September 10, 2008

Contact: Tim Rusch, (212) 389-1407, trusch@demos.org

Demos Senior Counsel Lisa Danetz says Department of Veterans Affairs Voter Registration rule change not enough; new senate bill would provide meaningful registration opportunities.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VOTER REGISTRATION RULE CHANGE NOT ENOUGH; NEW SENATE BILL WOULD PROVIDE MEANINGFUL REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES TO VETERANS AND MUST BE SUPPORTED SAYS VOTING RIGHTS ATTORNEY

BOSTON--This week, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary James Peake reversed a decision issued earlier this year not to allow third party voter registration at VA offices. The Senate Rules and Administration Committee also postponed a hearing on S.3308, a bill that would require the VA to allow nonpartisan voter registration drives and agree to any state request that it offer voter registration at its facilities under the National Voter Registration Act. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Feinstein, Clinton, Durbin, Kerry, Leahy, Murray, Obama, Reed, Reid, Schumer and Wyden.

In response, Lisa Danetz, Senior Counsel at Demos, a public policy and voting rights center leading a national effort to support registration at VA offices, issued the following statement:

The VA's belated new directive on voter registration at veterans' facilities, issued on the eve of a scheduled Senate hearing, is a classic example of too little, too late.  The rule change, while formally rescinding the much-criticized policy of an absolute ban on voter registration drives at VA facilities, will not provide veterans with the meaningful access to voter registration that they deserve.

The new policy still places unwarranted roadblocks to registration by leaving it to the discretion of each Regional Counsel and each Facilities Director to determine to what extent voter registration outreach will be permitted.  The new policy also continues to place the burden on VA patients to ask for the opportunity to register, rather than making it the affirmative obligation of the VA to engage in outreach to veterans to provide voter registration services in a consistent manner, as is done by motor vehicle bureaus and public assistance offices for members of the public accessing their services. 

We continue to believe that the VA should do no less to provide voter registration opportunities to our nation's veterans than do motor vehicle bureaus and public assistance offices for the clients they serve. As a federal office, VA facilities can and should be designated as voter registration sites, in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act. VA Secretary Peake has refused to let state facilities offer voter registration services despite requests from state officials. The new Senate bill will require the VA to honor such requests.

We urge Congress to enact S. 3308 to provide veterans with full access to voter registration." 

Members of the Press:

For more information, or to schedule an interview with Lisa Danetz, please contact Tim Rusch at (212) 389-1407 or trusch@demos.org archive.demos.org

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