Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – August 10, 2005

COMMENTARY

Many states allow voters to apply for and cast an absentee ballot without explanation, but in Virginia the application must state the reason for the voter needing an absentee ballot. The reason must be one provided for in the law, such as being out of town on business, illness, caring for someone who is ill, or being away on active duty with the armed forces. More flexible rules on accessing the absentee ballot would be useful for voters who have to rush through commuter traffic to get to the polls before they close or whose business schedules change frequently.

There is a reason for the controlled application process in Virginia; the absentee ballot has historically been one of the most abused parts of the electoral system. There is little likelihood that the process is going to get any easier any time soon.

Just last week a grand jury indicted the former mayor of Gate City on 37 counts of voter fraud for allegedly misusing absentee ballots to win his May 2004 reelection campaign. The case drew close attention because the voter registrar in Gate City is Willie Mae Kilgore, mother of Jerry Kilgore who is the Republican candidate for Governor. No one else has been indicted in a case that is apparently still under investigation. Over the years there have been numerous allegations and cases of vote buying through the absentee ballot. The “fighting ninth district” of southwest Virginia has been the scene of most of the illegal activity.

I first learned of vote-buying through the use of the absentee ballot when I was a senior at Shenandoah High School in Page County, Virginia. I was encouraged by my government teacher, Mrs. Boozer, to look into a rumor that vote buying was going on in my home county. Responding to questions from me, the chairmen of the Democratic and Republican parties admitted to me that votes were being bought in Page County. Aghast, I asked why nothing was being done about it. Their explanation was even more shocking: everyone is doing it so there is no one left to enforce the law!

For my research paper in government class that year I recorded all that I could find out as a high school student about voter fraud through the absentee ballot. From research on the total votes cast and the total absentee votes cast in each county and city I found that the percentage of absentee ballots cast would not exceed two to three percent across the state with certain notable exceptions. Every four years when there were local elections in Page County and in several counties in southwest Virginia the number of absentee ballots would jump to one in three or four.

As the system was explained to me, party workers would go out with absentee ballot applications and ballots. Persons who would complete the applications and ballot correctly would get their poll tax paid for them as well as what other considerations might be offered for voting right. Ironically these were the two regions of the state that had an active two-party system.

The penalties for voting fraud in Virginia are stiff. It is too bad that the abuse of the absentee ballot over many years prevents its more general use to encourage greater voter participation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men over the age of 50. Because treatment for prostate cancer is most effective when the disease is detected early, it is important that men 50 and older receive regular prostate examinations. Visit the following site at Senior Navigator to learn about symptoms and available treatment options: www.seniornavigator.org/vaprovider/consumer/snArticle.do?contentld=325

To locate a urologist in your area, go to the site below and type in the topic “Urologist” and your Zip Code: www.seniornavigator.org

Have you heard about REACT? Reston Environmental Action (REACT) is a non-profit organization promoting lifestyle changes that benefit the environment. Currently, REACT is increasing recycling participation by organizing neighborhood volunteers in providing information on why and how to recycle common items. For more information, email contact.react@earthlink.net, or call 703.620.0151. Mary Brown and Nick Abrash of REACT will appear on Delegate Ken Plum’s local television program, “Virginia Report,” on Reston Comcast Channel 28 on Tuesday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 24 at 10:30 p.m.

Help shape Virginia’s sustainable future. Attend Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit, September 13 to 15, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA. Engage in presentations, tours, and workshops on environmentally and economically sound, energy efficient policies and practices for your work, home, and community. Hear about solutions for the environment, business, and communities. Keynote speakers include cabinet secretaries in the Warner Administration, federal agency officials, and association executives. Visit www.vsf3.org for more information.

The Potomac Council, an association of Northern Virginia’s six soil and water conservation districts, will be hosting Potomac Watershed Forum IV, a day-long public event featuring presentations on the most innovative tools and techniques for protecting Potomac River water quality. Attend the Potomac Watershed Forum IV on Friday, August 12, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Manassas campus of George Mason University. Registration is $20 and includes parking, continental breakfast, and lunch. Download a registration form at www.potomacroundtable.org or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/forumiv.pdf. Call Nick Kokales at the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District at 703.324.1460 or email conservationdistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Attend the Volunteeria – the Reston Community Center’s Volunteer Event – on Thursday, September 22. Volunteeria is free, but registration is required. To participate, your organization must register no later than August 22. To register and get additional information, contact Anna Dowdell at 703.476.4500, ext. 6160, or email Anna.Dowdell@FairfaxCounty.gov.

CALENDAR

Wednesday, August 10, 10:30 p.m. – tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report” on Comcast Channel 28 – Betty Long, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association – ”Mastering Medicaid and Long Term Care”

Wednesday, August 10, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Virginia Partisans PAC will hold its Annual BBQ Fundraiser at the residence of Mark Hindin, 625 South 25th Street, Arlington (near the Crystal City Metro). Featured speaker will be Lt. Governor Tim Kaine. Call 703.302.5124 or email president@vapartisans.org for contribution levels or more information.

Friday, August 12, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Potomac Watershed Forum IV, GMU-Manassas campus. See above for registration information.

Tuesday, August 16, 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 17, 10:30 p.m. – tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report” on Comcast Channel 28 – Diana Dascalu, Chesapeake Climate Auction Network - ”Renewable Energy for Virginia.”

Wednesday through Friday, September 13-15 – Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit in Richmond. See above for information about the Summit.

Thursday, September 22 – Volunteeria at Reston Community Center.

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

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