Lenonis]

And here again we see the left wing leading at the state level on what should be done at the federal.

[Milchshake]

And here again we see the left wing leading at the state level on what should be done at the federal.

Imagine if you spent $300 million on winning state races instead of a personal vanity run for president?

How many purple states could you flip to blue?

Could you take over a small state, like Vermont and make it fully socialist?

Just spitballin' here.

[Lenonis]

Could you take over a small state, like Vermont and make it fully socialist?

*sigh* No state is going to become "fully socialist". Our system isn't set up to allow that. The best you can do is institute programs that operate in a socialist manner, and even then there is a limit to what you can accomplish given the ease of mobility between states and the challenges that provides when it comes to taxation.

[Spectral]

Partially, that was what tipped the balance of power over to the democrats in the first place at least. Virginia is a perfect example of the GOPs worst nightmare. After the democrats take over, they strip away all the gerrymandering and voter suppression tools that the GOP was using to keep power, resulting in a state that no longer votes Republican.

The GOP is increasingly seeing the loss of statewide power in any state as a permanent loss. They can't keep power if they don't get to make the rules.

This seems basically correct as well. You know what they say, if you can't beat 'em, arrange the voting districts in a fashion that makes no sense for any purpose other than packing and cracking the electorate in a way that gives you an unreasonable advantage...

[Fabray]

I’ll be honest, I’ve wanted a national voting holiday (or just weekend voting) for like twenty years, and it somehow never crossed my mind that the states could just do it on their own. Every Democrat governor in the country should be moving towards this immediately. It’s never going to happen at the federal level, but if you can flip one state at a time, eventually you’ll get enough of the ones that matter.

[cubby]

Ongoing In: Virgina, the most progressive government in the US?

Really interesting to see how quickly Virginia went from a Red state, to Purple, to this shade of Progressive. It's like giving the center left more clout and political cover allows them them to accomplish more.



Virginia governor makes Election Day a holiday and expands early voting

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Sunday that he signed a series of new measures into law aimed at expanding access to voting in the commonwealth.

The new legislation will establish Election Day as a holiday, remove the requirement that voters show a photo ID prior to casting a ballot and, expand early voting to be allowed 45 days before an election without a stated reason.
"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."

Setting a new standard for the entire country. Well done!

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I’ll be honest, I’ve wanted a national voting holiday (or just weekend voting) for like twenty years, and it somehow never crossed my mind that the states could just do it on their own. Every Democrat governor in the country should be moving towards this immediately. It’s never going to happen at the federal level, but if you can flip one state at a time, eventually you’ll get enough of the ones that matter.

It could happen with another Blue Wave this November.

[Grapemask]

Early voting is great. I feel bad for states that don't have early voting. Georgia's elections might be a shit-show for a lot of reasons, but being able to walk into a polling place here on your own schedule makes it hard to come up with a non-ideological reason for why you didn't vote.

[cubby]

I’ll be honest, I’ve wanted a national voting holiday (or just weekend voting) for like twenty years, and it somehow never crossed my mind that the states could just do it on their own. Every Democrat governor in the country should be moving towards this immediately. It’s never going to happen at the federal level, but if you can flip one state at a time, eventually you’ll get enough of the ones that matter.

It could happen with another Blue Wave this November.

We're close the 270 Alternative as well. If Trump doesn't shut down democracy this November, we could a dramatic shift in voting methods, along with a work-around popular vote for the Presidency.

[Blur4stuff]

Dare to imagine a country where everyone gets to vote without interference and candidates have to win based on the quality of their ideas.

A United States where gerrymandering doesn't exist (in anyone's favor) and the voters are accurately represented at all levels of government seems like such a fantasy. Would like to see it happen in my lifetime, though.

[ipaq]

Going back to 1940's, white male only power is dying with that generation.

The goal is whatever way you lean on, they need to be progressive.

PS: To that trash still spamming "socialist"... 1st. grow the fuck up. 2nd. France "Le Pen" party (beside being racist) is still more socialist than Bernie vision of the Democratic Party.

Partially, that was what tipped the balance of power over to the democrats in the first place at least. Virginia is a perfect example of the GOPs worst nightmare. After the democrats take over, they strip away all the gerrymandering and voter suppression tools that the GOP was using to keep power, resulting in a state that no longer votes Republican.

The GOP is increasingly seeing the loss of statewide power in any state as a permanent loss. They can't keep power if they don't get to make the rules.

[Breccia]

I would like to say "early voting is a Republican move, because it means more old people will vote".

But I don't think that's even true. And based on recent events, the Republicans don't seem to think it's true, either.

- - - Updated - - -

I feel bad for states that don't have early voting.

Cry all you want for them, there really aren't that many.

This page contains information on statutory requirements relating to the start and end of in-person early voting (including states with all-mail elections) for the 39 states and the District of Columbia that offer this option. Two additional states, Virginia and Delaware, have enacted early voting but it will not be in place until 2020 and 2022, respectively. Nine states, Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, do not offer pre-Election Day in-person voting options.

[Gestopft]

Good job Virginia!

[Grapemask]

Cry all you want for them, there really aren't that many.

The caveat is that they're also including "in-person absentee" voting as "early voting," which accounts for 17 of those early-voting states. Several of those require that you bring documented proof that you won't be present in the area of your polling place on the day of the election (I think this was what Virginia originally had), which makes it pretty meh. Well, I'll be a five minute's walk away from my polling place, I just don't like standing in line for two hours on election day...