LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.   Exclusive Truthdig Merchandise - Gore Vidal signed first editions - Signed Mr. Fish prints
November 21, 2009
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Most Read

Intelligentsia Against Intelligence

Lipstick on a Rogue

The Afghanistan Speech Obama Should Give (but Won't)

Who Are You and What Have You Done With the Community Organizer We Elected President?

Throw the Money Changers Out of the Temple

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
Enough G-2 Talk Already
Despite Subsidies, Class Sizes Rise in California Schools

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
 * NEW! * Freedom’s Fight: Part II

Digs
Financial Meltdown 101
Vetting Sarah Palin

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Troops Have to Fight for Their Right to Vote

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   
Posted on Nov 2, 2008
DoD / Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu, USMC

Active-duty military members arguably have more to lose than anyone else in Tuesday’s election, but voting can be an obstacle course for servicemen and -women overseas. The Dallas Morning News reports that in 2006 only one-third of the absentee ballots requested by U.S. armed forces personnel abroad were counted.


Dallas Morning News:

In the 2006 elections, about a third of the close to 1 million absentee ballots requested by uniformed overseas voters were returned and tallied, essentially disenfranchising the remaining 600,000-plus service members, according to the federal Election Assistance Commission.

Barack Obama and John McCain have called on state election officials to reduce the voting obstacles for preventing military personnel from voting. And Texas Sen. John Cornyn sponsored a bill that passed the Senate this month directing the Department of Defense to make absentee voting easier for service members stationed abroad. Mr. Cornyn has also launched a related Web site.

But problems persist, as illustrated by one Garland native’s struggle to vote in Tuesday’s election.

Read more

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


Elsewhere: .

Comments

Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

By Alejandro, November 3, 2008 at 11:29 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I am probably a lone disenter on this topic, but I have to say that; and I am a combat Vietnam vet. I don’t believe Military Personal should be allowed to vote. Here’s are the reason for my opinion. 1. Military pay is conected to the DOD Budget and most will vote for who ever promises to put more money in their wallet. (understandable) Second and most important, theirs is not to reason why, theirs is but to do or die! It is up to the American people thru their elected officials to determin why our Military should be put in harms way.

Unfortunantly we (because we wern’t dilligent enough in demanding the truth before the invasion of Iraq)  allowed this reprobate Administration to to use our Military in a felonious effort to conquer for the purposes of profit. As far as I’m consecerned George Bush, Dick Chaney, Condi Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and their subordinates are guility of crimes against humanity and should be tried as such. Colin Powell is also guilty but to a lesser degree.

Report this

By POWMIA, November 3, 2008 at 10:12 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I am not surprised that there are serious issues with the absentee ballots of Veterans serving overseas, (for it reflects what is happening in most precincts as well)
I also doubt that this is their fault!!!
But a country that leaves POW/MIAs behind ( see the best selling book by Bill hendon and Elizabeth Stewart “An Enormous Crime”)will also abandon their grieving families,along with returning Veterans, and eventually, as you can see, YOU ( on Main St) as well!!!

Report this

By Debra Istvanik-Strotman, November 3, 2008 at 2:15 am #

More than any other citizen, active duty personnel and veterans have more right to vote than the rest of us.

Our government is disgaceful in their disregard for the very people that go off to fight our wars, the wars the government initiates. It is the duty of government to see that all military personnel receive absentee ballots in advance of the election, with plenty of time for them to be filled out and returned.

Our government cannot defend their apathy toward the right of military personnel to not only vote, but have that vote counted.

Yet another shame brought to us via our government.

Report this

Add Your Comment

Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!







Number of characters remaining: 4000

Notify you when others comment on this article?


Are you a human?
Retype the word you see here.


Please read and abide by our comment policy.
By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

 
 

 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
Copyright © 2009 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.