Respicio requests AG Intervention
Senator Rory Respicio has sent a letter to Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas requesting his intervention regarding what he believes is an “extremely egregious act of voter suppression being conducted by the Guam International Airport Authority.”
October 28, 2014Updated: October 28, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM NewsSenator Respicio is citing a letter he says was written by the Executive Manager and sent to all airport managers which encourages employees to vote during their non-duty hours otherwise they must fill out a leave form and obtain approval 24 hours in advance.
The Majority Leader states GIAA management may not be aware that its actions are illegal.
Here is the text of the letter in its entirety:
October 29, 2014
VIA EMAIL
[email protected]
Honorable Leonardo M. Rapadas
Attorney General of Guam
590 S. Marine Corps Drive
ITC Bldg., Suite 706
Tamuning, Guam 96913
Dear General Rapadas:
Håfa Adai! I would like to bring to your immediate attention an extremely egregious act of voter suppression being conducted by the Guam International Airport Authority (GIAA). The GIAA management may not be aware that its actions are clearly in violation of local law.
I am attaching a letter sent to all airport managers, wherein its Executive Manager states that "employees are encouraged to not use their working hours to go and cast their votes." In fact, the letter states that anyone wanting to cast their vote will need to submit a leave form to be approved at least 24 hours in advance of the time they wish to go vote. General, you must take action immediately because according to this GIAA directive that the employee must submit their leave 24 hours in advance, and I presume that in the event the employee does not submit his or her leave form then that employee will be denied the right to vote. I submit that this is a form of electioneering insofar as only those employees favorable to the incumbent administration's candidates for all partisan and non-partisan offices will be allowed to vote during working hours. My understanding of this law is that employers (public and private) must afford their employees two hours to go to the polls and cast their votes. Specifically, 3 GCA Chapter 9 §9127 affords Government of Guam employees up to two hours of administrative leave from work to go and exercise their right to vote.
The right to vote is fundamental and should be protected by all means necessary. This is why Guam law affords government and private sector employees these rights. This law is not subject to interpretation or amendment by a political appointee of this current Administration, or any private sector employer and these misguided actions reflect efforts to discourage voters from voting, thus suppressing voter turnout in the upcoming General Election.
As Chairman of the Committee on Election Reform, I am requesting your official intervention in this matter to ensure the rights of ALL workers and ALL voters are protected. Si Yu'os Ma'åse.
Very truly yours,
Rory J. Respicio
Attachment: 10.21.2014 Memorandum from Executive Manager Charles H. Ada, II to GIAA Division Heads
cc: U.S. Attorney of Guam Alicia A.G. Limtiaco
VIA EMAIL
[email protected]
Honorable Leonardo M. Rapadas
Attorney General of Guam
590 S. Marine Corps Drive
ITC Bldg., Suite 706
Tamuning, Guam 96913
Dear General Rapadas:
Håfa Adai! I would like to bring to your immediate attention an extremely egregious act of voter suppression being conducted by the Guam International Airport Authority (GIAA). The GIAA management may not be aware that its actions are clearly in violation of local law.
I am attaching a letter sent to all airport managers, wherein its Executive Manager states that "employees are encouraged to not use their working hours to go and cast their votes." In fact, the letter states that anyone wanting to cast their vote will need to submit a leave form to be approved at least 24 hours in advance of the time they wish to go vote. General, you must take action immediately because according to this GIAA directive that the employee must submit their leave 24 hours in advance, and I presume that in the event the employee does not submit his or her leave form then that employee will be denied the right to vote. I submit that this is a form of electioneering insofar as only those employees favorable to the incumbent administration's candidates for all partisan and non-partisan offices will be allowed to vote during working hours. My understanding of this law is that employers (public and private) must afford their employees two hours to go to the polls and cast their votes. Specifically, 3 GCA Chapter 9 §9127 affords Government of Guam employees up to two hours of administrative leave from work to go and exercise their right to vote.
The right to vote is fundamental and should be protected by all means necessary. This is why Guam law affords government and private sector employees these rights. This law is not subject to interpretation or amendment by a political appointee of this current Administration, or any private sector employer and these misguided actions reflect efforts to discourage voters from voting, thus suppressing voter turnout in the upcoming General Election.
As Chairman of the Committee on Election Reform, I am requesting your official intervention in this matter to ensure the rights of ALL workers and ALL voters are protected. Si Yu'os Ma'åse.
Very truly yours,
Rory J. Respicio
Attachment: 10.21.2014 Memorandum from Executive Manager Charles H. Ada, II to GIAA Division Heads
cc: U.S. Attorney of Guam Alicia A.G. Limtiaco