Action | 2014 Absentee Material Omissions |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 7/21/2014 |
I object to the proposed rule regarding both the generational data and the inclusion of street identifiers, such as Avenue, Drive, Road, ... in the rule.
Generational data is not required as the probability of two people of the same name living at the same address and both of them voting by absentee ballot in the same election is rare. It would be even rarer if there were more than two of the same name in the household. If both voted by absentee then the generational designation is not relevant.
The proposed requirement for making the inclusion of Avenue, Road, or Drive on the ballot is merely an attempt to disqualify a ballot for failure of completing a ministerial task. The name and address of the person who has applied to vote absentee is already in the database.
Voting is a Constituional right. Government should be taking steps to increase voter turnout, not discouraging and attempting to disenfranchise people who have made an effort to fulfil their citizen responsibiities. Study after study after study shows that voter fraud is exceedingly rare, to the point that it is almost non-existent. These attempts to take a legitiamte vote away from a person exercising a constitutional right is shocking to the citizenry.