Lawsuit aims to extend voter registration deadline

ALEXANDRIA (WSLS 10) - A civil rights organization has filed a complaint against the Department of Elections and State Board of Elections, asking the court to extend the Virginia voter registration deadline by three days.

On Tuesday evening, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed the complaint in the Northern District Court of Virginia.

Virginia's voter registration deadline was on Monday, but the complaint says some eligible voters were unable to register on that day.  This means anyone who failed to complete registration will not be able to cast a ballot on November 8th, because the state's online voter registration website was unavailable to the public for much of the day.

"No voter should be penalized by errors made on the part of state officials.  Our lawsuit seeks to ensure that all aspiring voters in Virginia are given a full and fair opportunity to register and vote this election cycle, said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law  The state failed its citizens when its online registration system collapsed during the most critical moment during the voter registration period."

A hearing for the suit has not yet been scheduled, but plaintiffs hope for a decision in the next few days.