“I was raised by people who were forced to make great sacrifices and showed tremendous courage in the face of discrimination when accessing the right to the ballot box. Despite progress, the U.S. Supreme Court has systematically dismantled the Voting Rights Act, misinformation is wielded as a tool to keep eligible voters from the polls, and there are active efforts to threaten, intimidate and interfere with communities as they seek to exercise their right to vote. It has never been more urgent for this office to protect this right.

That is why we have created this section within the Office of the Attorney General to take on any unlawful impediment to accessing the polls which, left unchallenged, prevents our democracy from being realized for all Virginians.

~Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones

Jones said the section will fulfill its mission by guarding against improper registration cancellations, absentee ballot denials, and interference with voting and election administration.

His office added that the new section will also enforce the Virginia Voting Rights Act and laws protecting military voters and voters with disabilities.

“Virginia holds elections every year, so this is year-round work,” said Ajay Saini, announced as Voter Protection Section Chief. “And at a time when the Trump administration has sought to push the federal government further into the administration of state elections, we will work closely with the Department of Elections and the Federal Accountability Unit to protect Virginia’s authority, the integrity of our elections, and every eligible voter’s right to be heard.”

The AG’s announcement did not clarify how the new section will be funded, staffed, or how it can be contacted.