Swords to Plowshares

Current U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs policy, defined in VHA DIRECTIVE 2008-025, blocks nonpartisan groups from holding voter registration drives at VA facilities. “The Veteran Voting Support Act” been introduced in both the House and Senate in order to reverse this blatant affront to the men and women who have worn the uniform to defend such rights.

Committee on House Administration Chairman Robert A. Brady commented in a letter to VA Secretary James Peake:

“It is inconceivable that the Department of Veterans Affairs would restrict non-partisan, non-profit organizations from providing resources and information to assist veterans in registering to vote… The fact that this affects wounded veterans, many of whom risk life and limb defending the freedoms that we all enjoy, is most troubling.”

In the same letter House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner commented:

“The right to vote is the foundation for our democracy and this right has been courageously protected by our veterans… A recent bureaucratic ruling by the VA will not only prohibit voter registration drives on the grounds of VA facilities, but may hinder injured and aging veterans from receiving voter registration services altogether.”

Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, recently sent the following letter to Senator Diane Feinstein endorsing S. 3308, “The Veteran Voting Support Act.”

July 28, 2008

The Honorable Diane Feinstein
United States Senator
331 Senate Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Feinstein:

Veterans for Common Sense strongly endorses your superb new legislation designed to restore veteran voting rights, S 3308, “The Veteran Voting Support Act,” already co-sponsored by a distinguished list of U.S. Senators, including Barack Obama, Charles Schumer, John Kerry, Patty Murray, Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, and Ron Wyden.

Your legislation is critical because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is blocking voting rights for veterans in VA hospitals and VA nursing homes as well as among homeless veterans who are provided VA assistance. VA is fighting against allowing our veterans to have access to voter registration and voter assistance. We appreciate how you first tried to work with VA to resolve this crisis without legislation. Unfortunately, VA rejected your reasonable suggestions to lift their ban.

Your bill is timely because the deadlines for voter registration are quickly approaching and because there are less than 100 days before we vote on November 4. Our simple goal as a non-partisan non-profit is clear: Let our veterans vote. We hope to improve voter turnout among our hundreds of thousands of hospitalized and homeless veterans.

Thank you for working hard to make sure that our fellow citizens who stood between enemy bullets and our Constitution have full and equal access to voter registration and voting on Election Day. Our veterans earned no less. Veterans for Common Sense will be asking our members to contact their elected officials soon so that your important legislation becomes law within a few weeks.

Sincerely,
Paul Sullivan
Executive Director