MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Secretary
of State Beth Chapman is pleased with the quick action taken by the Alabama
Legislature on the issue of military and overseas voting. Senate Bill 55, sponsored by Sen. Gerald
Dial, who is a former Brigadier General in the Alabama National Guard, would
allow military and overseas voters to obtain absentee ballots and cast their
vote while serving abroad. The bill
allows military and overseas voters three additional ways to return their voted
ballots, including fax, commercial ground or air carriers such as UPS and
FedEx, and secure electronic access.
Currently, absentee ballots can only be returned by hand delivery or
U.S. mail.
“We must ensure that our
military voters are able to cast their ballots,” said Chapman. “Those who defend democracy should be allowed
to participate in it. This bill would do
just that.”
The House version of this
bill, House Bill 176, made it through the House Constitution, Campaigns and
Elections Committee unanimously on Wednesday.
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