Rigging the System

Throughout the legislative session, we’ve seen the GOP systematically assault voting rights and access to the ballot. It began early in the session, when they killed the vote-by-mail bill. This bill would have, by all accounts, increased the turnout and security of our elections. Since then, they have continued to push policies to make it more difficult for Montanans to take part in our electoral system.

Today they were at it again.

The Senate State Administration Committee today heard two bills that would undeniably suppress voter turnout in the state. The first, from Rep. Regier, would eliminate election day as a paid holiday for state employees. It doesn’t take too much examination to realize why the GOP might want to make it harder for state employees to vote. For nearly three months, the GOP has pursued policies targeting the hard-working state employees. The GOP has sought to roll their pay back to 2005 levels, restrict their benefits and retirement and eliminate some of their jobs all together. With their assault on our state employees, it’s no wonder they don’t want them to vote.

Secondly, the Senate State Administration Committee also heard a bill that would roll back same-day registration in Montana to the Friday before elections. Rep. Champ Edmunds, the sponsor of the bill, attempted to portray those who register on election day as lazy and irresponsible. He clearly is forgetting that these voters are well within their rights and duties as voters in the state. His bill would unfairly put additional burdens on all Montanans that seek to have their voice heard.

The Republican extremists in the legislature have worked to systematically rig our electoral system in Montana, by making it more difficult for those voters who’s interest they are working against cast their ballots.