Secretary of the State, Susan Bysiewicz, has endorsed Overseas Voting Practical Amendments Act of 2009 [H.R. 1739] sponsored byU.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D14-New York) and Michael Honda (D15-California) <Press Release>
We continue to agree with Secretary Bysiewicz on this issue. There is much room for improvement in ballot access for military and overseas voters. There are several bill in Washington D.C. aimed at improving the situation. This bill provides for sensible actions without moving toward risky internet, fax or email in voting. <The full bill text etc.> We especially note:
Nothing in this Act or in any amendment made by this Act may be construed to authorize the Presidential designee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act or any State or local election official to require or authorize any absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter under such Act or any other individual to use the Internet to cast a ballot in any election for public office.
Endorsing in a letter, the Secretary had several suggestions to further improved the bill <the letter>
In a letter to Congressman Robert Brady(D1-PA), Chairman of the House Administration Committee, Secretary Bysiewicz endorsed the federal legislation by writing that it “…would go a long way toward improving access to the ballot for our military and overseas voters by taking advantage of technological developments, providing greater clarity of procedures for voters and election officials and ensuring consistency among the states. I view H.R. 1739 as a practical next step in providing needed clarification and an update of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, a next step that will greatly enhance the access of our military and overseas citizens to the ballot without undue burden or cost to states.”
