April 15, 2003

Summers County delegate appointed to Help America Vote Act committee

CHARLESTON - Secretary of State Joe Manchin has appointed Delegate Virginia Mahan to serve on an advisory committee asked to help lay the groundwork for the enactment of the federal Help America Vote law here in West Virginia.

"I'm very honored to be asked to serve, and I look forward to helping putting in place important initiatives to improve West Virginia's voter turnout," Mahan, D-Summers, said.

At the advisory committee's first meeting April 7, Secretary Manchin recognized Delegate Mahan for her hard work as of Chairwoman of the Legislature's Election Law Subcommittee to facilitate the timely and successful passage of legislation to bring West Virginia into compliance with the new federal law.

"I simply cannot say enough about Virginia Mahan and her understanding of the urgency and need for quick, clean passage of this legislation," he said. "We simply could not have had this success without her.

"And, we are very fortunate that she is also willing to give more of her time to follow up by agreeing to join this committee and help us see it through to completion."

In late 2002, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in response to problems that took place throughout the country during the 2000 presidential election. Money is to be distributed to every state for efforts such as poll worker training, public education, replacement of punch cards and lever machines, and voter accessibility. A variety of federal mandates involve voter registration, challenged ballots, election official training and accessibility for people with disabilities. Each state must establish a statewide, centralized, computerized voter registration system and make all polling places handicap accessible.

The advisory committee was created to help Secretary Manchin prepare a detailed plan for the steps the state must take to comply with the federal act. The first meeting of the Help America Vote Act Advisory Committee was held in Flatwoods on April 7.

The committee is made up of 35 members, representing a wide variety of interests from all across the state. There are representatives of each political party, business and labor, and recognized leaders of groups historically identified with get out the vote efforts, including several organizations that advocate for West Virginians with disabilities.

Delegate Mahan said she's excited to be part of such an important effort.

"The first meeting, which was attended by dozens of observers, was quite lively and productive," Mahan said. "The advisory committee is facing a May 26 deadline to ensure the state receives funds to purchase the necessary equipment, so there's some hard work ahead of us."

The committee will meet again on April 28 to hear more about the actual voting equipment and the options from which West Virginia will choose.