WASHINGTON — Sen. Daniel K. Akaka said today he is working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase voter assistance to veterans at its medical sites and homes.

"It is important that we resolve this issue in time to give veterans who fought to defend our democracy every opportunity to vote," said Akaka, D-Hawai`i, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, who was barred in June from offering voter registration help at a VA hospital in her state, also said Thursday she was finally granted access, after the state threatened a lawsuit.

The problem is that the VA bans all outside groups, including nonpartisan ones such as the League of Women Voters, from conducting voter registration drives at its medical centers, clinics and nursing homes.

The VA said it makes voter registration services available to veterans who are in-patients or residents, and each VA facility has the option to reach out for assistance if it is not able to meet those needs.

But national voting rights groups, state officials and congressional lawmakers are calling for the VA to end the prohibition against nonpartisan groups providing voter assistance. They say the policy hinders veterans' participation in the electoral process and want it changed so as many veterans as possible, especially those confined to hospitals and homes, can vote in the Nov. 4 elections.

Legislation has been introduced in the Senate and House to require the VA to provide voter registration services.

"Nationally, the VA's policy banning voter registration drives is wrong and must change," said Bysiewicz, who is leading a national effort to allow nonpartisan voter registration drives at VA facilities. "We are glad Connecticut VA officials have dropped their opposition."