This is great news for Virginia residents who care about free and fair elections:
REUTERS – Virginia voters must have photo identification starting next year under a measure Republican Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law on Tuesday.
Virginia Republicans have said the law will prevent voter fraud, while Democrats have called it a maneuver to suppress the votes of older people, minorities and the poor.
McDonnell signed the measure “with the recognition that almost all citizens already have acceptable forms of photo ID that would allow them to vote and a majority of voters support this policy,” he said in a statement.
The legislation provides for free identification with the bearer’s photo to any registered voter who does not have one.
McDonnell also ordered the State Board of Elections to start a public information program to tell voters about the new requirement before the 2014 elections.