Letter to the Honorable Matt Michels, President of the Senate, and Members of the State Senate - Style and Form Vetoes

Letter

Dear Mr. President and Members of the Senate,

I respectfully return to you Senate Bill 76 with the following recommendation as to STYLE and FORM.

Senate Bill 76 is An Act to revise certain provisions regarding voter registration. The bill seeks to require the Department of Tribal Relations to assist the secretary of state, counties, and tribal governments in complying with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

I support this bill, but as presented it implies incorrectly that the Department itself is regulated by HAVA. Because the Department does not administer elections, it cannot be required to "comply" with HAVA.

The following style and form correction to the Enrolled version of Senate Bill 76 clarifies the role of the Department:

In Section 1, on the second line after "tribes", delete "comply" and insert "assist".

With that correction, the bill would read: "The Department of Tribal Relations, in off-election years, shall in cooperation with the secretary of state, counties, and tribes assist with the Help America Vote Act and assist with election grants, education, and satellite-voting center locations on Indian reservations."

This clarification maintains the legislature's intended meaning, and I ask that you concur with this recommendation as to style and form.

Respectfully submitted,

Source