8/12/2019 7.30.14 DOE Erroneous Registration Letter

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July 30 2014

Edgardo Cortes, Commissioner of ElectionsWashington Building1100 Bank Street, First FloorRichmond, VA 23219

CC: Charles Judd, Chairman, State Board of ElectionsKimberly Bowers, Vice-Chair, State Board of ElectionsDon Palmer, Secretary, State Board of ElectionsMatt Davis, Chief Information Office, Department of ElectionsMartha Brissette, Policy Analyst, Department of Elections

Dear Commissioner Cortes,

It has come to our attention that the Department of Elections has erroneously mailed notificationto approximately 125,000 registered Virginia voters that they may no longer be eligible to vote inthe Commonwealth. As we are sure you are aware, this mistake is serious and steps must betaken immediately to rectify the situation. Voting is at the heart of what it means to be anAmerican. Any action, intentional or accidental, which impedes that right is a serious threat to our

democracy and should be addressed as such. On top of changing voting rules this year, the voterconfusion this mailing could create is unacceptable if even one eligible voter is dissuaded fromexercising their constitutional right.

Impacted voters must be officially assured of their voter registration status before the November2014 election. Additionally, for any affected individuals in districts or localities holding an August19th special election, steps must be taken immediately to proactively verify voters' registration.

In order to assure appropriate and timely steps are taken to rectify this distressingsituation, we are requesting an immediate plan from the Department of Elections tocontact all 125,000 voters affected and reassure them as to their registration status.Weadditionally request a similar expedited plan to immediately contact any voters eligible to vote inspecial elections on August 19th. We wish to see included in these plans proposed budget

appropriations from the Department for additional mailings to affected individuals, a hotlinenumber for voters to contact with questions, and specific instructions to local registrars on howthey may best reduce voter confusion.

Pursuant to Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, we also request a copy of the list of voters whoreceived this erroneous mailing to assist us in further determining what outreach and educationsteps might be necessary to ensure every Virginia voter can cast a ballot.

We are confident the Department will take this situation seriously and respond with the urgencythat is necessary. We look forward to receiving your response and a draft plan for outreach in thenext 10 business days.

Sincerely,

ProgressVA EducationVirginia New Majority Education FundFair Elections Legal Network