Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe Wednesday vetoed House Bill 9, which would require Virginia general registrars to deny voter registration applications submitted by eligible Virginians.

In a statement explaining his veto, the governor said he opposes stripping registrars of their discretion when it comes to omissions from applications that are not material to determining whether the applicant is qualified to vote in the Commonwealth. The Governor stressed the importance of making it easier for qualified Virginians to play a role in the election process, as well as his opposition to any efforts to erect barriers for eligible Virginia voters. “The Voting Rights Act expressly prohibits denying applications for omissions that are not material to determining voter eligibility,” McAuliffe said in his veto statement.