WTF? Military voters don't even need to be REGISTERED in WA State?

[LisaM]

I just got this email from the state Democratic party, discussing the gubernatorial election, and this caught my eye:

"Myth: Military voters were disenfranchised

Fact: Counties reported very few problems with military votes. In fact, U.S. troops had extra opportunities and extra time to vote, as they well deserve.

Options included a voting information officer in every unit to answer questions, and the ability to download a federal ballot from the internet and write-in any state races. They didn't need to pay postage and only needed to sign and date their ballots. They didn't even need to be registered."

Okay, this is me again. First of all, I don't think ANYONE deserves special merit in an election - military votes should count the same as any others. Also, one of my friends voted absentee and said that her ballot needed extra postage! (I don't think any of them should require postage - apparently the military ballots don't - but extra postage? I don't think I would even have checked.) And military voters don't even need to be REGISTERED? Again, I support same-day registration for everyone, but why don't military voters need to register? This is crazy. They get tons of special treatment, apparently, and yet Dino Rossi had the nerve to trot out a supposedly disenfranchised military voter while blabbing on about a revote.

[RoeBear]

1. it does seem weird

that they can vote in any state without being registered

[adolfo]

2. You can say WTF twice

Have you read about the company that handles the military votes? There is alot more to be concerned about.

[LisaM]

3. No - do you have more information?

Thanks. I do remember some connection between ES&S and Batelle - a couple of years ago - connected companies that supplied voting machines AND got defense contracts - but that's something different.

[adolfo]

4. More Information

I read an article a while ago about a company that forwards the ballots and no privacy for military votes. Lost the article sorry. Maybe someone here knows more about it.