Lawmakers in Richmond are trying to fix the problems that led to hours of waiting and long lines at the polls this past November.
The Committee on Privileges and Elections in the Virginia Senate met Friday to consider several bills targeting the voting process and access to the polls. Some Democratic Senators suggested extending voting to 8 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. as a means of helping to solve last year's problems.
But Republican Senator Jill Vogel says many of the registrars in her district lack sufficient resources to keep the polls open later.
"And they all actually share the same view," Vogel said, "that we want to make access easier, that we want not to have long lines on Election Day. But there are practical constraints."
The committee also discussed bills covering absentee ballot rules. One bill backed by the committee would eliminate the need to provide a reason for voting absentee.
