"Soldiers' Votes Could Decide Election"

[GreenPartyVoter]

With so many troops fighting in the Middle East, members of the military could play a huge role in deciding the next commander-in-chief in this dead-heat presidential contest. But Democrats and Republicans alike fear that reforms enacted by Congress after 2000 have not fixed the problems associated with overseas voting.

During the chaotic 2000 election, thousands of troops overseas voted for president, only to have their ballots rejected. Others did not receive ballots at all. And some found the entire process confusing.

Four years later - with more than 160,000 troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan - Democrats and Republicans worry that the same thing will happen.

"I just pray for our country. We have to allow the military vote to be counted," said Joan Hills, director of Republicans Abroad, which helps U.S. citizens vote from overseas. Her organization's Web site has received 1,700 hits a day in the past two weeks from worried military personnel who did not receive their ballots.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20041029/D861A8QG2.html