Letter: Missing Notice, Discussion, of Canceled Vote

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There have been 19 Executive Orders issued in Connecticut by the Governor over the past 3 weeks. All under #7 (A-T).

One 7I, that is #7 letter I, suspends the public’s right to vote on Regional School Budgets as well as your local municipal budget. That’s right you will not be voting on your local budget for the next year, it will be moved through by the Board of Finance and then put in place. End of story – no vote.

With all of this going on I reached out to our 2 elected officials. Norm Needleman and Christine Palm, one said simply he can do that, and Mrs. Palm didn’t respond.

I went to both official websites of our elected officials and there is not a single word about what is going on with these Executive Orders and how they pertain to us — their constituents. It is both their jobs to keep us informed.

Here are their websites and as of this post nothing:

http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Needleman

http://www.housedems.ct.gov/Palm

And I don’t want to hear about your daily Facebook posts, and funny handwashing videos, get some real information directly to your constituents about what is going on with these laws. If you want people to take this seriously then treat them like adults and provide serious information and provide it directly to them. Then fight for my right to vote.

Think about it, you the citizens just lost the right to vote on how you will be taxed and no one has let you know this. No one. I found out by listening to the Superintendent of Region 4 schools explain how they have to proceed with their budgeting process given the change.

My family and I, like almost everyone I know, are taking this health risk very seriously and I don’t not think it is a made up thing or overblown, but I also take my rights very seriously and to suspend the right to vote with the simple executive order, with nothing mentioned as a possible work around or just extending the vote out a month or two, it is gone. When has the right to vote during other dark times in our country’s history been extinguished?

And frankly I have no idea what else is in the other 18 Executive Orders, as no one is keeping the public apprised of these laws.

From what I was told, this Executive Order was put forth under a “health and safety” measure to avoid gatherings of over x amount of people.  That would certainly fit as a reason not to have dozens of people moving through Town Hall to vote right now.  But the budgeting issue being rushed through is to get the education budget incorporated into the town budgets and get the bill/notices to the taxpayers and banks to timely pay our bills and let the banks know what to incorporate into your escrow.  So, why not put the vote off for a month and wait and see?  Having to have budgets in by x date is not a health and safety issue that is a financial administrative issue.  Why not suspend that need to have it in by x date?  I have nothing against banks, but they can wait rather than suspend my voting rights.  The voting can wait and the state can work around that to see what they can come up with as alternative polling if necessary. Putting the need to rush the budgets through because of funding or some other reason is not a health and safety matter it is a matter of administrative convenience. 

Can you imagine if we go into November with this in effect and no one figuring out a work around? Stop and Shop moves hundreds of people safely through their facility in a matter of hours on any given Saturday, but our government can’t figure out a simple voting work around? How about we try drive by voting or vote by mail. We are a small community.

James W. Carey
Essex


Editor’s Note: Rep. Christine Palm, reached for comment, noted that she received an email from Mr. Carey at 1:09 p.m. the day prior to the publication of this letter.