Inhofe Co-Sponsors Legislation to Protect Military Voters
Congressional Desk
May 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the Second Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, is a co-sponsor of the Military Voting Protection Act of 2009 introduced today by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas). The legislation attempts to reduce delays in the current absentee voting process for our overseas troops by allowing the U.S. Postal Service to express-ship their completed absentee ballots to local election offices. The bill amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 (UOCAVA) and ensures that the ballots are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction´s statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy. The bill would apply to all regularly scheduled general elections for federal office, beginning with the November 2010 election.
"While our troops overseas are in harm´s way defending the freedoms that we enjoy every day, they continue to face significant obstacles when trying to participate in one of our most fundamental freedoms – the right to vote," Senator Inhofe said. "Data collected from the 2004 and 2006 elections showed that efforts made by our deployed troops to exercise their right to vote were hindered by inadequate processes, slow delivery methods, and countless other absentee voting procedures that are often confusing and vary with each state.
"Their votes are important to me and to the rest of the American people who continue to benefit from their bravery and selfless service. This bill will go far to fix this insult to our troops. Supporting this bill is both a privilege and a personal obligation. We must ensure these brave Americans, who are serving overseas to protect our way of life, have their voice counted in choosing their elected leaders."
Senator Cornyn said, "In the November 2006 election, the most recent election for which we have official data, just 5.5 percent of eligible military and overseas citizen voters were able to cast a ballot. This is a national disgrace. It is imperative that we put a system in place to ensure our troops serving abroad can participate in the democratic process. It is because of their sacrifice that every American has the right to vote in free and fair elections; the least we can do is guarantee them these same civil rights. The MVP Act is intended to do just that. It would dramatically improve the process for our men and women in uniform to help ensure every one of their votes matters."
Background:
After the 2006 election, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission found that only 47.6% of the overseas military voters who requested absentee ballots actually had their ballots cast or counted. Therefore, in August of 2008, Senator Inhofe joined Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to send a letter to then, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey requesting that the Department of Justice investigate established voting procedures for members of the U.S. Armed Forces during recent and upcoming elections. Senator Inhofe was also an original co-sponsor of the Military Voting Protection of 2008.
Specifically, the Military Voting Protection Act of 2009 would require the Department of Defense to:
Provide for the expedited collection, tracking, and delivery of the completed absentee ballots of overseas military voters, utilizing the express mail delivery services of the U.S. Postal Service.
Inform overseas military voters about this new option for casting their ballots.
Six months after enactment, report to Congress on the status of the implementation of this program for the November 2010 election.
After each general election, report to Congress with data on the utilization of this program by overseas military voters during the election.
"While our troops overseas are in harm´s way defending the freedoms that we enjoy every day, they continue to face significant obstacles when trying to participate in one of our most fundamental freedoms – the right to vote," Senator Inhofe said. "Data collected from the 2004 and 2006 elections showed that efforts made by our deployed troops to exercise their right to vote were hindered by inadequate processes, slow delivery methods, and countless other absentee voting procedures that are often confusing and vary with each state.
"Their votes are important to me and to the rest of the American people who continue to benefit from their bravery and selfless service. This bill will go far to fix this insult to our troops. Supporting this bill is both a privilege and a personal obligation. We must ensure these brave Americans, who are serving overseas to protect our way of life, have their voice counted in choosing their elected leaders."
Senator Cornyn said, "In the November 2006 election, the most recent election for which we have official data, just 5.5 percent of eligible military and overseas citizen voters were able to cast a ballot. This is a national disgrace. It is imperative that we put a system in place to ensure our troops serving abroad can participate in the democratic process. It is because of their sacrifice that every American has the right to vote in free and fair elections; the least we can do is guarantee them these same civil rights. The MVP Act is intended to do just that. It would dramatically improve the process for our men and women in uniform to help ensure every one of their votes matters."
Background:
After the 2006 election, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission found that only 47.6% of the overseas military voters who requested absentee ballots actually had their ballots cast or counted. Therefore, in August of 2008, Senator Inhofe joined Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to send a letter to then, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey requesting that the Department of Justice investigate established voting procedures for members of the U.S. Armed Forces during recent and upcoming elections. Senator Inhofe was also an original co-sponsor of the Military Voting Protection of 2008.
Specifically, the Military Voting Protection Act of 2009 would require the Department of Defense to:
Provide for the expedited collection, tracking, and delivery of the completed absentee ballots of overseas military voters, utilizing the express mail delivery services of the U.S. Postal Service.
Inform overseas military voters about this new option for casting their ballots.
Six months after enactment, report to Congress on the status of the implementation of this program for the November 2010 election.
After each general election, report to Congress with data on the utilization of this program by overseas military voters during the election.
Print
Email
