Virginia has abolished a day honoring Confederate generals in favor of a state holiday on election day. The move is part of a raft of measures to make voting easier.
Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation on Sunday to expand access to the ballot across his state. The Democrat abolished the need for voter ID and expanded early voting.
Voters will now be able to vote up to 45 days before the election without stating a reason and election day will be a state holiday.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
“Voting is a fundamental right, and these new laws strengthen our democracy by making it easier to cast a ballot, not harder,” Northam said in a statement.
“No matter who you are or where you live in Virginia, your voice deserves to be heard. I’m proud to sign these bills into law.”
The state holiday for election day will replace Lee-Jackson Day. This holiday, initiated in 1904, celebrated Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
Both men owned slaves and fought against the Union in the Civil War of 1861-65. The holiday often fell during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend – timing many felt was inappropriate.
“We need to make Election Day a holiday,” Northam argued in his State of the Commonwealth address this year.
“We can do it by ending the Lee-Jackson holiday that Virginia holds,” he said.
“It commemorates a lost cause. It’s time to move on.”
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter
Darragh Roche is a journalist covering U.S. politics and media
President Biden is set to raise more money for his campaign in one night ($25…
Vice President Kamala Harris announced action by the Biden administration to protect the privacy and…
Stephen Colbert took apart Trump's selling of Bibles con by pointing out Trump is charging…
Larry David had a lot to say when he was asked about Donald Trump, as…
A California Judge has ruled that Trump coup architect John Eastman should be disbarred and…
Trump attacked the anchors at MSNBC and Chuck Todd for stopping the hiring of Ronna…
This website uses cookies.