Virginia Lawmaker Questions Delay of 100,000 Voter Registrations

A Virginia state lawmaker is questioning why the state’s Department of Elections hasn’t been more forthcoming about what’s causing delays in processing about 100,000 voter registrations ahead of the midterm elections.

Sen. Lionell Spruill, a Democrat who represents District 5 and holds a key state elections oversight role, sent a letter to Elections Commissioner Susan Beals on Oct. 6 seeking an explanation.

Beals, who blamed “intermittent network issues” for the issue, said in a statement that around 107,000 voter registrations were sent to local registrars for processing “to ensure voters can be appropriately registered to vote.”

“The issue is now resolved and all impacted registrations have been identified,” she said.

“No voter registration data was lost, but the issue will cause an increase in processing voter registration applications at the local level,” she added.

In his letter, Spruill said he was disappointed to learn about the issue in a newspaper.

“In the future, when difficulties like these arise, the chairpersons of the Senate and House privileges and elections committees should receive notification so that we are fully informed as part of our responsibility to oversee the operations of your department,” he wrote.

Further, Spruill said he’s “very concerned that the department hasn’t been forthcoming to the public” on the details of the network issues causing the backlog.

Virginia Elections

Virginia’s elections have at times been very close, Spruill said, citing a 2018 House of Delegates election that was determined by a tie-breaking drawing of names from a bowl.

He emphasized the need for safe and reliable elections in Virginia, saying that it’s “important that we are as transparent as possible with the public regarding these kinds of essential government functions to ensure continued integrity.”

“It is absolutely essential that every person who wants to vote is able to cast their vote,” he said.

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