MONTGOMERY - Secretary of State Beth Chapman and the Military and Overseas Voting Task Force have taken yet another step toward electronic voting for overseas voters, as House Bill 711 passed through the House of Representatives today. The House voted 89-3 in support of the bill that will push forward the effort to make Alabama one of the first states in the nation to implement an innovative process for military and overseas voters to vote more efficiently and effectively.
House Bill 711, the Task Force legislation, will give military and overseas voters five additional ways to obtain a ballot including mail, commercial carriers such as UPS and Fed Ex, a secure fax line, email, and secure electronic transmission. The bill will also authorize overseas voters to return their ballots using those same means except email.
“We are definitely thrilled with the progress that the bill made today and we are hopeful that the progress will continue,” Secretary of State Beth Chapman said. “The Military and Overseas Voting Task Force worked extremely hard and has found a champion in Representative Jimmy Martin who understood how necessary it was to get this bill out of committee and on to the next step,” she continued. “I am grateful for the support of Representative Martin, the Task Force, and the House of Representatives on this important issue for members of our military.”
“The two thousand soldiers who will be deployed from Alabama before the 2010 General Election and those already overseas should know that there are many individuals in their state who are working hard to get them a more efficient and effective way to vote.”
Chapman says that the Senate will hopefully take up the bill very shortly. “We are optimistic that this progress will not stop and that this effort will be realized for our soldiers and overseas voters this year.”
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