VPA Urges Opposition to HB 1386

A bill has been introduced in the House of Delegates that would eliminate the process of the State Board of Elections placing information about constitutional amendments in newspapers.

House Bill 1386 was introduced Thursday. It is sponsored by Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Fredericksburg. It provides that the state board will make information about pending constitutional amendments available on its Web site rather than by publishing it at length in newspapers.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee.

The Virginia Press Association is opposed to the measure because it would eliminate the best process to reach the maximum number of citizens -- newspaper publishing. It also would mean that certain groups of citizens who choose not to receive or cannot afford Internet access would not know what is being placed in the state constitution.

VPA is encouraging its members to contact their local legislator and urge that this bill be defeated. Members also are asked to contact Ginger Stanley at (804) 521-7575 or (804) 304-5101, or by e-mail, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), to share their thoughts about strategy to defeat this bill.