It is my privilege to transmit herewith the Report of the Election Laws Study Commission. Pursuant to the resolution of the General Assembly, the Commission has engaged in a comprehensive study of the Virginia election laws.

The Commission has concluded that our election laws are in need of extensive revision and has proceeded to frame the changes it felt necessary and proper. Embodied in this Report will be found the recommendations of the Commission.

We wish to call attention to the fact that there are certain areas within the proposed statutes which will require continued revision in the coming years. Certain of the recommendations, the requirements of voting machines and a Central Registration System for example, will be phased in over a period of the next few years. As a result of these situations, the next few years will be a transitional period and necessitate additional statutory revision at the end of these periods. Similarly, the adoption of the proposed new Constitution by the voters will trigger the necessity for future amendment of these laws as is discussed in some detail in the commentary following.

It should also be mentioned that in regard to the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, it is the intention of the Commission that the Attorney General of the Commonwealth submit to the Attorney General of the United States the Act as soon as it is adopted. The burden is then placed on the Attorney General of the United States to raise any objections within sixty days. This procedure has been utilized by the Commonwealth in regard to past changes.

In the course of its deliberations, the Commission has sought and received the advice and counsel of many able citizens of the Commonwealth. We are indeed grateful for this assistance so willingly given.

Respectfully,

James M. Thomson
Chairman of the Election Laws Study Commission