Disprespect to American Military/Losing Their Votes

Posted August 09, 2010 12:15:08
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Related Topics: Obama, Hawaii, Afghanistan, Constitution

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Colorado wants waiver for mailing military ballots

BY STEVEN K. PAULSON
Associated Press Writer

Published: Monday, August 2, 2010 9:14 PM MDT

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DENVER | Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher is asking the federal government for a waiver of the requirement to mail ballots to military service members overseas 45 days before the November election, a move that means some ballots might not be counted.

Spokesman Rich Coolidge said the ballots will still be mailed, but some soldiers in remote battlefields might not have enough time to mail them back, even though the state will give them an extra seven days after the election. He said they can also send them by e-mail or fax.

Coolidge blamed late primaries and petition deadlines. He said ballots for the Aug. 10 primary also went out under short notice, but the 45-day deadline doesn't apply to those elections.

"Our timelines are very tight with the caucus and the petition process," Coolidge said.

Under a new federal law President Barack Obama signed in October, states without a waiver must deliver ballots to soldiers 45 days before the general election so they have enough time to vote. The only exemptions allowed include a late primary election, a legal challenge or a state constitution ban.

Colorado's Aug. 10 primary leaves 84 days to comply. However, under Colorado law, election officials can wait until 32 days before the election to deliver ballots to election offices.

Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich told lawmakers there are exceptions for "undue hardships" that will be considered on a case-by-case basis. He said no decisions have been made for this year's general election. He said the department is prepared to file a lawsuit against states not in compliance.

Bob Carey, federal voting assistance program director for the Department of Defense, said waiver requests have been received from Washington, New York, Hawaii, Alaska, the Virgin Islands, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

The Military Postal Service Agency urges military voters in Iraq and Afghanistan to send ballots back at least 28 days before an election, and voters at other overseas military installations at least 21 days in advance.

"Military and overseas voters face not having their ballots sent from their respective states in time to receive them, vote them, and send them back to their respective state's ballot deadline," Carey said.

Republican lawmakers said Colorado's decision to seek a waiver is unacceptable.

State Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said ballots for all soldiers should count and the state should protect the privacy of their vote.

Tipton said in a letter to be sent to Buescher that Obama signed the new deadlines in October, as part of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, to address voting challenges for the military.

"Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that Colorado will soon be submitting an application for a waiver from an important provision of the act. This is an important provision that guarantees that military personnel serving our country abroad can cast their votes in time for those votes to be counted, and that the privacy of those votes can be protected," Tipton said.

Buescher warned last year that he probably wouldn't make the deadline, along with other states with late primaries, including Washington.

Coolidge said Buescher is working with the Secretary's Best Practices and Vision Commission to revise the state's election calendar, which may involve moving the primary.

"Obviously, this will require legislation and when the calendar changes it creates a domino effect for all other dates in state election law," Coolidge said.

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infantry_weasel August 09, 2010 17:24:41 (edited)

+4
I guess we really don't count to this Administration. They drink from the fountain of liberty we provide and then spit in our faces for providing it.

Time for me to exit the military quick, fast and in a hurry.
>> See Replies

connie (in name only) BN-0 October 05, 2010 21:55:05

+1
This is a constant problem every election, trying to get the military votes recorded on time. The effort to decrease that problem was addressed by the 45-day limit for mailing the ballots to military personnel. If a state cannot meet that deadline, they can request a waiver for the reasons listed: late primary election, a legal challenge or a state constitution ban. This means that the ballots will be mailed after the 45-day limit - but they will be mailed. This shows no disrespect for the military vote. It is an effort to get their vote counted on time.

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Diamond Girl September 02, 2010 15:02:20

+1

This President and his left wing liberal loons hate the military and all they stand for. By not taking up an emergency vote in the house and senate to make all our Military Votes count is unpatriotic and un-american. And I could care less who on this site takes offense by these words.

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Deb to Diamond... September 03, 2010 12:51:47

+1
Well, you just describe Obie......Unamerican as it gets.

