I am reminded this week of the importance of the ability and the right to vote. August 18th marks the 90th anniversary of womens suffrage (the right to vote) in the United States. Voting is our most important right because we can use it to protect our other rights.
Its important to have confidence that your vote counts and one step to ensure that is to make sure that only valid voters vote. My Obama Democrat opponent has stood against ending voter fraud in the state of Texas by voting against legislation requiring voters to prove their identity at the polls. His party leaders fought to deny Texas legislators the ability to vote on this important legislation last May letting hundreds of legislative bills die rather than let the voter identification bill go to a vote. My opponent stood with them to stop this common-sense bill that Texans support.
As your state representative I will fight for not only voter identification legislation but I will work to ensure that voter fraud ends in our state so that the right to vote is protected for all citizens. To do that I believe we need legislation that does the following:
Ensures that valid photo identification is required to vote
Stays free of registration requirements such as same day voter registration (which dilutes the intent which is ensuring fair and accurate elections)
Increases criminal penalties for voter fraud and false or illegal registration
As I discuss with Austin neighbors about our local concerns a constant lament arises we are not represented well at Austin City Hall. There is a solution single member districts for the Austin City Council. As Austin grows it is more important than ever to ensure equitable representation for all parts of the city. As your state representative I will support efforts to move Austin towards single-member districts.
Currently with primaries and runoffs voters can have as many as six elections to vote in during a single year. This overload leads to low turnout elections and poorer representation. We should consider moving local elections from May to November to reduce the number of elections that voters have to participate in. If there is a concern with combining local elections with big elections such as Presidential year elections local officials could hold their elections on odd year dates where there are Constitutional elections.
As State Representative I will work to find ways to improve how we organize elections for efficiency and better representation. I believe in accountability via democracy. As Winston Churchill said democracy is the worst form of government except for all the rest. We need to continue to elect judges continue having an elected State Board of Education and we need to consider accountability via elections for appraisal boards and other local boards such as hospital districts. We the People are ultimately responsible for the results of our government and I will fight to make the machinery of democracy work better.
Voting is not just a right its a duty - so this election do your civic duty and vote!
Patrick McGuinness is a candidate for State Representative District 50
I am reminded this week of the importance of the ability and the right to vote. August 18th marks the 90th anniversary of womens suffrage (the right to vote) in the United States. Voting is our most important right because we can use it to protect our other rights.
Its important to have confidence that your vote counts and one step to ensure that is to make sure that only valid voters vote. My Obama Democrat opponent has stood against ending voter fraud in the state of Texas by voting against legislation requiring voters to prove their identity at the polls. His party leaders fought to deny Texas legislators the ability to vote on this important legislation last May letting hundreds of legislative bills die rather than let the voter identification bill go to a vote. My opponent stood with them to stop this common-sense bill that Texans support.
As your state representative I will fight for not only voter identification legislation but I will work to ensure that voter fraud ends in our state so that the right to vote is protected for all citizens. To do that I believe we need legislation that does the following:
Ensures that valid photo identification is required to vote
Stays free of registration requirements such as same day voter registration (which dilutes the intent which is ensuring fair and accurate elections)
Increases criminal penalties for voter fraud and false or illegal registration
As I discuss with Austin neighbors about our local concerns a constant lament arises we are not represented well at Austin City Hall. There is a solution single member districts for the Austin City Council. As Austin grows it is more important than ever to ensure equitable representation for all parts of the city. As your state representative I will support efforts to move Austin towards single-member districts.
Currently with primaries and runoffs voters can have as many as six elections to vote in during a single year. This overload leads to low turnout elections and poorer representation. We should consider moving local elections from May to November to reduce the number of elections that voters have to participate in. If there is a concern with combining local elections with big elections such as Presidential year elections local officials could hold their elections on odd year dates where there are Constitutional elections.
As State Representative I will work to find ways to improve how we organize elections for efficiency and better representation. I believe in accountability via democracy. As Winston Churchill said democracy is the worst form of government except for all the rest. We need to continue to elect judges continue having an elected State Board of Education and we need to consider accountability via elections for appraisal boards and other local boards such as hospital districts. We the People are ultimately responsible for the results of our government and I will fight to make the machinery of democracy work better.
Voting is not just a right its a duty - so this election do your civic duty and vote!
Patrick McGuinness is a candidate for State Representative District 50
