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Senate should approve voting bill Democracy has taken a step forward. Now we're waiting for the second step to happen. One year after the catastrophe dealing with chads, butterfly ballots, dimples and cherry-picked Democratic counties, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed an election reform bill, HR 3295. The bipartisan bill will provide $2.5 billion to local and state governments to eliminate the dreaded punch card ballot, buy new voting equipment, provide better training for election workers and improve registration lists. The Senate should give a gift to the American public by unanimously passing the bill. Some contend that the bill does not go far enough. A few senators want a mandatory federal standard for running elections. They want to deprive local and state government of any voice in conducting their own elections. Again, local government isn't the one with the problem. If people want change, they can walk down to their local or state board of elections and voice their concerns - not so with overreaching federal "guidlelines." Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and civil rights groups are charging that without mandatory election standards, civil rights abuses will remain and minorities will continue to be turned away from the polls. The bill addresses this concern by providing some minimum standards including a statewide voter registration system and allowing provisional voting. Former President Carter, who has participated in many elections far and wide, endorses the bill drafted in a bipartisan spirit by congressmen Bob Ney, R-Ohio, and Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Now is the time for the Senate to act and pass this bill. The American people should not have to endure another election which is decided by a chad hanging in the balance. |
