Military Ballots May Not Count in Illinois

[Psephos]

Source: WLS (Chicago radio)

CHICAGO (WLS) - The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether the state of Illinois missed the deadline for mailing absentee ballots to members of the military and other overseas American voters as part of a new federal overseas voting law.

Cris Cray, Director of Legislation at the Illinois State Board of Elections, says not all of Illinois' 110 jurisdictions were compliant with the 2009 Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE). The law requires every state to mail their absentee ballots 45 days prior to Election Day to overseas troops, government employees and other Americans who want to vote from abroad.

Cray says she is currently compiling data from each of Illinois' jurisdictions to determine which were compliant and which were delinquent. Cray said it's possible the ballots may not be counted because the state was tardy in sending them out. Illinois was required to have all of its absentee ballots mailed by Sept. 18, the national deadline. Election officials have until Nov. 15 to count the absentee ballots, which must be postmarked by midnight Nov. 1 to be eligible.

In an e-mail response, Justice Department spokeswoman Xochil Hinojosa confirmed that Illinois is being investigated for the absentee ballot infraction.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=1985148&spid=

[lobodons]

1. Waive the fricken deadline

Come on folks. Its the states fault. Do not take suffrage away from the troops due to the states negligence. Come on now. This is an easy one. I know it's Illinois and there is a close election, but come on now. Its the frickin troops!!!!

[DallasNE]

2. I Agree

The way to show you mean business is to fine the agencies that are late but not to disenfranchise the voter. Years ago as a 22 year old serving in Army basic training I inquired about requesting an absentee ballot and the military said they would let us know at the appropriate time. When I asked again about 3 weeks before the election I was told it was too late. That was the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis so the military got distracted and disenfranchised an untold number of soldiers, as near as I can tell.

[No Elephants]

3. That was before abolition of the draft and Republican success in selling

the lie that being patriotic == being Republican. Also before the brass blatantly peddled evangelicalism and Republicanism. Today, the military brass knows the majority of grunts vote Republican. Today, I have a feeling you'd get a ballot, assuming your state had done its job.

[No Elephants]

4. Yeah, denying troops a right to have their votes counted will win countless hearts and minds.

eta :sarcasm:

Cause you know someone will miss it.

[greiner3]

5. Yeah;

Count every ballot. I mean every person who voted in FL in 2000 needs to have their voices heard.

Oops, wrong post.

[Heywood J]

6. I can't wait until taxpayers have to pay out for the lawsuit on this one.

This was preventable on so many levels and is a lawsuit begging to happen.

[unkachuck]

7. that's a shame....

....is it true, that the military votes overwhelmingly Republican?