DOD encouraging servicemembers to obtain, cast their absentee ballots

[lebkuchen]

Demand for overseas absentee ballots is up more than 60 percent from the last presidential election, according to the Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program. While it’s not known how much of that increase is for military personnel, the election is a hot topic in the bases and on the front.

“We’ve had discussions about it on shift, on post, all the time — fairly heated discussions,” said Ben Therriault, 22, an Air Force Senior Airman in Sacramento, Calif. “We’re not supposed to do that, but it’s definitely happening.”

All told, there are 2.3 million members of the active and reserve armed services, and they vote — 69 percent participated in the 2000 election, according to Defense Department numbers, compared with 51 percent of the overall eligible population.

Significant numbers of uniformed voters are registered in swing states such as Florida, which has more than 159,000 people in military service.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=24875

Obviously, * can't expect the level of support he received from the military four years ago. Kerry will be picking up those key state votes.