Senators to VA: Help veterans vote

Senators to VA: Help veterans vote

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 23, 2008 10:42:46 EDT

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.
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