A Virginia delegate delivered a baby girl. Political leaders gave her the option to vote remote.
Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, who delivered her baby last week and voted miles away from the statehouse traditionally governed by men, became Virginia’s first woman to be allowed to vote remotely by political leaders.
Around a third (49 out of 140) of the state’s legislators are women. About two dozen of the female lawmakers have children under 18 years old, ranging from babies to teenagers.
While Ms. LeVere Bolling was juggling committee meetings, a delegate began to give birth. Clerk G. Paul Nardo has confirmed that she is the only lawmaker to be granted permission to remotely vote due to childbirth.
She said, “As a woman you feel pressured just to always show up,” before giving birth. “I feel compelled to be here because of all the issues. I feel compelled by the lives we lead and the political climate we live in. I feel almost guilty or ashamed for being pregnant at this time. I shouldn’t be, right?
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Virginia House of Delegates allowed remote voting for the first time due to COVID-19 pandemic. They also hosted virtual sessions. The Senate, on the other hand, continued to meet physically but allowed its members to participate via the internet.
The rules of the House this year allow Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, to give approval to a member’s participation electronically in order to ensure that they are safe. He said that allowing Ms. LeVere to vote remotely was an easy decision.
Scott stated, “We want our values to be lived.” “We believe in families,” Mr. Scott said. We want young people to be involved in the process when they are still thinking about it. “We don’t want all of our legislators to have grown-up children and be old.”
Women only started representing Virginians, a group with a history dating back to 1924. In a database of Virginia Delegates, it is revealed that more than 9,500 males have served in the body as compared to only 123 females. Virginia has the highest number of mothers who care for children in the statehouse.
Colorado House allows remote voting for health-related reasons. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 31 states will not allow remote participation on floor proceedings for either chamber after 2023. The different policies, say experts, show that the procedural rules weren’t designed with mothers in view.
Liuba Grechen Shirley of the VoteMama Foundation said that proxy voting would be an important step in modernizing our state legislatures. “However we must do more to include lawmakers who have caregiving responsibilities in the legislative process.”
Del. Adele McClure gave birth to a daughter last October. She has spent this session dealing with postpartum issues, pumping milk on the House Floor and racing home after a long day.
She said: “I am definitely not the person I was at my last session.”
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker recalled that she brought her 8-month old baby to the Legislature with her last year. It was a difficult situation. She expressed her hope that the use of proxy votes will become more common, citing discussions in Congress on whether U.S. legislators should be able to vote remotely.
She said: “Every year we have members with medical conditions or I have seen paramedics brought to the House Floor for a Member.”
On Thursday, in the House chamber, the lawmakers discussed a Senate tax bill that had been opposed by the Governor. After a lively debate, the lawmakers cast their vote. The clerk said into his mic: “Delegate LeVere BOLLIN?”
LeVere Bolling replied “Yes” loudly through the speakers of the chamber. The bill was passed by a vote of 62 to 33.
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