RICHMOND, Va. - Several groups have signed a letter urging Gov. Bob McDonnell to veto the new "Voter ID" bills, which they see as both costly to taxpayers and restrictive to the entire voting process.

The legislation - SB 1256 and HB 1337 - eliminates Social Security cards, government checks, utility bills and bank statements as acceptable forms of identification at the polls, said Holly Coy, director of programs for the Virginia Interfaith Center, a group that opposes the legislation. That makes it tougher for thousands of people to vote, she said, especially the elderly, the poor and minorities.

"This is a policy that would place an additional onus on those individuals when they want to vote at the polls, and so that's why we're concerned," she said. "We think we should be doing everything we can to encourage participation in our democracy."

Under the proposed voter ID bill, local registrars will be required to issue free photo IDs to voters who need them. The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis estimates this will cost up to $21 million.

Proponents of a Voter ID law in Virginia and other states where similar legislation has passed or is in the works cite fraud as the No. 1 reason behind these bills. Opponents counter that there is little evidence of fraud on record to back those claims.

Elvira Shaw has been working at the polls in Colonial Heights for half a century.

"I've never seen any fraud, or had any fraud cases for the 50 years that I've served on the board," Shaw said.

If enacted, Shaw said, the new photo ID law would make voting difficult for some senior citizens because many aren't able to get around easily. Shaw said she fears the extra trips to obtain photo IDs will only discourage them from casting a ballot.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia and Virginia AFL-CIO are also among the groups that signed the letter protesting the changes. The text of the letter is online at acluva.org.


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With the Independence Day holiday weekend here, North Dakotans might be out at parades, fireworks shows and barbecues. However, new polling indicates that many Americans are struggling to feel optimistic about the state of the country.

A new Gallup survey shows 58% of U.S. adults say they're proud to be an American. While there are some partisan splits, the overall percentage is a record low for the annual poll question.

Barbara Headrick, president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, said it's not surprising, given the sharp divides between the two major parties. But she feels there's something else at play.

"There is still an after effect, I believe, from the pandemic from that separation from each other that we had," she said.

That the pandemic was so politicized is another complicating factor that prevented the country from healing, Headrick said, adding that it's understandable some Americans are very concerned about various rights being taken away. However, she noted the U.S. has deep flaws throughout its history, and there are still many more rights afforded today than in past decades.

If heated rhetoric clouding U.S. politics has got you down, Headrick said, you can still show American pride through actions.

"Find a way to love your country by making it better," she said.

Headrick said it can involve showing support for civil workers or volunteering at a local homeless or animal shelter. She added that expressing pride through elections doesn't just involve voting, noting that there are opportunities to stay informed about how your local government is addressing pressing issues, such as affordable housing.


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A new Indiana law, starting today, allows school board candidates to list their political affiliation on the ballot.

Candidates may choose to register with a political party, as independents or not disclose any affiliation. Those who do not select will have a blank space next to their name and straight-ticket voting will not apply to school board races. Those opposed to the new law said it injects unnecessary politics into a role traditionally focused on education.

Leslie Jacobs, a school board member for the Fayette County School Corporation in Connersville, is against the new law.

"In my 10 years, I couldn't tell you the political leanings of anybody on my board. Never comes up," Jacobs explained. "Our discussions are purely about educational opportunities, picking a superintendent, looking at budget."

She warned requiring party labels might discourage qualified candidates from running. Supporters of the new law said it increases transparency.

Jennifer Blackburn, a school board member for the East Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, also opposes the new law.

"The scenario that there are four candidates potentially running and three are Democrat, one is a Republican -- this last school board election -- none of us were opposed," Blackburn pointed out. "As big as our county is, there are not a lot of people running."

The law will first affect school board elections in November.


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A three-part online training series on how to run for office and govern effectively begins Monday, designed for people running at any level of government office in Western states, including Wyoming.

The training is part of the Grassroots Democracy Program under the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a group organizing in rural parts of the West and includes Wyoming's Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Gwen Lachelt, political director for the group, said the series will help answer a broad range of questions.

"Everything from, 'Am I ready to run for office? How do I organize my campaign?' To, 'how do I govern, and how can I be an effective elected official?'" Lachelt explained.

As of Friday, Lachelt noted about 50 people had signed up for the training. Registration is still open until the event starts Monday at 5:30 p.m. MT.

Lachelt added she is seeing a lot of interest in running for office from people of all age groups and all backgrounds. She emphasized the group hopes to connect with Westerners who care about natural resources.

"Our goal is to build a bench of elected officials across our regions who will champion democracy and also work to protect the West's land, air, and water," Lachelt stressed.

Guest speakers at the event include Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, who is the House Minority Leader, and Kevin Williams, a board member of Colorado's Delta-Montrose Electric Association.


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