COCHRAN VOTES TO IMPROVE MILITARY VOTER PARTICIPATION
Senate Rules Committee Approves Reforms to Military & Overseas Voting Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today voted to advance legislation intended to increase participation in elections among members of the U.S. military and American citizens living overseas.
Cochran serves on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee that today amended and approved the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (S.1415). The measure, which passed on a voice vote, is now available for consideration by the full Senate.
“Military and overseas voters have one of the lowest turnout rates because it is difficult for them to register and vote. We must seek to improve our registration systems and make it easier for our men and women overseas to cast their ballots,” said Cochran, who is also the ranking Republican on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
“This is a significant problem, and protecting the fundamental rights of military and overseas citizens should be a priority for this Congress,” he said.
S.1415 outlines a number of steps to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to improve voter participation among military servicemen and women, and U.S. citizens living overseas.
Among other things, the measure requires all states to implement and maintain an electronic and fax system for sending voter registration and absentee ballot applications. The bill also requires states to provide military voters with ballots no later than 45 days before an election, and establishes a 10-day post-election grace period for receiving UOCAVA ballots.
The legislation also authorizes a system to expedite the mailing of marked absentee ballots from military voters, and stops states from rejecting military ballots for such things as the lack of a notary signature or paper type. Cochran pointed out that a post-2008 election review in seven states found that one in four military ballots went uncounted.
In addition, it directs the Defense Department institute procedures to increase voter participation among military personnel and their dependents. The committee received testimony that total registration among U.S. military personnel in 2006 was 64.8 percent, compared to an 83.8 percent registration rate for the general voting age population.
Link:
- Department of Justice (UOCAVA)
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/misc/activ_uoc.php
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