Virginia GOP Voter ID Law: Fairfax Station Patch Readers on the Situation

Over the weekend Patch asked for opinions on new voter identification laws in the Commonwealth. The story garnered more than 350 comments.

Virginia voters will need a photo ID when they're heading to the polls beginning in 2014 under new requirements signed into law by Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. 

Democratic say the law are a form of voter suppression - that many Democratic voters, particularly seniors and college students, do not have a photo identification.

For more local news, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

The new law will need approval by the U.S. Justice Department, a requirement for any voting changes in most Southern states because of a history of voter suppression. If approved, McDonnell has called for free IDs for those voters who cannot afford them in time for 2014 elections.

Lorton Patch readers weighed in, and here are a few of their comments. What do you think about what your neighbors are saying? Comment below, or head back to the original post from Sunday and add to the ongoing discussion.

Mandy Gagnon wrote: “It is so amusing how many people complain about having to go to the DMV in order to be able to vote. People should read about REAL hardship that MANY people have to go through through history in order to be able to vote. The question should be...how important is it for you to vote.”

From Anonymous: “Voting is A RIGHT. It is inviolate, and the removal of that right from one person is a violation of all we have fought for in this country. And by knowingly doing so, you commit the very crime you said you were trying to prevent. Tell me, should we now require an ID to assemble? Or to free speech? Or to a trial? Does that sit well with you? If it does, you have completey forgotten what this country is about.”

And Conservativegal says that photo identifications at polling places are essential: "Fairfax County football and basketball leagues require kids to have DMV ID cards to be able to play. These are just your basic community sports leagues. Requiring these IDs (and they are just IDs not a driver's license) has nothing to do with politics. It is just a shame that requiring an ID to do something as important as voting has to be turned into being attacked.

"You also need an ID to be able to fly, do banking, buy medicine, etc. My teenager needed an ID to get a job at the Fairfax County Park Authority for the summer.  The integrity of elections should be maintained and requiring an ID is not too much to ask of any VA resident."

So, what do you think, Lorton?