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from across the United States have spoken sufficiently on this issue, and the Commonwealth of Virginia will abide by their rulings.”
Judge Williams’ ruling is consistent with rulings in California an^l Illinois that require states to expand their registration process by allowing motor-voter.
Virginia was countersued by the federal government and several private groups including the League of Women Voters, who said Gov. Allen was not acting in the interests of Virginia citizens, and his lawsuit was just a stalling tactic.
Judge Williams dismissed the private suits saying they were not applicable because the act had not yet become effective.
The ruling means Gov. Allen and the General Assembly will have to work out some discrepancies with the Virginia constitution before motorvoter can be complied with.
Virginia law currently requires applicants to state their place of birth on applications, while federal forms do not. The state argued that this could lead to “A substantial number” of federally registered voters who would not be allowed to vote in state contests if they complete only the federal form.
The state attorney general’s office argued that because of this change in the constitution, the earliest the law could be implemented would be late 1996 or early 1997.
Nevertheless, Judge Williams nrled March 6 would be the deadline. He said Gov. Allen had until the Noy, 7 elections to call a special session, and that would give him 120 days as required by the act to implement it.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer and Democratic colleagues said on Monday that they would pursue the matter in the 1996 General Assembly to ensure the act is implemented.
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