Issues

Opposes Election Day Registration

In the summer of 2008, there was a strong effort at the State House to make Election Day Registration the law in Massachusetts. In fact, the bill was passed by the State Senate. The bill would allow someone to walk into a polling place, register to vote and vote. This is a bad idea for two reasons - the cost and the potential for voter fraud. There are over 2,100 voting precincts in Massachusetts. It would cost about $1,000,000.00 for each election day to implement Election Day Registration. There would be no way to detect if a voter intent on making mischief registered and voted twice - until after election day. Too many elections turn on a handful of votes. We should never adopt a law that opens the door to potential election fraud.

____"There should be zero tolerance for election fraud."____

Supports Changes to Ensure Military Ballots are Counted

In October 2008, the U.S. Justice Department reached a settlement agreement with the Massachusetts Secretary of State for failing to demonstrate the State's success in getting ballots to our troops serving overseas in time for their ballots to be counted. In January 2009, the PEW Center for the States identified Massachusetts as allowing "No Time to Vote" for our military voters. The only solution offered by the Secretary so far - sending ballots by express mail to our troops serving all over the world.

There is not enough time to get ballots from Massachusetts to our troops serving overseas and back. By making a simple change of moving our primary election to the middle of August or earlier, we would ensure that our troops receive their ballots and that their votes count. It is a simple solution that costs taxpayers nothing. It's not only a good idea, but it is required by the federal MOVE Act. What has been Massachusetts response to the MOVE Act? The Secretary will have to ask for a waiver.

___"Let's get Massachusetts off the "No Time to Vote" list for our troops!"___

Supports Voter ID

Vast numbers of voters support voter ID. The reason is simple - it's common sense. ID is required to cash a check, rent a car, check into a hotel, board a plane, even to rent a video. As the Commission on Federal Election Reform stated "voting is equally important." Even the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes a "valid interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process." Twenty-six states require some form of ID to vote. Massachusetts should adopt a law requiring voter ID. Our vote deserves greater respect!