Sonya Harris for County Clerk

HARRIS RENEWS CALL FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO REFORM ABSENTEE BALLOT PROCESS

SONYA HARRIS FOR COUNTY CLERK

RELEASE: Immediate, CONTACT: Atlantic County
Aug. 21, 2006 Republican Hdqs.
609-677-0707

Sonya Harris Republican candidate for Atlantic County Clerk, today reiterated her call for legislative action to amend the state’s election law and place greater control over the use of messengered absentee ballots for voters.

Legislation needs to be developed, she said, to place greater control over the application portion of the “process of requesting� a messengered absentee ballot.

Harris sent letters (copy attached) to Republican Assemblyman Francis Blee and Democrat Assemblyman James Whelan, both of Atlantic County, urging them to seek legislative action as soon as possible to reform the process by which applications and messengered absentee ballots are handled.

Harris initially wrote the Assemblymen in May, highlighting the allegations of misuse of the system in local elections in Atlantic City and Pleasantville in particular, pointing out that serious and troubling questions were raised as to whether misconduct played a role in the election outcomes.

In her letter in May, Harris submitted a seven-point plan she had developed to close loopholes in the law and eliminate any potential for abuse and manipulation n the system.

Both Blee and Whelan subsequently introduced legislation to address the issue.

Harris said state law should be amended to include “detailed and precise language� setting forth what is permitted and what is prohibited in the process of voters receiving messengered absentee ballots.

“There should be no question in anyone’s mind about what constitutes illegal or fraudulent activity,� Harris said. “Disenfranchising legitimate voters by taking advantage of imprecise or ambiguous language cannot be tolerated.�

“While the Blee and Whelan proposals differ in some respects, I feel strongly that the points of difference can be resolved in the higher interest of guaranteeing fair and honest elections,� Harris said.

Harris added that the actions by Blee and Whelan in proposing their legislation underscores their recognition that serious problems exists and that steps must be taken to solve them.

“Hopefully, now that the legislative debate and enactment of a state budget is past, attention can be turned to strengthening our election laws,� Harris said.

(The attached letter was sent to Assemblyman Blee. A similar letter went to Assemblyman Whelan.)

Hon. Francis Blee Aug. 21, 2006
The Courtyard,
707 White Horse Pike, Suite C5,
Absecon, NJ 08205

Dear Assemblyman Blee:

With the legislative debate and enactment of a state budget now past, I urge you to turn your attention to seeking action as soon as possible to reform the state’s election laws and place more stringent controls on messenger absentee ballots.

As you may recall, I wrote to you and Assemblyman Whelan on May 18, asking that you introduce legislation to amend the law to eliminate the potential for abuse and manipulation of the absentee ballot process through the unlimited use of messenger applications to obtain the ballots. Enclosed with that letter was a copy of a seven-point plan I had developed to address the issue.

The fact that each of you subsequently introduced legislation to amend the law underscores your belief that action should be taken as soon as practical to guarantee that the electoral process is fair and honest.

While your legislation differs from that introduced by Assemblyman Whelan, I believe that the points of difference can be resolved in the interest of eliminating any potential for fraud in the system.

I appreciate your interest and concern in this matter and I look forward to early legislative action.

(The above letter was sent to Assemblyman Blee. A similar communication went to Assemblyman Whelan)