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| Wilson Cosponsors Bill to Protect Rights of Military Voters |
April 19, 2001 |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Heather Wilson announced today that she will cosponsor legislation to ensure that the voting rights of military members and their families are protected.
The Military Overseas Voter Empowerment Act would clarify the voting process for military members and their families by guaranteeing residency in all federal, state, and local elections, as well as establishing a standard time-frame for military absentee voters to receive and send back their ballots so their votes will count. Among other things, it also would compel states to find clear and convincing evidence of fraud before discounting a military vote in federal elections.
Problems in the military voting system have been documented from as far back as the Truman Administration. Most recently, it was reported that more than 1,500 military and overseas ballots were not counted in the November 2000 presidential election. According to statistics compiled from a report by Congressional Research Service and the Department of Defense, more than 40 percent of our troops on active duty are residents of states that have no specific legislative provisions protecting their right to vote in elections. And in 1996, 800 military personnel’s rights to vote were threatened in the Val Verde case in Texas because of vague residency requirements.
“You can’t ask someone to take up arms in defense of our country and then deny them a ballot when it comes time to vote,” Wilson said. “A military person’s vote should not be disallowed by postmark discrepancies, confusion about residency requirements, or other technicalities that are often times out of their control.
“This bill would address those problems by making sure that residency guidelines are established for military personnel and their families in all federal, state, and local elections. It will also clear up the voting process for military personnel to protect their vote from being unfairly thrown out.”
A key point of the bill requests that the Secretary of Defense explore options for bringing voting methods in line with 21st century technology. Specifically, it would expand a pilot program used sporadically in the last election that would increase the number of military personnel and their dependents able to cast ballots electronically in the November 2002 midterm election.
The bill would provide for the following:
* Guarantee residency for military personnel and their families in federal elections.
* Allow military members and their families to register and submit ballots in all federal elections.
* Compel the states to find clear and convincing evidence of fraud before discounting a vote.
* Give adequate time (30 days) for military absentee voters to receive and send back their ballots so their votes will count.
* Streamline ballot distribution process by allowing members of the military and their families to make one request, good for the entire year.
* Ask the Secretary of Defense to set up an electronic voting demonstration.
The MOVE Act is supported by organizations such as the National Military Veterans Alliance (comprised of 12 military organizations including the American Military Retirees Association, the Naval Reserve Association, the Non Commissioned Officers Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars), the National Association of Uniformed Services, and the Air Force Sergeants Association.
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