Why on earth can’t Democrats be honest here and say what is really wrong and why this bill went back to committee? It would have been adequate to blame the Rs for rushing the bill in the Senate but then acknowledge good reasons for backtracking. Instead pure establishment propaganda. Why? No wonder voters are unhappy with the parties. Both parties.
Comments added inline in [CAPS] below by Harvie Branscomb.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2015
CONTACT:
Jessica Bralish, Communications Director
At stake: The right to vote in every election for overseas military personnel
DENVER — In a rare procedural move, the Senate Republicans re-sent a bill on military voting rights back to committee. The bill (HB 15-1130) ensures that overseas military personnel and overseas citizens can exercise their right to vote in every election.
[NO, IT DOESN’T – FAR TOO MANY CRUCIAL PROCEDURAL ELEMENTS OMITTED AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES NOT WRITE RULES FOR THESE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.]
HB 15-1130 was scheduled for final vote on third reading this morning but the Republicans sent it back to the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.
[DID DEMOCRATS OPPOSE THIS VERY RESPONSIBLE MOVE TO RECONSIDER THE BILL??? THAT’S IMPLIED HERE, ISN’T IT?]
The bill will help active-duty military personnel deployed overseas and other overseas citizens vote in their local municipal elections.
[IN FACT THE BILL ARRANGED NO WAY FOR MILITARY OVERSEAS WITHOUT MAIL SERVICE TO LEARN ABOUT A LOCAL ELECTION AMONG MANY OTHER OMISSIONS].
Currently, municipal elections are not conducted like other elections for our men and women in uniform. The unamended bill aligns municipal election code with federal, state, and county election code.
[NO IT DOESN’T. IT WOULD HAVE ADOPTED CRS 1-8.3 LIKE SPECIAL DISTRICTS DO IF THAT WERE TRUE]
“This is an unusual move.
[YES AND IT WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF LEGISLATIVE PROCESS BY BOTH PARTIES TO DO THE BEST THING FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS AS WELL AS FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY IN GENERAL. THE BILL OPENS UP A LOOPHOLE FOR UNRESTRICTED RETURN OF VOTED BALLOTS BY ANY ELECTRONIC MEANS MEANING IN EFFECT ZERO SECURITY OR INTEGRITY]
We will be watching closely to see what happens and to ensure that every soldier, veteran, or citizen who is entitled to vote can exercise their constitutional right to vote. It is deeply concerning that those who fight for our rights may not be able to fully exercise their own right to vote,”
[YES IT IS AND IT IS ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNING THAT THE LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE A POORLY WRITTEN BILL SO FAR WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE WEAKNESSES OR ACKNOWLEDGING THE CRITICAL REMEDIAL ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED BY ORDINARY CITIZENS WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES. IT IS PARTICULARLY SAD THAT MORGAN CARROLL DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITIZENS’ INPUT GIVEN THE BOOK ON CITIZEN PARTICIPATION THAT SHE WROTE.]
said Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, Senate Democratic Leader. “Any debate, discussion, or amendment could have been held on the floor, and the bill has already had a full public hearing.
[IT IS NOW OBVIOUS THAT A “FULL PUBLIC HEARING” IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO PRODUCE QUALITY. DEMOCRATS DID NOT DEBATE THE BILL IN THE SENATE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC OR NOTICED DEFECTIVE TEXT EARLY ON ON THEIR OWN AND CORRECTED THE BILL MUCH EARLIER.]
It is important that this legislation pass and that any amendment fully protects the rights of military personnel overseas to vote and have their vote counted,”
[THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FAILURE OF LEGISLATORS TO ADMIT TO DEFICIENCIES OF PROCESS. IT SHOWS WHY DEFICIENT BILLS ARE PASSED WITH IMPUNITY. BOTH PARTIES MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING GOOD LEGISLATION AND ADMIT WHEN MISTAKES ARE MADE SO THAT REMEDIES CAN BE FOUND FOR THE FUTURE. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.]
The Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee already approved HB 15-1130 unanimously on March 18, and the House of Representatives previously approved it 63-0, as well.
[THE BILL IF IT REMAINS UNAMENDED WILL NOT ADEQUATELY SERVE ITS PURPOSE AND SHOULD NOT BE PASSED. –HARVIE BRANSCOMB.]