Comments on: Military Prevented From Voting In Virginia http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=military-being-censored-in-virginia The Web’s Leading Military Blog Since 2004 Wed, 23 May 2012 20:12:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: FGilman http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-84711 FGilman Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:55:42 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-84711 One Vote can make the difference. In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Jackson from impeachment. So if it only takes one vote to make a difference, how come so many American Service Members are not getting their votes counted? Absentee ballots from Military Service members who have been counted seem to have declined in the recent years. One of the greatest causes of this is due to the neglect of States to send absentee ballots out to our Service members in a timely manner. Senior Leaders remind military members to exercise their right to vote. They remind us through messages that Voting is the foundation of our democracy and is one of the most fundamental Constitutional Rights. The Army supports Absentee Voters week and Armed Forces Voters Week to spread the word about the importance of Voting. Heck, the Army even has its own Army Voting Program to ensure that Service Members and their families can have the opportunity to Vote. In 2009, Congress passed the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. (MOVE). This act was created to improve the process by which uniformed service members and their families and overseas voters are able to register and cast their ballots. The act mandates provisions by which the states accept and deliver the voting materials and improve access to voter registration. With the increase in military deployments voting via absentee ballots is more common among Service members. Under the Act States are required to accept at least one mode of electronic transmission for voter registration and absentee ballot information. States are required to transmit ballots to voters at least 45 days before an election. So with this type of Act in place, who is holding the State accountable for not bothering to send out the Absentee ballots out within the 45 day timeframe. New York, Kansas and Ohio are just a few of the states who did not bother to send out absentee ballots at least 45 days prior. As a Service member who has served for over 20 years in the military it makes me upset to think that these states do not take more seriously the opportunity that they have to allow our fellow Service Members and their families the opportunity to vote. One Vote can make the difference.
In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Jackson from impeachment.
So if it only takes one vote to make a difference, how come so many American Service Members are not getting their votes counted? Absentee ballots from Military Service members who have been counted seem to have declined in the recent years. One of the greatest causes of this is due to the neglect of States to send absentee ballots out to our Service members in a timely manner.
Senior Leaders remind military members to exercise their right to vote. They remind us through messages that Voting is the foundation of our democracy and is one of the most fundamental Constitutional Rights. The Army supports Absentee Voters week and Armed Forces Voters Week to spread the word about the importance of Voting. Heck, the Army even has its own Army Voting Program to ensure that Service Members and their families can have the opportunity to Vote.
In 2009, Congress passed the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. (MOVE). This act was created to improve the process by which uniformed service members and their families and overseas voters are able to register and cast their ballots. The act mandates provisions by which the states accept and deliver the voting materials and improve access to voter registration. With the increase in military deployments voting via absentee ballots is more common among Service members. Under the Act States are required to accept at least one mode of electronic transmission for voter registration and absentee ballot information. States are required to transmit ballots to voters at least 45 days before an election.
So with this type of Act in place, who is holding the State accountable for not bothering to send out the Absentee ballots out within the 45 day timeframe. New York, Kansas and Ohio are just a few of the states who did not bother to send out absentee ballots at least 45 days prior.
As a Service member who has served for over 20 years in the military it makes me upset to think that these states do not take more seriously the opportunity that they have to allow our fellow Service Members and their families the opportunity to vote.

]]> By: In Flanders Fields… « http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-45417 In Flanders Fields… « Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:11:15 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-45417 [...] our freedoms to the brave men and women who have served Her, and we owe our gratitude. Take note of injustices toward soldiers and be a voice for them when they are unable to personally represent themselves. Get involved if [...] [...] our freedoms to the brave men and women who have served Her, and we owe our gratitude. Take note of injustices toward soldiers and be a voice for them when they are unable to personally represent themselves. Get involved if [...]

]]> By: Sarah http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-45190 Sarah Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:17:59 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-45190 My brother is in the military and this makes me sick. Every US citizen has a right to vote. Whether you're overseas fighting a battle, or sitting in your cube at work while those who are brave are out serving and protecting, giving us the ability to sit in our little cube! My brother's friend just died last week from a roadside bomb, fighting for our freedom. Putting themselves in harms way and Virginia is NOT letting them vote?!?!?!?! What has happened to our country? Our 4 fathers are tossing in their graves. My brother is in the military and this makes me sick. Every US citizen has a right to vote. Whether you’re overseas fighting a battle, or sitting in your cube at work while those who are brave are out serving and protecting, giving us the ability to sit in our little cube! My brother’s friend just died last week from a roadside bomb, fighting for our freedom. Putting themselves in harms way and Virginia is NOT letting them vote?!?!?!?! What has happened to our country? Our 4 fathers are tossing in their graves.

]]> By: Cindy http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-45187 Cindy Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:48:49 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-45187 This makes me sick! Our brave military are overseas fighting for our FREEDOMS and that includes voting. I don't care if they plan to vote for Mickey Mouse. The votes should be counted!!! This makes me sick! Our brave military are overseas fighting for our FREEDOMS and that includes voting. I don’t care if they plan to vote for Mickey Mouse. The votes should be counted!!!

