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Democrats promote absentee ballots, early voting and removing barriers and obstacles from the polls -- except in House leadership races apparently.

House Democrats rejected their pregnant colleagues plea to submit proxy votes in the House Democratic Caucuss leadership and committee elections next week. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a disabled war veteran who is due to have her first child in December, is missing the elections in person next week because her physician advised her not to travel.

While proxy voting is explicitly against caucus rules, Duckworth, who had both of her legs amputated when the helicopter she was flying was shot down in Iraq, wrote a letter from Illinois to request a waiver due to her extraordinary circumstances. Democrats are scheduled to vote on their leadership team via secret ballot next Tuesday and are also expected to decide senior committee assignments next week.

The drama played out at a closed-door meeting Thursday, when Duckworths request was debated before the caucus.

Democrats like Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the co-chair of the Democrat Steering and Policy Committee, cautioned colleagues against setting new precedent for the secret ballot elections.

But Rep. Jan Schakowsky, vice-chair of the steering and policy committee and one of Duckworths colleagues from Illinois, made a motion to permit a concession to Duckworth, whose letter was read to the caucus.

"I write to request your assistance regarding upcoming votes four our Caucus," her letter stated, according to the National Journal, which first broke the story. "As you are aware, I am in the final weeks of my pregnancy, and have been instructed by my physician not to travel. As a result, I will not be attending the upcoming Caucus meetings in person."

"I would like to request a proxy vote on the upcoming leadership and ranking member elections that will come before the Caucus in the coming weeks, she continued.

According to a Democratic aide in the room during the debate, a pivotal moment came when Rep. Gwen Moore spoke out to ask whether she could proxy vote as well because she plans to attend a funeral in Wisconsin next Tuesday.

Moores request soured the mood of the room against Duckworths motion, the aide said, with Members realizing the slippery slope argument that others had made. Schakowsky then pulled her motion for Duckworth.

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House Democrats Deny Pregnant Proxy Vote in Leadership Elections