Mary Zuber
You are right on !
-----Original Message-----
From: maryzuber <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 9:02 AM
Subject: Re: ELECTION lEGISLATION


>I have just read the messages re: election legislation. I ask a very
>pointed question.
>When are we going to stop "coddling" the voter who could  care less about
>the privilege of voting. The legislators try everything they possibly can
>to get
>the vote out. However, it clearly does not work. But it certainly gives the
>election
>official (namely us) something new to think about and worry about and be
>there
>to implement the new law.
>Perhaps we can next have them "phone in their choice" and we can mark the
>ballot - sounds far out doesn't it - but if you really look at it
>realistically - that is
>where we are headed. Come on - can't people take responsibility to exercise
>their right and privilege!!!!!  Yet we look at apathetic society that
>mistrusts
>government and feel their vote does not make a difference.
>Education about voting - elections - might be the answer to this dilemna.
>Stress upon our students that this is America and we are so fortunate
>to live in this country and have the right to vote.
>Perhaps my response sounds harsh - but don't you all think that this
>is the case. Legislators try to do everything they can to enable the
>citizen to vote,  yet the bill is passed and  we are the ones to make
>it accessible - but it still does not work, voter turnout is still low.
>
>Mary Zuber - Hinesburg
>
>----------
>> From: Barbara Oles <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: ELECTION lEGISLATION
>> Date: Thursday, March 11, 1999 12:01 PM
>>
>> John, Is this legislation proposing that the deadline for absentee
>ballots
>> be until the opening of the polls, if voted by the individual BCA's?;
>>
>> Or, is it stating that they must still request by 5PM the day before, but
>> may vote the next day before the polls open?
>>
>> This sounds like they are still leaving it up to the individual Board's
>by
>> using may, which I agree with.  Every town's circumstances as to place
>> where voting occurs is different and their process for preparing must
>> coincide with the facility they will be using.
>>
>> If someone complains about being able to vote in my town, I strongly
>> encourage them to vote absentee.  Once educated to this process, they can
>> use it to their convenience and they do.
>>
>> My polls open at 10:00 am and I have very few people who come in before
>> that.  If they do, they come back during the polling hours.  I would have
>> no problem being able to offer them an absentee ballot at that point, but
>> would not like it restricted to a particular hour as I do not always get
>to
>> the polling place by 7 am.  I am between the office and the polling place
>> getting ready.  My BCA does not participate during the election day so I
>am
>> the sole person representing the BCA until that evening when they come to
>> count ballots.
>>
>> Voting is a privilege as well as a right and I feel the law as it is now
>> allows them that privilege.
>>
>> I have been here 15 years and when there is a heated issue or contest,
>> there is a heavy turn out.  When there is not, the voting is light.  It
>has
>> nothing to do with the accessibility.
>>
>>
>> If they subdivide the checklist it would probably help in the
>percentages.
>> You could keep the count differently.  As it is now, we all have inflated
>> checklists, because people are gone from town and probably voting
>> elsewhere, but have not been taken off our checklist because of this law
>or
>> not receiving the confirmation of reregistration from another entity.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> At 12:27 PM 3/10/99 -0500, you wrote:
>> >        Legislation is being drafted reference to absentee ballots : (b)
>> >In a political subdivision in which the polls open later than seven a.m.
>> >voters may if the board of civil authority so votes, apply in person at
>> >the polling place for absentee ballots between the hours of seven a/m.
>> >and the time the polls open. In this case the presiding officer or
>> >designee shall furnish the ballots when a valid application for early
>> >voter absentee ballots is received. The applicant shall mark his or her
>> >ballots, seal them in the envelope, sign the certificate and return the
>> >ballots in the sealed envelope to the presiding officer or designee,
>> >without leaving the polling placed.
>> >                The board of civil authority may subdivide the checklist
>> >into lists of active and inactive voters.The list of inactive voters
>> >shall contain the names and addresses of voters who failed to respond to
>> >the notice sent pursuant to subdivision (d) (3) of section 2150 of this
>> >title, whose names have not been removed from the checklist. The names
>of
>> >the remaining voters shall be included in the list of active voters.
>> >        We need to know your feelings about these drafts as soon as
>> >possible .
>> >
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