Hoosier voters are beginning to receive postcards in the mail from the Secretary of State Election Division. The card reminds Hoosiers that Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2014 and to visit www.indianavoters.com for election information. The office is mailing these post cards as part of a statewide voter list refresh. The goal is to identify outdated and inaccurate voter registration information to improve the accuracy and integrity of Indiana’s voter registration list.

“Last year, I worked with state budget writers to secure the funding to update Indiana’s voter list,” said Secretary of State Connie Lawson. “It is estimated that at least one in eight voter registrations contains inaccurate information. Inaccurate voter information affects the integrity of our voting process. It may deflate voter turnout statistics because those numbers are based on total registered voters, which we know contain some outdated information.”

Postcards that are returned to the office will be used to identify outdated voter information. The office will send a second first-class mailing asking those voters to take action by updating their registration information, if necessary.

Hoosiers should use the postcard as a reminder to verify, update or start a voter registration online at www.indianavoters.com. Voters may also visit their local county clerk’s office or any branch of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to register to vote or update their voter registration.

Ninth Congressional District candidate Bill Bailey endorses an independent, bi-partisan investigation into the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Memorial Day ought to be about honoring our veterans, instead of learning how they are being dishonored by the Veterans Affairs department. I fear we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg about veterans’ needs being poorly handled,” Bailey, a Seymour Democrat, said.

“An investigation is an opportunity for the VA to create new efficiencies so that every claim for medical or non-medical benefits is addressed within six months,” Bailey said. “The problems are obviously systemic.”

Bailey and Billy Smith, his veterans’ affairs director, have visited many American Legion posts in the 9^th Congressional District during the past year. “We have heard veterans state over and over that they have many complaints about their medical treatment in VA hospitals, the backlog of VA claims and the understaffing of VA branches,” Bailey noted.

“I’m surprised and disappointed that Rep. Todd Young, who is a veteran, has tolerated the deficiencies in the VA system, especially considering that he spent two years on the House Committee for Veterans Affairs,” Bailey added. “Our veterans deserve better.”