House Administration Committee Rejects Democratic Proposals to Aid Military, Disabled and Student voters

June 4, 2013 (Washington, D.C.) At a meeting of the Committee on House Administration, Republicans rejected Democratic amendments which would assist military, disabled, and student voters.

H.R. 1994, The Election Assistance Termination Act, continues the Republican assault on voting rights by trying to once again eliminate the only federal agency designed to help America vote. Ranking Member Robert Brady (PA) introduced a substitute that would reform and reauthorize the agency. Brady’s proposal improves access for disabled voters, and improves transparency by preventing voting machine manufacturers from paying for the audits of their own equipment. Brady’s amendment would also reduce the agency’s operational costs by requiring the EAC to do more with less and examining the cost effectiveness of each program they administer.

Rep. Brady also offered an amendment to H.R. 95 that would set aside funds from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund specifically to assist disabled, elderly, and military voters. “We need to do everything possible to make sure our military voters have access to the ballot. My proposal would require the federal government to continually evaluate and improve the way we make our servicemen and women vote,” Brady said.

Unfortunately, Committee Republicans rejected these solutions, and passed measures that will ensure localities do not receive the help they need to prevent continued problems and long lines at polling places, limits access to polling places, and underserves the needs of those serving in our Armed Services.