Lee Terry: “I believe in the empowerment of local, county, and State governments. I believe that they, being closer to the people…”

“I believe in the empowerment of local, county, and State governments. I believe that they, being closer to the people, can provide services better and cheaper. The Federal Government does ask that those local governments perform tasks on behalf of the Federal Government. Running elections is such a request. In fact, it is not a request, it is a mandate in the United States Constitution. Yet we do not partner and we do not help in the running of those Federal elections. The consequences are outdated machines, poor election personnel training, poor coordination, bad voter lists, all making the system vulnerable to fraud. The Federal Government, with H.R. 3295, establishes that partnership, helping States and counties more efficiently run Federal elections. This act enhances the credibility of the election system by providing some financial help to States and counties to upgrade from a punch card system to a newer technology less fraught with danger. It, importantly, also helps those States who moved forward to upgrade while Congress here debated, discussed and compromised. This act helps to set minimum standards for elections, to avoid confusion in the future. It helps train election officials. It helps ensure, and this is an important aspect, it helps ensure that the votes of our overseas men and women, and those in the service, will count. It requests States clean up their voter lists, and it allows our youth more participation in the process.”