Vote for me.

I'm diagnosed with autism and I attended the special needs school district when I was a child. So there are issues which I look at through a prism of one with a disability:

*I'm a strong supporter of public transportation. I supported Proposition A, the County's halve cent sales tax to restore and improve metro services. Furthermore, I support trolley systems and Bus Rapid Transit. Metro services are vitally important for people to get to work and go to school and can't drive.

*When I attended school my parents were involved and I benefited form their involvement. I don't think parental involvement is talked about enough. Without parental involvement, it's going to be hard to make improvements to the metropolitan schools. That being said, I support any educational alternative that will benefit a child in educational advancement.
I'm proud to announce that Citizens for Educational Freedom has me down as in favor of school choice for all parents. I believe all schools, public, private, and charter schools, should be held accountable.
When there is a shortfall in funding, I will support increase in funding. That is why I ask all city voters to vote yes on Prop. S, a school bond to improve the schools.

*While this issue is not exclusively effect people with disabilities, we are effected. I believe we need to make it easier for people to vote: this will include but not limited to making ballots in languages other than English, a voter ID law that does not disenfranchise voters and allowing people to voter absentee without requiring them to get a the absentee ballot notarized.

I invite you to the ADA 20 Anniversary at the History Museum is Forest Park. I will be there.

One more thing, I am the only candidate, Democrat or Republican, who is on record in support of legalizing medical marijuana.
So Ask for a Republican Ballot and voter for Me on August 3rd.

I write for the examiner. So subscribe to me.
Please email me at damienherr@yahoo.com if you have more questions.

My voter ID proposal.

Last year the Missouri Legislator passed a voter ID law. Unfortunately the law was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Missouri Weinschenk v. Missouri. I'm writing this blog to explain the difference between my proposal and the legislators'. The following is my proposal:

1. All Missouri voter are required to show a picture ID. A picture ID includes a state ID, a school ID, a work ID, or a U. S. passport. The idea is to put the face with the name. 
2. If the voter fails to show up with a picture ID, the vote could vote by affidavit. To vote by affidavit, a voter could use, a voter ID card or mail sent by the local election board, a utility bill or a financial statement, library card, or any information from school with the voter's name and address on it. Before the voter votes, the voter would be given a carbon-copy of the affidavit to take to the local board of election to get a free ID. This carbon-copy of the affidavit is all the voter would need to get a free ID. As long as the voter is registered, there is no need for a birth certificate. This would only apply to registered voters.
3. Require identification to register to vote. I remember when this law passed, I was asking, "should we make sure the voter is eligible before showing up at the polls?" When I registered to vote at my local library when I turned 18, I had to show my library card, my insurance card, and raise my right hand and take an oath. Soliciting registration on the street should be banned. While there are a lot of well meaning people doing it, there are a lot of uninformed people doing it  as well. In 2004, American Coming Together turned in thousand of fraudulent voter registration cards. This happened because they were paying people to register and the people they employed needed money. Since the commission was per voter, some were willing to open a phone book and put a name down. 
4. Another way I think we should allow registration is through checking a box. Just like one could check a box when you apply for your driver license, Missourians should be allowed to check a box on a high school graduation or GED application, or any documents you sign relation to College, apartment and housing, healthcare, or any dealing with the state agencies. For example, you apply for an apartment, you check that box so you new landlord will turn in you information to the local board of election. This provision would allow a high school student to check a box on the graduation application to register to vote. 

The legislation the Missouri legislators passed did not have provision 3 nor 4. Another differences are the solution if a voter does not have an ID. The legislation allowed people to vote provisionally. I believed voters should vote by affidavit to allow the vote to count on Election Day, not 2 weeks later. I believe if the Missouri Assembly pass my proposal, it would be upheld on appeal.