This is the sort of thing that gives mindless bureaucracy a bad name. On May 5, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a directive saying voter education and voter registration drives were not permitted at VA health care facilities because they were potentially disruptive and in violation of the federal Hatch Act. Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, the state's chief elections officer, was incredulous. She wrote and asked to do a voter-education session on the state's new voting machines at the state's VA medical facilities. She said she was turned down. On June 30, Ms. Bysiewicz and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal went to the VA facility in West Haven for a press conference and to sign up voters. Since then, Ms. Bysiewicz and Mr. Blumenthal have been in a letter-writing battle with VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake...
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