Richmond, VA -  New Virginia Majority issued the following statement on Governor Terry McAuliffe's Plan to Improve Ethics Reform and Expand Voter Access: New Virginia Majority applauds Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s good government agenda for the 2017 legislative session which seeks to strengthen Virginia’s ethics rules and expand and protect voter access for people across the Commonwealth.

The agenda includes the following:

• Legislation to ban personal use of campaign funds

• Repeal of SB 1256 to end the regressive photo ID requirement for voters

• End barriers to absentee voting, including expanding access and eligibility to voters without transportation, caregivers, parents of young children, elderly, and rural voters

“The repeal of SB 1256 and expanded absentee voting gives more Virginians the chance to participate in democracy,” said New Virginia Majority Co-Executive Director Tram Nguyen. “It ensures that citizens who have job conflicts, travel, childcare, or transportation challenges are still able to have their voices heard and their votes counted.”

Our democracy is strongest when everyone can participate. Prioritizing good governance and ethics, and a robust expansion of voter access are key components of a healthy democracy. Maintaining gratuitous barriers to voting, such as regressive photo ID laws, laws against absentee voting, and laws against early voting seek to limit access to the ballot. Those who oppose voter access oppose democracy.

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New Virginia Majority builds power in working-class communities of color across the Commonwealth. We organize for racial and economic justice through large-scale political education, mobilization, and advocacy around dozens of issues. We fight for a Virginia that is just, democratic, and environmentally sustainable.