VA-GOV Commonwealth Sues for Equal Access to Polls

The Commonwealth of Virginia has sued for access to polling places that have not been certified as accessible to all.

Acording to the Richmond Times Dispatch article published Sunday, the City of Richmond has resisted efforts by the State Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) to certify their polling places.

In a lawsuit filed in Richmond Circuit Court, the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) says city officials have refused to allow agency representatives to monitor the voting places.

Such alleged refusal violates state and federal law, attorneys for VOPA say in the suit.

According to the suit, Richmond Registrar J. Kirk Showalter in a letter to a lawyer for the agency refused to allow VOPA to monitor city polling places.

"In monitoring polling places, VOPA only seeks to ascertain whether polling places are physically accessible to voters with disabilities," the suit says.

The idea that the most important yet basic right, the right to vote, should be withheld or otherwise infinged upon is revolting to me. I realize that all citizens everywhere have this right, but isn't it particularly cruel to make it hard or impossible for a disabled person to vote?

If I may, a personal mini-rant: The City of Richmond? The one with Doug Wilder as Mayor? Are you kidding me?

I would like to think that Wilder can do better for the city than this example.

•  A thank you and a tip jar

  Thanks to all the kossacks etc who have embraced the race for Governor in Virginia.  Your work, support and ideas have been greatly appreciated by me.

  Polls open in 31 hours, and we have a lot still to do.

  Mark
  Cumberland Virginia

  by Dems2004 on Sun Nov 06, 2005 at 08:05:08 PM PDT

•  No idea what's up here but...

  ... remember who owns the Richmond Times-Dispatch, who they endorsed, and who was endorsed by every single paper owned by this company, even those papers in extremely liberal areas (such as Charlottesville, VA).

  The RT-D ranks a bit ahead of the Washington Times and Newsmax as a source of unbiased news, slightly behind Fox.

  -Fred

  by FredFred on Sun Nov 06, 2005 at 08:48:49 PM PDT

•  5th district!

  Subject: Write-In Candidate

  Hello Voters, You may write in the name of DON BALLENGER for 5th District House of Delegates.  He has agreed to be a write-in candidate against Delegate Bill Carrico in Tuesday's Election. If you are not aware of his accomplishments, here is some contact information:
  Telephone: [phone]
  E-Mail: don at donballenger.com
  Web Site: www.donballenger.com (you can read his Bio and his Newsletter)
  Galax, Carroll, Smyth and Wythe do not know him as well as those in Grayson know him.
  Please tell everyone you know and copy and paste this info to your local e-mail list.
  He asked that we announce: He is not giving up his write-in run for Elk Creek Supervisor.
  Our new voting machines make it very easy to write in names on the ballot. Please ask for help at the polls.

  Please help get the word. And Carrico.... out.

  by emmasnacker on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:07:38 AM PDT