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Senators to VA: Help veterans vote

Ten Senate Democrats have decided they will not take no for an answer in their efforts get the Veterans Affairs Department to allow voter registration drives in its hospitals and nursing homes.

Led by Dianne Feinstein of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts, the senators introduced a bill Wednesday under which VA would have to let nonpartisan groups conduct voter registration drives at its health care facilities.

Last week, VA Secretary James Peake told lawmakers he would not allow outside groups to register voters because VA could not determine whether organizations were linked to particular political parties, candidates or causes — and any involvement with partisan groups would be a violation of federal law.

Peake said VA would try to provide voter registration materials at its facilities.

That did not satisfy lawmakers.

“Given the sacrifices that these men and women have made, providing easy access to voter registration services is the very least we can do,” Feinstein said.

“It shouldn’t have taken a legislative solution to fix a bureaucratic problem, but that’s what it’s come down to in the name of common sense and patriotism,” Kerry added. “Making it easier, not harder, for veterans to vote is the least we can do.”

Among the co-sponsors of S 3308 are Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada and Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic candidate for president. Others include Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer of New York, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Patty Murray of Washington, and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

Reid, who as Senate majority leader sets the schedule for debate on bills and could ensure the bill passes in time to help veterans register to vote for the November general elections, said providing easy access to the voting process is just “common-sense legislation.”

The bill would require VA to make voter registration services available if a state requests such services. That would include providing voter registration forms, answering questions on registration issues, and helping veterans submit their forms.

It also would require VA to assist veterans who want to use absentee ballots, and to allow nonpartisan groups and election officials to provide voting materials to veterans.