Released by U.S. Congressman Brian Mast’s Office …
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Brian Mast (FL-18) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) have introduced the Counting All Military Votes Act to improve voting accessibility for active-duty servicemembers. This legislation would require that all absentee ballots cast by active-duty, overseas military personnel be shipped by Express Mail, ensuring their delivery prior to the collection deadline.
“The men and women who put on the uniform risk their lives each and every day to protect the rights and liberties we hold dear as a nation. The very least we can do is ensure those serving around the world are able to exercise the rights they work so hard to defend, especially their right to cast a vote at the ballot box,” Rep. Mast said. “This bill is a common sense solution to a problem that never should have existed in the first place.”
This legislation would close a gap in current law that excludes military personnel serving on non-traditional military bases – including embassies, consulates and diplomatic posts – from having their absentee ballots sent via Express Mail.
“Every American has the right to vote, including when serving overseas as deployed active duty military. Currently, our military serving overseas on posts not under the Department of Defense are unable to expedite their ballots to ensure arrival prior to election day, ” Rep. Davis said. “Counting All Military Votes Act will guarantee all of our military bravely serving overseas will have access to expedited mailing of their ballots, so they can depend on their votes being counted and their voices being heard in our nation’s elections.”