Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement after reports today that the U.S. Justice Department is suing New York State for missing deadlines to mail ballots to overseas troops.  The 2009 MOVE Act dictates that states mail absentee ballots 45 days before Election Day to troops, government workers and other Americans abroad.  The deadline was September 18, but due to the late primary in New York, the deadline was extended to October 1.  New York City’s five boroughs and four other counties, including Westchester County, failed to meet the extended deadline. 

“New York State had many problems during the primary with the new voting system, and now has yet another setback in providing a fair election this year.  Our troops are proudly defending our right to vote, far too many of them in harm’s way, and the basic American right to vote is potentially being denied to many of them.  There is no excuse for disenfranchising voters, especially those in uniform.

“I urge our state election officials to do whatever is necessary to get ballots in the hands of Americans living abroad immediately.  The bottom line is to enable the almost 50,000 registered New Yorkers living overseas to vote – over 20,000 serving in the armed forces.  The right to vote is a sacred one in our nation and every American, no matter where they temporarily call home, should have that right.” 

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