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"The practice and policy of banning voter registration drives at veterans facilities is an slap in the face to the people that have served, put their lives on the line and scarified the most for our fundamental freedoms. It is simply wrong" said Bysiewicz. "It defies logic that this administration would even consider disenfranchising tens of thousands of veterans who have served our country and now require care. At a minimum we should make it easier for our veterans to register to vote." Earlier this month in preparation for the November 4, 2008 Presidential Election, which promises to bring voters to the polls in record numbers, Secretary Bysiewicz requested permission to visit both inpatient and outpatient facilities to educate veterans, especially veterans with disabilities, about Connecticut's new voting machines. Last week, however, West Haven Veterans Hospital denied Secretary Bysiewicz's request. Secretary Bysiewicz has written to Mr. Roger Johnson, Director of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System. "I view this denial of access both as a civil rights violation of the deepest measure and as a moral slap in the faces of those veterans who are supposed to be served by the VA Connecticut Healthcare System – veterans attempting to put their lives back together after leaving those lives behind to serve our country," wrote Bysiewicz. "Since your organization has refused to give us a reason for this denial, and since I can think of no legitimate reason to deny veterans access to information about their voting rights and how to use new voting machines… Certainly, it does not reflect what is in the best interests of the veterans you are supposed to serve." Secretary Bysiewicz is calling on the Federal Elections Assistance Commission to launch an investigation to determine whether veterans living in these facilities are being unfairly denied access to information on the new voting machines. © Copyright by StamfordPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of StamfordPlus.com, Stamford Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. Related Articles: Patients at West Haven Veterans' Hospital registered to vote - Aug 7, 2008 - 2:38:47 PM Former World No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo and six of the top 20 players in the world lead women’s full field at The Pilot Pen - Aug 7, 2008 - 12:27:43 PM Patriot National Bank salutes the Disabled American Veterans at Bluefish game - Aug 5, 2008 - 3:07:25 PM Bysiewicz praises U.S. House Committee passage of bill repealing V.A. ban on voter registration - Jul 30, 2008 - 10:03:52 PM House bill sponsored by Murphy would allow non-partisan voter registration drives at Veterans’ hospitals nationwide - Jul 29, 2008 - 11:29:16 AM CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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