Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly is pushing legislation to provide federal money to administer elections.
Even in northern Virginia, different counties have different election rules, so while some Prince William County voters saw four hour long lines on Election Day, voters in other precincts were in and out in minutes. Congressman Connolly’s legislation would expand early voting and let states apply for federal grants to purchase voting machines.
“Our bill is designed to try to have more uniformity in terms of the standards across the country, at least in federal elections. Not by mandating it, but by incentivizing it,” said Connolly.
But incentives from the federal government come with price tags and this Congress is looking for programs to trim, not expand. Connolly says the few billion dollars he wants to invest in elections are worth every penny.
“Whatever it costs, and it’s not going to cost that much, it’s well worth the investment. Otherwise we don’t believe in ourselves.”
Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner is pushing a similar bill in the upper chamber, but no Republicans have signed onto either.
–Matt Laslo
Virginia Public Radio 