Isakson Lauds Unanimous Senate Approval of Legislation to Ensure Military Ballots are Counted
Isakson Lauds Unanimous Senate Approval of Legislation to Ensure Military Ballots are Counted
Will Guarantee Soldiers Deployed in Defense of Freedom Equal Participants in Democratic Process
Jul 24, 2009
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed an amendment co-sponsored by U.S. Senator and Senate candidate Johnny Isakson to guarantee ballots cast by U.S. troops overseas are counted in elections.
Isakson pushed the amendment in the wake of major problems with absentee ballots from troops stationed overseas being counted. In the 2006 election, for example, of the approximately 992,000 military and overseas absentee ballots requested, more than 660,000 never reached election officials.
“The problems we have had with hundreds of thousands of military ballots not being counted is simply unacceptable. I’m glad my colleagues recognize that our military men and women serving overseas to defend and promote our national values deserve at the very least to participate in the electoral process,” said Isakson. “Our men and women serving overseas are deployed in defense of freedom and democracy. I’m pleased the Senate approved this amendment to ensure our soldiers are able to fully participate in our nation’s democratic process.”
The Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (“MOVE Act”) corrects many of the difficulties overseas troops encounter when voting by absentee ballot outside of the United States. The amendment requires that states ensure that troops receive ballots 45 days prior to the election and mandates that states institute and sustain an electronic and fax system for sending voter-registration applications and absentee-ballot applications.
The amendment also bars states from rejecting military ballots for lack of a notary signature, which can be difficult to obtain on bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The amendment was adopted in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010, which has passed the Senate.
