2018 IN Senate race: on Government Reform

Mike Braun: Replace the swamp with citizen legislators and term limits

Andrew Straw: Suing government for ballot access for disabled people

A: Yes, Indiana has defaulted in my federal lawsuit, Straw v. Indiana.

Q: Your issue is about the number of signatures for third parties to get on the ballot?

A: Disabled people in Indiana who wish to run under Disability Party would have to collect over 26,000 signatures due to Indiana's Election Law. My federal lawsuit is designed to get me on the ballot in Indiana for Secretary of State because that position is special. Any small party that gets 2% of the vote for that office thereafter does not need to collect signatures for most races in Indiana. Federal judges have been very conservative and even hostile to disability rights under the ADA. If Congress is dedicated to disability rights, it must oppose any judge who attacks those rights or attacks the people who assert them. I would make it illegal for any judge to attack a disabled lawyer or call their ADA work frivolous.

Andrew Straw: Expand voting rights for disabled people

A: Strongly support. Gathering signatures for ballot access should also be much easier to help disabled candidates and voters. Examples include getting permission to sign for a voter over the phone, by email, or using social media such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Disabled people need accommodations to participate and they should usually get whatever accommodation makes their participation easier.

Mark Hurt: Stop the nefarious practice of omnibus legislation

Hurt supports institutional reforms requiring hearings and transparency for the American public who desire to be involved in the public policy process.

Todd Rokita: Voter ID laws increase turnout and never black voters

Rokita, formerly in charge of overseeing election laws, responded to remarks made on Aug. 6 by the White House Press Secretary about the upcoming reauthorization of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, saying "there are documented instances where Republicans make it harder for eligible Americans to cast a vote--including those who may not have driver's licenses."

Rokita responded: "There is no case of outright denial of voting." He noted that voters who show up at the polls without ID are given provisional ballots and then have seven days to produce ID to make their vote count.

As to the argument that voter ID laws make it harder to vote, Rokita noted, "In 2004, before we had our voter ID law, the average turnout in the primaries was 21% of eligible voters. After the law took effect [in 2006], the average turnout was 31%."