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Michael Folk on Government Reform
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Send absentee voter applications to all registered voters
I support the Indiana Election Commission's decision to move our primary election to June 2 and to permit every Hoosier to request an absentee ballot to vote by mail--no excuse needed. While I support removing the requirement that a voter needs a
state-defined excuse to request a ballot by mail, another barrier to voting remains. Indiana should further remove the step that requires Hoosiers to print applications for a ballot by proactively mailing these applications to all registered voters.
Source: Chicago Crusader on 2020 Indiana Governor race
, Feb 20, 2020
Cut red tape on state purchasing
Folk described the state's roads as horrendous. He added that from talking to those with the road department, the biggest issued are waste and prioritizing what needs fixed. "The biggest thing I have seen with waste is that purchasing is messed up,"
Folk said. "I had a story told to me that a truck was down for a week and a half to two weeks because they had to go through a specific bid for getting the part that they could have got from their local auto parts store for a fraction of the money."
Source: Martinsburg Journal-News on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
, Jan 13, 2020
Government is not the answer
Folk said he is an airline pilot by trade and is running for office because in 2008, he was laid off by the airlines. "The more I researched things, the more I realized it comes back to government," Folk said. "Government is not the answer."
"West Virginia is a state that thinks government can solve its problems," Folk said. "It's not the government that is going to solve its problems. The only thing it can do is remove the inventory and equipment tax."
Source: MyBuckhannon.com on 2020 West Virginia Governor debate
, Aug 27, 2019
No party-line voting; yes write-in voting
Sen. Cole voted YES on a bill to disallow voting a straight party ticket by one mark on a general election ballot: West Virginia legislative summary for S.B.249:- An electronic voting system may not be approved by the State Election
Commission or any county commission unless it meets the following requirements:
- It secures or ensures the voter absolute secrecy in the act of voting.
- It permits each voter to vote at any election for all persons, including permitting each voter
to write in the names of persons for whom he or she desires to vote whose names do not appear upon the ballots.
- It permits each voter to change his or her vote up to the time when his or her ballot is deposited in the ballot box.
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Direct-recording electronic voting machines must generate a paper copy of each voter's vote.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 25-8-1 on Feb. 3; passed House 87-13-0 on March 10; Signed by Gov. Tomblin March 25.
Source: West Virginia legislative voting records: S.B.249
, Mar 10, 2015
Require voter ID, but for free
Q: Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates: Individual?A: Yes.
Q: Political Action Committee?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Political Party?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
A: Yes.
Folk adds, "Voter ID should be at no cost to the voter: if an individual needs an ID- the costs must be covered by the state.
Source: West Virginia State 2012 Political Courage Test
, Nov 1, 2012
Page last updated: Dec 15, 2020