]]> By: Sandie http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-44900 Sandie Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:25:40 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-44900 The Fairfax County Virginia web site has the following. Oct. 28, 2008 Based on today%u2019s ruling by the Virginia State Board of Elections (SBE), all jurisdictions in the commonwealth, including Fairfax County, will now count federal write-in absentee ballots that were previously denied because of missing information. %u201CI%u2019m very happy this issue, which was created by the legislature, has been resolved. We always wanted to count these votes, and I am pleased we now have the go-ahead to do so,%u201D said Fairfax County General Registrar Rokey Suleman. According to Virginia Code § 24.2-702.1, a federal write-in absentee ballot that is being submitted as both an absentee ballot application and as a completed absentee ballot must include the signature and address of a witness. Some of the federal write-in absentee ballots received by Fairfax County that meet the above criteria are missing the address of the witness and were not going to be counted on Election Day, according to the state law. The SBE ruling cited a conflicting federal law, which preempts the state law. %u201CThis is a win-win situation for all parties,%u201D said Suleman. %u201CIn Fairfax County, we have already received 74,000 absentee ballots, which exceeds the number from any previous year. We look forward to assisting the remaining absentee voters while we continue preparations for what should be a record turnout on Election Day.%u201D The Fairfax County Virginia web site has the following.

Oct. 28, 2008
Based on today%u2019s ruling by the Virginia State Board of Elections (SBE), all jurisdictions in the commonwealth, including Fairfax County, will now count federal write-in absentee ballots that were previously denied because of missing information.

%u201CI%u2019m very happy this issue, which was created by the legislature, has been resolved. We always wanted to count these votes, and I am pleased we now have the go-ahead to do so,%u201D said Fairfax County General Registrar Rokey Suleman.

According to Virginia Code § 24.2-702.1, a federal write-in absentee ballot that is being submitted as both an absentee ballot application and as a completed absentee ballot must include the signature and address of a witness. Some of the federal write-in absentee ballots received by Fairfax County that meet the above criteria are missing the address of the witness and were not going to be counted on Election Day, according to the state law.

The SBE ruling cited a conflicting federal law, which preempts the state law.

%u201CThis is a win-win situation for all parties,%u201D said Suleman. %u201CIn Fairfax County, we have already received 74,000 absentee ballots, which exceeds the number from any previous year. We look forward to assisting the remaining absentee voters while we continue preparations for what should be a record turnout on Election Day.%u201D

]]> By: Jennifer Wiles http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-44889 Jennifer Wiles Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:43:33 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-44889 You have got to be kidding...seriously, this is a travisty. I can not believe there isn't anything being done about this, oh, yeah, I can, it just goes to show you, that especially now, the government only cares about one thing, making money, oh and I forgot, looking good. They preach about being here for us, but greed has taken over everything! They aren't worried about people's children, parents, loved ones dying in this war, they have their own concerns. They want the rest of the world to think that we are the most powerful country. We should have went over and bombed the hell out of everything and called it a day after 9/11. These war veterans are gonna get exactly what all the rest of our former war veterans have, NOTHING, including the right to vote! It's disgusting, but I see who is more important in this country, the asses that are running it, surely not our men and women fighting to save this country! You have got to be kidding…seriously, this is a travisty. I can not believe there isn’t anything being done about this, oh, yeah, I can, it just goes to show you, that especially now, the government only cares about one thing, making money, oh and I forgot, looking good. They preach about being here for us, but greed has taken over everything! They aren’t worried about people’s children, parents, loved ones dying in this war, they have their own concerns. They want the rest of the world to think that we are the most powerful country. We should have went over and bombed the hell out of everything and called it a day after 9/11. These war veterans are gonna get exactly what all the rest of our former war veterans have, NOTHING, including the right to vote! It’s disgusting, but I see who is more important in this country, the asses that are running it, surely not our men and women fighting to save this country!

]]> By: Hell In A Basket » Blog Archive » Cheat, Lie and Steal… http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-44872 Hell In A Basket » Blog Archive » Cheat, Lie and Steal… Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:31:03 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-44872 [...] CJ at A Soldiers Perspective for more on the [...] [...] CJ at A Soldiers Perspective for more on the [...]

]]> By: David Spooner http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-44844 David Spooner Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:31:30 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-44844 Give our soldiers their right to vote. they are giving their lives for you! Give our soldiers their right to vote. they are giving their lives for you!

]]> By: Sharon http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-44836 Sharon Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:56:48 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-44836 Here is an update I found: http://blueridgeforum.com/?p=207 Here is an update I found:

http://blueridgeforum.com/?p=207

]]> By: NY-David http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/10/22/military-being-censored-in-virginia/#comment-44830 NY-David Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:07:09 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3586#comment-44830 Gee, John. That's exactly what the military needs is to be known for using their weapons instead of their heads. NY-David Gee, John. That’s exactly what the military needs is to be known for using their weapons instead of their heads.
NY-David

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