Virginia governor proposes improvements in absentee voting

Virginia
Gov. Ralph Northam announced a series of proposals Aug. 18 to ensure people
have safe access to voting in the Nov. 3 election amid the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic.

These
measures, to be considered by legislators during a special session of the
General Assembly, include the following:  

• Northam’s
  proposed budget includes $2 million for prepaid return postage on all absentee
  ballots.
•  Localities
  would be permitted to use drop-off boxes or drop-off locations for people who
  choose to vote absentee. The Virginia Department of Elections would implement
  security standards for the drop boxes.
•  Virginians would be given the right to fix an error
  on their absentee ballot. Currently,
  ballots with errors could be discarded. This provision will ensure the many
  Virginians who will be voting absentee for the first time in November will have
  their votes counted.