GOP voting strictures pass in VA

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A raft of Republican-backed legislation tightening requirements for voting and registering voters have bulled their way to passage in Virginia.

But the measure to which Democrats most object, a requirement that voters present photo identification at the polls, awaits final passage as early as Wednesday. So does Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain's bill requiring voter registration lists to be checked against federal immigration lists to identify non-citizens.

Republican Del. Mark Cole's bill eliminating several forms of acceptable voter ID approved just a year ago -- utility bills, bank statements, a government check -- passed on a 64-36 vote. It heads now to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell's desk.

Democratic legislation requiring people who do large-scale voter registration to undergo State Board of Elections training passed 97-2.