thedrifter
08-28-08, 08:28 AM
Wednesday August 27, 2008
Initiative meant to make voting easier for deployed military personnel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Deployed military personnel should have an easier time voting in the Nov. 4 general election because of a new absentee voting system.
Secretary of State Betty Ireland and Adjutant Gen. Allen Tackett announced the system on Tuesday.
Under the new system, service personnel registered to vote in West Virginia will be able to request and receive absentee ballots via e-mail or fax, then either fax or mail completed ballots back to the county clerks in the counties in which they are registered.
"It's a wonderfully fast and efficient way to receive and send ballots," said Ireland.
Casting votes by e-mail is not yet feasible because of unresolved security issues, she said.
Previously, West Virginia soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors deployed outside the state or country had to rely on the mail to receive and cast their absentee ballots.
"Voting is the cornerstone of our form of government," Tackett said during a news conference at the West Virginia National Guard's headquarters building. "We must guarantee that our soldiers and airmen are able to participate in the system they're sworn to uphold and protect."
Tackett, head of the state's National Guard, said West Virginia National Guard personnel traditionally vote at a much higher than average rate. "It's something like 90 percent," he said. "It's especially important for the people out there defending the country."
"When I was overseas, we liked to keep up with current events and politics back home," said Capt. Fred Hill, voting officer for the West Virginia National Guard. "Every office from county clerk to president is a big deal when you're deployed. We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate."
"I've never missed an election yet, so I'll take advantage of the new system," said Col. Randy Buckner, who will be deployed at the Pentagon when the November election rolls around. While serving in Afghanistan, Bucker said, "some of the folks had difficulty getting their absentee voters in on time. This should help."
The new system will be available to the 1,200 Army and Air National Guard personnel expected to be on deployment assignments overseas or out of state during the next 12 to 18 months, starting in September. It will also be available to the 2,000 or so active duty military personnel from West Virginia on assignment overseas or elsewhere in the U.S.
West Virginia absentee ballots for the general election will be available starting Sept. 23. Early voting begins Oct. 15.
Ellie
Initiative meant to make voting easier for deployed military personnel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Deployed military personnel should have an easier time voting in the Nov. 4 general election because of a new absentee voting system.
Secretary of State Betty Ireland and Adjutant Gen. Allen Tackett announced the system on Tuesday.
Under the new system, service personnel registered to vote in West Virginia will be able to request and receive absentee ballots via e-mail or fax, then either fax or mail completed ballots back to the county clerks in the counties in which they are registered.
"It's a wonderfully fast and efficient way to receive and send ballots," said Ireland.
Casting votes by e-mail is not yet feasible because of unresolved security issues, she said.
Previously, West Virginia soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors deployed outside the state or country had to rely on the mail to receive and cast their absentee ballots.
"Voting is the cornerstone of our form of government," Tackett said during a news conference at the West Virginia National Guard's headquarters building. "We must guarantee that our soldiers and airmen are able to participate in the system they're sworn to uphold and protect."
Tackett, head of the state's National Guard, said West Virginia National Guard personnel traditionally vote at a much higher than average rate. "It's something like 90 percent," he said. "It's especially important for the people out there defending the country."
"When I was overseas, we liked to keep up with current events and politics back home," said Capt. Fred Hill, voting officer for the West Virginia National Guard. "Every office from county clerk to president is a big deal when you're deployed. We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate."
"I've never missed an election yet, so I'll take advantage of the new system," said Col. Randy Buckner, who will be deployed at the Pentagon when the November election rolls around. While serving in Afghanistan, Bucker said, "some of the folks had difficulty getting their absentee voters in on time. This should help."
The new system will be available to the 1,200 Army and Air National Guard personnel expected to be on deployment assignments overseas or out of state during the next 12 to 18 months, starting in September. It will also be available to the 2,000 or so active duty military personnel from West Virginia on assignment overseas or elsewhere in the U.S.
West Virginia absentee ballots for the general election will be available starting Sept. 23. Early voting begins Oct. 15.
Ellie