On April 28, the State Board of Elections (SBE) voted to adopt a new Virginia voter registration application and amend existing regulations related to processing these forms. The new form and regulations make it easier for eligible Virginians to register to vote and ensure qualified military members and their families are notified of their special voter registration rights in Virginia. Revisions to the form and regulations are in response to months of public comments and recent statutory changes. Since May 2015, the department has gathered feedback on form revisions from members of the public, registered voters, nonprofit organizations, legislators, and election officials. After taking these comments into account, and incorporating recommendations from usability experts and field tests of the form by Virginia voters, the department presented a more voter-friendly form and regulations that provide clearer processing instructions to general registrars. The new form and regulations ensure that qualified military members and their families are able to take advantage of the special status granted by the legislature allowing them to register to vote up to and including Election Day. Commissioner of Elections Edgardo Cortés said, “I am pleased that the State Board has taken action to adopt a new voter registration form that makes it easier for eligible Virginians to vote.” The changes will also be incorporated in the department’s citizen portal. The citizen portal is a quick and easy online voter registration tool for Virginia voters to submit their registration application without concern for delays. In addition to registering to vote, Virginians may visit the citizen portal to update their voter registration information, locate their polling place, or request an absentee ballot. The department’s citizen portal is available at http://elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/index.html.
