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Advocacy Blog
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The VA Can Deny Third Party Voter Registration on its Property
A recent AlterNet story highlights an unfortunate case that has been going on since the 2004 presidential election, challenging the refusal of the Veterans Administration to help soldiers register to vote. In August 2007 the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, in Preminger v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs upheld a decision that permitted the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to exclude voter registration by third-party groups in VA facilities; "we cannot say that it is unreasonable for the VA to regulate the activities taking place on its grounds and to exercise its discretion in determining when a 'demonstration' (defined to include 'partisan activities') would be disruptive." And recently in February, the case was denied rehearing.
It is pretty outrageous that the VA continues to block efforts to help U.S. soldiers register to vote at its facilities. Scott Rafferty, an attorney in the Preminger case was quoted in the AlterNet article saying, "This is politically motivated voter suppression."
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) sent a letter to VA Secretary James B. Peake urging that all veterans in VA facilities should be able to participate in voter registration activities. The senators' letter states; "Certainly we all agree it is an insult to those who have fought to spread democracy and freedom overseas to be denied the right to participate in their own democracy here at home."
Furthermore, we understand that the Court of Appeals seemed to indicate that the VA's role in assisting veterans was purely medical. However, the VA has a long and proud history of providing a myriad of services to veterans - helping them lead successful and productive lives. Providing them with the opportunity to become more actively involved in our democracy seems an appropriate role for the VA. The argument that providing access to voter registration at facilities would distract from the medical goals is as unfortunate as it is counterproductive.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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