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the_old_coach ☮ Ron Paul 20... August 15, 2010 01:06:03

+2
The military vote will be conservative, so naturally the libitards will not want to count them. It won't make any difference: The American people have had enough! If we can't impeach, we'll vote these clowns out of office.

I hope we still have a country left.

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Deb to the_old... August 15, 2010 01:19:21

Amen to that!! We have ALOT of work to do!!

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Sheila August 10, 2010 16:53:14

+1
Hell they will do what they have to do to try to stop the bleed out that will happen to the dems this year. They don't want to count the military vote. God bless our troops and the protection they provide to us. Too bad they are protecting DC at the same time.....

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Deb to Sheila August 10, 2010 18:00:33

+1
Amen to your comment regarding our Military Men/Women, Ditto on the dems running scared!

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infantry_weasel August 09, 2010 17:24:41 (edited)

+4
I guess we really don't count to this Administration. They drink from the fountain of liberty we provide and then spit in our faces for providing it.

Time for me to exit the military quick, fast and in a hurry.

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Deb to infantr... August 09, 2010 17:41:50

+1
Wel, what do you expect from this s0-called Prez, Clown-in-Chief or his cronies? A large number of Military votes were NOT counted in the last President race...who knows? We may have had someone completely different in the WH, although I don't agree with what much of McCain says. I think it's completely disturbing...but so is Acorn, the Black Panthers, and the rest of the corruption. BO%Co make me feel like puking on a daily basis!

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The Rock~ Boots To LWNJ's a... August 09, 2010 14:48:52

+3
Why would the military want to support Obozo? He is a joke as Commander & Chief! He has never served in the military and I personally think it should be a requirement!

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Deb to The Roc... August 09, 2010 14:51:28

+1
No, they will lose the votes, (both Parties) it happened in the last Election where THOUSANDS of military votes were not counted....some Officials are worried that it will happen again...they don't want Military Votes to be thrown in the trash and not counted again...that's why I suggested that everyone google it and read more about this.

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Deb to The Roc... August 09, 2010 14:52:05

+2
I also think it should be a requirement....but the Bummer would have NEVER made it out of boot camp.

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marcuss 0 LWNJs BLOCKED August 09, 2010 13:38:32

+2
Any vote that MA0bama can control will only include counting votes for him. Although it wont be many.

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Deb to marcuss... August 09, 2010 13:40:34

+2
That's one reason (I have read in many other articles) that Military votes will not be counted, as they were (now known) in 2008!

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farkoff August 09, 2010 13:07:22

+1
You have completely misinterpreted the law and ballots must be sent AT LEAST 45 day before the election.

These states could send out the ballots today if they want so they can be in the hands of the soldiers and returned.

Please check some facts before posting nonsense!

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Deb to farkoff August 09, 2010 13:36:13 (edited)

+1
You have a GREAT NAME ...farkoff, yeah, it fits.....if you disagree with the article above..THEN I suggest you write to the reporter from that paper that wrote it.

I did a copy and paste, Einstein!

BTW: it SAYS 45 days!

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farkoff to Deb August 09, 2010 13:41:58

+1
The article is from another source but the headline in SH is yours and YOU have misinterpreted the law and how the ballot system for Military personnel works.

The article says 45 days the law says at least 45 days which is why you have not understood and restated bad information.

Next time do some actual research before posting BAD headlines that misinterpret the facts!

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Deb to farkoff August 09, 2010 14:54:02

Look Butthead, I copied and pasted the story, and DAMN RIGHT I wrote the :"Title" and if you keep repeating what you said in your FIRST reply, you will be banned for SPAMMING.

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bacon bits August 09, 2010 12:56:10

+2
Those two (holder and obumbler) are despicable!

Good post my friend! I have to re-read it later...I'm going to bed now ! I still haven't slept! lol

Have a real nice day Deb! Hugs,BB

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Deb to bacon bits August 09, 2010 12:58:32

+2
Yes they are!! (among many others!)

Thanks, and please read when you get a chance...sleep well. (lol I'm going back to bed myself haha been up since 3:30am but don't go into work until 2:30 pm)

You have a great day yourself!! (hugs backatcha!!)

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Deb

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SodaHead since June 21, 2010 08:19:48

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