MONTGOMERY – Secretary of State Beth Chapman announced today that an Inaugural Military and Overseas Voting Forum will be held with speakers from national agencies to discuss ways to better assist and equip members of our military and overseas personnel to vote. The forum will be held at the new Montgomery Renaissance Hotel on Wednesday, March 12th from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
Speakers for the forum will be Major General Michael H. Sumrall, Assistant to the Chairman for National Guard Matters for the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Major General Abner C. Blalock, Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard; Honorable Caroline Hunter, Vice Chair of the United States Election Assistance Commission; Scott Wiedmann, Deputy Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program with the U. S. Department of Defense; Rebecca J. Wertz, UOCAVA Attorney with the U. S. Department of Defense; and Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, President and CEO of the Overseas Vote Foundation.
“Alabama is at the forefront of the national arena in exploring new territory as it relates to helping our military and overseas voters,” Chapman said. “We have an outstanding team of Circuit Clerks, Probate Judges, elected officials and people from all walks of life and the elections field that will be assisting in this worthwhile effort of studying and providing a more efficient, effective way for our military and overseas citizens to vote a reality.”
Chapman and her staff have already sent more than 3,000 requests for information to vendors who may have an interest in participating and sharing information with Alabama in this monumental undertaking. Chapman says reception has been overwhelming thus far.
The forum is open to the public. For more information please visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.alabama.gov or call 334-272-7200.
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