All posts tagged absente

Overseas Voting Practical Amendments Act of 2009

by waybeyondthebeltway on July 19, 2009 in Americans Abroad with No comments

Please support H.R. 1739 — Overseas Voting Practical Amendments Act of 2009. This legislation standardizes the Federal absentee voting process for UOCAVA voters. Significantly, H.R. 1739:

  • Harmonizes the implementation of UOCAVA across all states
  • Prohibits refusal of duly completed materials generated by computer
  • Allows overseas voters to register once and receive ballots on an ongoing basis
  • Eliminate notarization requirements
  • Ensures that citizens born overseas who have never lived in the US can vote using the previous domicile of the American parent(s)
  • Requires prompt notification of rejection of a ballot request so the voter has a chance to correct registration issues before Election Day

Did you have problems voting in the 2008 Presidential election? For example:

  • Were you unable to vote because you have never lived in the US?
  • Were you removed from the electoral rolls?
  • Were your forms were rejected because of the type of paper used?
  • Did you find out too late that their registration or ballot were not accepted?

If this applies to you or anyone you know, please draft a letter of support for H.R. 1739.

Please mail your letters to:

Hon. Robert A. Brady
Chairman, Committee on House Administration
US House of Representatives
1309 Longworth Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

AND

Hon. Daniel Lungren
Ranking Member, Committee on House Administration, Republican Office
US House of Representatives 1313 Longworth Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Support OVF

by waybeyondthebeltway on June 13, 2009 in Americans Abroad with No comments

It’s an off election year, and the excitement of the 2008 presidential race is behind us, but the important work of ensuring and strengthening our right to vote goes on. Please support the Overseas Vote Foundation in its work on behalf of all Americans abroad.

Absentee voting fix not enough — need comprehenive reform

by waybeyondthebeltway on June 13, 2009 in Americans Abroad with No comments

Absentee voting fix not enough, advocates say – Army News, news from Iraq, – Army Times

A bill to improve overseas voting passed the House Administration Committee, but voting rights advocates say a more comprehensive fix is required.

According to the Army Times, the Military Voting Protection Act, HR 2393 introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) would establish an express mail collection system for sending cast ballots back to state election officials. The bill also:

  • establishes a tracking system that would allow service members to find out whether their ballot had been delivered
  • requires the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) to set a deadline for receiving absentee ballots of noon on the fourth day before federal elections, beginning with the November 2010 elections — if necessary, the deadline could be set earlier
  • makes FVAP officials responsible for collecting ballots and delivering them to the states via express mail
  • requires FVAP to submit a report to Congress after each general election on the effectiveness of the system

Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president of the Overseas Vote Foundation notes that sending the ballot back to the US is the last step in the absentee voting process and that:

The irresistible urge to focus on the last step of the process, the step that is held hostage by all others that precede it, is an unfortunate distraction if it is the only measure taken in the face of other very real remaining challenges. Speeding the return of the voted ballot won’t help much if the voter’s request for the ballot is late and if is/her ballot does not show up in time to be cast.

A comprehensive approach is necessary. Please contact your state’s Congressional delegation and make your voice heard on thios critical issue.