Senator seeks better delivery of fall ballots

Senator seeks better delivery of fall ballots
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, May 24, 2008

WASHINGTON — A Republican senator wants the Pentagon to clean up the overseas voting process before this fall’s presidential election, saying he thinks they have the time and capacity to make sure every vote is counted.

"I think this is about a lack of will, not a lack of ability," said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who introduced new overseas balloting legislation this week.

"The Defense Department moves hundreds of thousands of men and women and pieces of equipment all over the world. They ought to be able to figure out the logistics of getting ballots back in time."

Pentagon officials have not taken a position on the legislation, but said they have planned improvements for delivering and returning military ballots this year.

Last fall a report from the Election Assistance Commission said about 119,000 military personnel stationed outside the U.S. requested ballots in the 2006 midterm elections, but only about 57,000 — less than 48 percent — had their votes successfully counted.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55044



uhc comment: Cornyn is also battling veterans for 'hearts and minds' --> http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1297

To what extent is it the Pentagon's and when is it the soldiers' responsibility?

What is the deadline for soldiers to return their ballot so that they are received by the deadline required for each state?

Why the hell should each state change their law regarding military ballots?

If the military wants to make it easier for the soldiers to get their ballots counted they need to take some steps themselves. Post the military deadline for each state that ballots must go out to get counted. Post the required law for each state or steps a soldier must follow in order for their ballot to count when received. That is sign the damn ballot just like they are suppose to sign their 1040. Put the ballot in the right envelope, etc.