Federal excon can be mail-in voting witness?

[digitaldude02271]

Jurisdiction

Virginia

Mail-in voting in my state requires a witness signature confirming I received my presidential general election ballot. Can a former federal criminal convict legally sign as my mail-in voting ballot witness? I recall (unless I am mistaken) they can't vote, but the instructions state that "anyone age 18 or older that is not your employer" can be a witness.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Good question. It appears this may have been an error or anomaly and the Virginia Boar of Elections has made it clear that you can have a witness, but failure to have one will NOT invalidate your ballot. See here in the large box:

Absentee and Early Voting - Virginia Department of Elections

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

According to Absentee and Early Voting - Virginia Department of Elections

You don't even need a witness.

To all Virginians voting by mail/absentee ballots for the November 3, 2020 elections:
If you believe you may not safely have a witness present while completing the absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020 Election, you are not required to have a witness present or have a witness sign your ballot envelope.
Your ballot will not be rejected due to a missing witness signature. These instructions override any instructions on your ballot envelopes regarding witness signatures.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You beat me to it Michael.

They seem to have changed the rules at the last minute.

Virginia voters get conflicting information on witness signatures | WTOP

How convenient.

 

[digitaldude02271]

Thanks very much, @Michael Wechsler and @PayrollHRGuy! I especially appreciate you both including the reference articles for strengthening evidence toward your answers. I think it is likely that Virginia's online ballot tracking is available for my ballot also. I will prefer to have no signature and mail it out asap, and I don't anticipate issues but the tracking is reassuring to make sure things go according to plan.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

@digitaldude02271 Glad we could help.