Behind the Headlines Video
[UPDATE: This segment was updated on September 25, 2012 after it was learned the Federal Voting Assistance Program office published on its website incorrect information
instructing military to return absentees ballots one week after the actual deadline. After being contacted, the FVAP office corrected the website.]
Buried among the news stories about the thousands of dead people registered to vote; counties with more registered voters than people; family pets getting absentee ballot requests; [ballots given to complete strangers; offers to sell absentee ballots;] and the Justice Department suing to overturn secure election laws is this:
The absentee ballot requests by military personnel -- including those serving overseas in war zones -- are way down. In some cases, by 98%.
This is on top of the really atrocious election cycle of two years ago. More than 120,000 servicemen and women who requested absentee ballots for the 2010 election never received them.
This year, absentee ballot requests by military in swing states are at unheard of levels. Less than 2% in North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Less than 8% in Colorado and Nevada.
This is not accidental. Or a freak of nature. Nor have thousands of military forgotten that this is an election year.
There are several federal laws (here, here, & here) that guide Pentagon officials in ensuring military serving out of state and overseas get to request, receive, and cast absentee ballots. That get counted.
This is an obvious effort to suppress the military vote orchestrated by senior civilian officials at the Pentagon.
You can't steal elections if they're free and fair.
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