Right to Vote Without ID, Gillette v. Weimer 

Leigh Gillette went to his Prince William County polling place about a half hour before the polls closed on election day 2007. When the poll worker asked for his ID, he explained that he did not have it with him. The poll worker said that he would not be allowed to vote. Gillette told the poll worker that she was mistaken. Another poll worker called the registrar's office, which also told Gillette that he could not vote without ID. Since there was no time for Gillette to go back home and get his ID, he was not able to vote in the election. The polls workers and registrar's office got it wrong: Although Virginia law requires poll workers to ask voters for ID, a voter without ID must still be allowed to vote if he signs a statement under oath affirming his identity. We filed suit on Gillette's behalf against the Prince William County registrar and electoral board on February 28, 2008. On June 20, 2008, the case was settled with the registrar agreeing to follow the law on voter identification and to post State Board of Elections posters describing the proper procedure.

Court Documents:
Complaint- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia (pdf)

Attorney(s)

Rebecca K. Glenberg, ACLU of Virginia; Neil Bradley, National ACLU Voting Rights Project

Pro Bono Law Firm(s)

Vic Glasberg, Victor M. Glasberg & Associates, Alexandria

Date filed

February 28, 2008

Court

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia. Alexandria Division.

Status

Closed