Every day members of Americas military leave family and home to stand on the front lines to defend our freedom. To their surprise these heroes must fight another battle: attempting to vote.
Each passing election highlights the difficulties for military personnel to cast ballots. Numerous obstacles prevent them from registering to vote casting absentee ballots or voting at anywhere near the rate as their civilian counterparts.
Troops navigate a minefield of complexity mail delays indifference and errors dampening their democratic voice and perhaps their democratic spirit.
The scope of this problem shocks the conscience. Texas boasts 16 percent of Americas active military personnel or 272000. In 2006 more than 484000 U.S. military personnel (99000 Texans) requested absentee ballots but did not return them.
Thats equivalent to almost a third of all active duty military personnel. Overall only 26 percent of military personnel successfully cast their absentee ballots in 2006 compared with 85 percent of the general population who used the absentee option.
Unfortunately Texas election laws reinforce this problem. In fact a recent Pew Research Study ranked Texas among the 17 worst states in helping military personnel cast their vote. How can we rest as our voting system fails to serve ballots to those who unfailingly serve us in battle?
Texas can remove the obstacles impeding its military personnel and their families from voting. A bipartisan effort led by Republican Rep. Frank Corte and Democrat Sen. Leticia Van de Putte is working its way through the Texas Legislature.
The bills HB 71 and SB 92 would remove many of the voting hurdles facing Texans in the military. By adopting some simple technological measures troops can get ballots in time to actually cast them.
Texas pilot-tested these measures in the 2008 election and the initial feedback was positive. We should expand these innovations statewide and set an example for the rest of the country to follow.
Regardless of ones political persuasion democracy depends on full robust and unencumbered participation by its citizens and especially from those who defend our freedom. As the Texas Legislature enters its final weeks it is important that it enact legislation to restore patriotic Texans voting voice.
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To read HB 71 sponsored by Rep. Frank Corte R-San Antonio or SB 92 authored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte D-San Antonio go to Texas Legislature Online at www.capitol.state.tx.us
Van Taylor is the state advisory chairman of the National Defense Committee a national grassroots organization working to improve voting rights of military personnel. Taylor served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps both active and reserves.
Every day members of Americas military leave family and home to stand on the front lines to defend our freedom. To their surprise these heroes must fight another battle: attempting to vote.
Each passing election highlights the difficulties for military personnel to cast ballots. Numerous obstacles prevent them from registering to vote casting absentee ballots or voting at anywhere near the rate as their civilian counterparts.
Troops navigate a minefield of complexity mail delays indifference and errors dampening their democratic voice and perhaps their democratic spirit.
The scope of this problem shocks the conscience. Texas boasts 16 percent of Americas active military personnel or 272000. In 2006 more than 484000 U.S. military personnel (99000 Texans) requested absentee ballots but did not return them.
Thats equivalent to almost a third of all active duty military personnel. Overall only 26 percent of military personnel successfully cast their absentee ballots in 2006 compared with 85 percent of the general population who used the absentee option.
Unfortunately Texas election laws reinforce this problem. In fact a recent Pew Research Study ranked Texas among the 17 worst states in helping military personnel cast their vote. How can we rest as our voting system fails to serve ballots to those who unfailingly serve us in battle?
Texas can remove the obstacles impeding its military personnel and their families from voting. A bipartisan effort led by Republican Rep. Frank Corte and Democrat Sen. Leticia Van de Putte is working its way through the Texas Legislature.
The bills HB 71 and SB 92 would remove many of the voting hurdles facing Texans in the military. By adopting some simple technological measures troops can get ballots in time to actually cast them.
Texas pilot-tested these measures in the 2008 election and the initial feedback was positive. We should expand these innovations statewide and set an example for the rest of the country to follow.
Regardless of ones political persuasion democracy depends on full robust and unencumbered participation by its citizens and especially from those who defend our freedom. As the Texas Legislature enters its final weeks it is important that it enact legislation to restore patriotic Texans voting voice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To read HB 71 sponsored by Rep. Frank Corte R-San Antonio or SB 92 authored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte D-San Antonio go to Texas Legislature Online at www.capitol.state.tx.us
Van Taylor is the state advisory chairman of the National Defense Committee a national grassroots organization working to improve voting rights of military personnel. Taylor served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps both active and reserves.
