This Thursday, the federal appeals court in Richmond will hear the suit trying to overturn Virginia’s voter photo ID law. As reported in the New York Times, our case is part of a multi-million dollar national campaign funded by George Soros to strike down voter fraud laws in time for the 2016 elections. To date, Soros and the Democrats have been successful in North Dakota, North Carolina, and Texas, with partial success in Wisconsin.
In 2013, I worked with Senator Obenshain on this very bill – you can watch the video here. Virginia’s law requires registrars to provide a photo ID to any voter who needs one, absolutely free. We won in lower court, where the Court held that Virginia’s law gives all Virginians “an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process.” By any legal analysis, we should win again on appeal.
That said, the North Carolina law was also upheld by the trial court, only to have the ruling reversed on appeal by the 4th Circuit. The 4th Circuit has been transformed by Obama’s appointments, and is the same appeals court that will hear our case.
Of additional note, Attorney General Mark Herring has refused to defend Virginia’s photo-ID law. As he has with countless other issues, he is more interested in doing what his supporters want than in doing his job. For this case alone, Virginia taxpayers have already had to pay more than $500,000 for private lawyers, simply to defend a validly passed Virginia law from challenge.
The hearing is open to the public. If you would like to come, bring your photo ID. (Yes, I understand the irony!) The address is 1000 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 and you need to be seated by 9:30. Directions are here. The case # is 16-1605, Barbara Lee v. VA State Board of Elections.
Hope to see you there!
