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VA: Military absentee ballots going AWOL in 2012
Military Voter Protection Project
FREDERICKSBURG — A 92 percent drop in absentee-ballot requests by military personnel in Virginia is raising concerns that the Pentagon is failing to carry out a federal voting law.
With only 1,746 military voters in Virginia requesting absentee ballots so far this year — out of 126,251 service members in the state —the Military Voter Protection Project says the system has broken down.
And it’s not just in the Old Dominion. MVPP Executive Director Eric Eversole reports significant declines in absentee-ballot requests by service members across the nation.
Compiling data from Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Alaska, Colorado and Nevada, Eversole’s organization found that military families have requested 55,510 absentee ballots so far this year. That’s a sharp decline from the 166,252 sought in those states in 2008.
Rob the Bob
October 1st, 2012
A key line in the original article:
“Many [troops] believe their votes won’t count,” Alt said. “They’re given such short shrift that they consider it a waste of time.”
I know I believe this to be true, so that’s why I didn’t bother with an absentee ballot this year. I went and registered here in NC. I know of many other soldiers doing the same thing out here.
Edith McCrotch
October 1st, 2012
There were/is also a lot of Obama voters in the military, so….there’s that.
Hybrid Lemon
October 1st, 2012
If the results are close, enough military ballots “will be found” to keep the anti-Christ sulfating the White House for Eternity.
Wake Up, America! Better yet, Rise Up!
VaGal
October 1st, 2012
I know here in VA in 2008, the Democratic chair of the State Board of Election(thanks Tim Kaine)did not get the ballots out in time for the military personnel to vote. McCain challenged this (and lost)Her defense basically was that it wasn’t illegal and there is no required time to send them so they went out the DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION. BTW, that should be more ammo for George Allen to use against Kaine in the Senate race.
beachmom
October 1st, 2012
Mass. also has not gotten the ballots out in time.
Mountain Dog
October 1st, 2012
If there is a way to check and see if your ballot was counted I’m not aware of it. It would be nice to know and verify that your vote was actually counted.
I think they missed mine in 2008, along with everybody else I know.
Stranded in Sonoma
October 1st, 2012
This may not be as bad as it sounds. With many of the troops coming home because of the reduced numbers in Iraq/Afghanistan, they may not need absentee ballots and have registered in their home precincts.
Here’s a thought. 0bama brings the troops home which means they do not use absentee ballots that the demmorhoids can destroy before they get counted. So bringing the troops home is actually bad for the socialists!
Cryojohn
October 1st, 2012
@VAGal: that explains a lot. I was lucky enough to in port for the November 2008 elections, but requested an absentee ballot for 2010. When none came to the ship by the end of October, I went to my polling place to vote just in time before another deployment. I was told I couldn’t because they had me down as an absentee voter. After explaining the situation and them making few calls, I got to vote. At the time I was impressed with the diligence of the volunteers, and since I never saw the ballot later on, I can assume the Commonwealth screwed up as usual. Your comment proves it to me.