Friday, May 22nd, 2009

By J.R. Claeys

Gov. Mark Parkinson today vetoed legislation that would allow overseas and military voters to send ballots and voter registration forms via e-mail. The bill also had a simple provision to add a signature line and affidavit to the advance voter ballot. The governor cited "a crowded return envelope" among his reasons for vetoing the protection against voter fraud.

Think about that for a minute. A signature line on an advance voting ballot was too much for the governor to stomach in order to give our military men and women easier access to their right to vote. Who, exactly, is confused by a line with the word "signature" under it? Who, according to the governor, would be confused and discouraged from voting by being required to sign below a statement attesting to the validity of the enclosed ballot?

In case you don't think that the military have a tough time voting, in 2006 our military men and women had a 17 percent voter turnout. I've supported efforts at the federal level to make ballots and information more readily available to our military men and women and our veterans. Members of the Armed Services often have limited opportunities to vote when serving overseas and have barriers to communicating during the brief election period. Allowing e-mail communication would give many soldiers and their families an opportunity to vote.

To take this opportunity away from our military men and women over a simple signature line on a advance ballot is a shame. And it is something we won't need to worry about with a Republican governor in 2010.

Those serving overseas to protect our way of life deserve easy accessibility to the right to vote. Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, our governor has failed the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom.