Just when you think the Virginia General Assembly couldn't get any worse, it manages to do so. Now, it's pushing that ever-popular cause of voter suppression. Not preventing voter suppression, mind you, but encouraging it! That's right, SB 588 which has been assigned to the House Privileges and Elections committee. would allow local registrars - partisan positions in Virginia - to post police officers at polling places. The bill is being pushed by Chesterfield Voter Registrar Larry Haake, who did just that in 2004. At the time, the Democratic Party received a flood of calls from concerned citizens who were intimidated from voting. Now, Haake wants to make his voter suppression tactics the law of the land in Virginia.
Believe it or not, Haake claims that this measure somehow has something to do with homeland security (!!!). Obviously, that's complete horse manure, unless you believe Osama's going after polling places in Chesterfield, Gate City and Goochland. By the way, under current law, if there are any problems or disturbances at voting locations, poll workers already have the power to summon police. In other words, this bill is utterly unnecessary. Unless, of course, your aim happens to be voter suppression and/or intimidation. Hmmm.
Is that really what's going on here? Perhaps we should ask the bill's chief Senate sponsor, Stephen Holliday Martin (R-Chesterfield), proud owner of an atrocious, far-right-wing voting record, what he thinks he's accomplishing here. If you're curious and want to contact Sen. Martin, his e-mail address is district11@sov.state.va.us and his office phone number is (804) 698-7511. His mailing address is General Assembly Building, Room 302; Capitol Square; Richmond, Virginia 23219. I can't wait to hear what he has to say!