RICHMOND, Va. -- A federal judge has ordered Virginia to extend the voter registration deadline to Friday at midnight. The extension comes after a computer glitch during Monday's deadline made it difficult for some people register.
"The Department of Elections online voter registration system is experiencing an unprecedented activity level that has caused it to slow down and sometimes be completely unresponsive," the department posted on Facebook Monday.
New Virginia Majority Education Fund, Virginia Civic Engagement Table, and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law had asked the judge to extend the deadline through the weekend, according to the Washington Post, however the judge settled on the revised Friday deadline.
"We obviously accept the Court’s order to extend the deadline but the entire episode was unfortunate, predictable, and avoidable," state Republican leaders said in a written statement. "Local registrars attempted to warn the McAuliffe administration this was going to happen, and the General Assembly’s Privileges and Elections Committees attempted to bring these issues to light at a joint hearing last week. In both cases the Department of Elections brushed aside legitimate concerns instead of taking the prompt action that was needed."
Those state lawmakers suggested Governor McAuliffe, who supported extending the deadline, find new leadership at the Department of Elections following the election.
This is a developing story.
