The Military VOTE Act remedies this issue by requiring states to accept voter registration and absentee ballot requests online or by email. It ensures ballots are sent electronically by default if a voter hasn’t selected a preference, guarantees absentee ballots for all future elections without the need to reapply, and prohibits rejecting applications simply because they were submitted early.
Require states to accept voter registration and absentee ballot requests online or by email for overseas service members, send ballots electronically by default when no preference is selected, and allow eligible military and overseas voters to keep receiving absentee ballots for future federal elections without reapplying.
Occurrences
Task the Department of Defense with improving voter information for service members and studying automatic registration when they join or move.
To amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require States to accept the official post card form prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under such Act when submitted by electronic means, and for other purposes.
Evidence
Rep. Sean Casten said he introduced the Military Voter Overseas Technical Enhancement (VOTE) Act. The release says the bill would require states to accept voter registration and absentee ballot requests online or by email, send ballots electronically by default when no preference is selected, and keep providing absentee ballots for future federal elections without requiring a new application each time.
The bill text amends UOCAVA to require acceptance of the official postcard form by email or online portal, requires electronic delivery by default if a voter has not selected a preference, and provides that if a voter requests future federal ballots, a state shall provide absentee ballots for subsequent elections without reapplication when the ballot is received electronically.
Assessments
Casten introduced or reintroduced the Military VOTE Act, and the bill text closely matches the promised policy changes for UOCAVA voters. However, the evidence shows only a legislative proposal, not enactment or implementation. Because the promised outcome requires federal law or binding policy change and there is no evidence it has passed, the promise has not been delivered. The introduction of matching legislation is a serious attempt, so effort credit applies.