Voter registration deadline extended

Published 10:43 am Wednesday, October 14, 2020

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Virginia’s voter registration deadline has been extended by two days due to a system outage resulting from a severed cable near Richmond on Tuesday.

The new deadline is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, according to a press release from the office of Attorney General Mark Herring.

Tuesday was the last day for voter registration prior to the extension. However, after the outage, Gov. Ralph Northam said he did not have the authority to extend the deadline unilaterally.

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A federal lawsuit was filed by groups including the League of Women Voters of Virginia, Virginia Civic Engagement Table, and New Virginia Majority. Their federal lawsuit against the state asked the court to grant a 48-hour extension for voting registration.

Herring’s office filed a proposed consent decree in response to the lawsuit. Following approval by Judge John A. Gibney Jr. during a 9 a.m. hearing Wednesday morning in federal court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the deadline is officially extended.

People can register to vote or update their voter registration through Thursday at elections.virginia.gov.