Virginia County Asks Governor to Waive Absentee Ballot Witness Signature Requirements Ahead of Governor’s Election

A woman fills in a ballot at the Fairfax County Government Center during the 2020 presidential election in Fairfax, Va., on Nov. 3, 2020. Hannah McKay/Reuters

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia voted to send a letter to ask Gov. Ralph Northam to waive the witness signature requirement for mail-in ballots that are to be cast in next month’s election.

The board of supervisors voted 9–1 to send the letter to Northam, a Democrat. The board’s only Republican supervisor, Pat Herrity, cast the lone vote against the motion, describing the proposal as a “blow to election integrity.”