Keep and Bear Arms

Reports of Blocked Military Votes Still Coming In

Angel Shamaya
Director, KeepAndBearArms.com

November 9, 2000
11:57, PST

KeepAndBearArms.com -- We have more confirmed reports of U.S. servicemen and women being prevented from voting. Absentee ballots missing or arriving too late is a larger problem than we'd even have guessed, and we are still receiving new reports as the day wears on. Here are the latest reports:

Okinawa -- another confirmed report of no ballot having been provided. In her own words:

"I am living on Okinawa. I was active duty until Sep 02-00, and I did ask my unit rep to sign me up to vote -- but heard nothing after that. I did not receive a ballot at all. Yes, I would have voted for Gov. Bush."

We also have our first confirmed report of a resident of Florida stationed in America whose ballot didn't arrive until the day before the election. He requested his absentee ballot in September and placed a second request in October. According to him:

"I received my Ballot the day after the election. My parents requested my ballot in September, but it was sent to the wrong address. I re-requested a ballot in late October. I live in Florida, and I would have voted for Bush."

He's not the only soldier who resides in Florida and didn't receive a ballot -- and would have thrown a vote to Governor Bush. This just came in:

"I am a state resident of Florida. In my 16 years in the military I have never NOT received a ballot...until this year. And yes, I would most definitely have voted for Bush."

And so it goes. We have a confirmed report in from a couple whose home state is Oregon. She received her ballot, and he didn't.

Some military personnel did receive their ballots in time to vote, of course. From our email today:

"I am from the state of Illinois, and requested my ballot in September, I received my ballot on November 6th 2000, the ballot needed to be returned by 2 pm on the 7th. I did send my ballot in, and I did vote for BUSH!!"

and

"I am a soldier stationed in the US at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, away from my voting district. Everyone at Carlisle Barracks was provided all forms, etc months in advance. I can tell you that everyone here was encouraged to vote."

How those who received their ballots on the 7th were to accomplish the stated deadline is a mystery.

Related Articles:

Thank you to all who've assisted in blowing this thing wide open. We've had calls from Senators asking servicemen and women to contact their Senators and U.S. Representatives directly. And we continue our request to all military personnel: please fill out our survey from the above link -- especially if you didn't get to vote. Just because you contact your congresscritters doesn't mean that information will get to the Governor. We will get it there.

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Written By:	Angel Shamaya
	Reports of Blocked Military Votes Still Coming In Angel Shamaya Director, KeepAndBearArms.com November 9, 2000 11:57, PST KeepAndBearArms.com -- We have more confirmed reports of U.S. servicemen and women being prevented from voting. Absentee ballots missing or arriving too late is a larger problem than we'd even have guessed, and we are still receiving new reports as the day wears on. Here are the latest reports: Okinawa -- another confirmed report of no ballot having been provided. In her own words: "I am living on Okinawa. I was active duty until Sep 02-00, and I did ask my unit rep to sign me up to vote -- but heard nothing after that. I did not receive a ballot at all. Yes, I would have voted for Gov. Bush." We also have our first confirmed report of a resident of Florida stationed in America whose ballot didn't arrive until the day before the election. He requested his absentee ballot in September and placed a second request in October. According to him: "I received my Ballot the day after the election. My parents requested my ballot in September, but it was sent to the wrong address. I re-requested a ballot in late October. I live in Florida, and I would have voted for Bush." He's not the only soldier who resides in Florida and didn't receive a ballot -- and would have thrown a vote to Governor Bush. This just came in: "I am a state resident of Florida. In my 16 years in the military I have never NOT received a ballot...until this year. And yes, I would most definitely have voted for Bush." And so it goes. We have a confirmed report in from a couple whose home state is Oregon. She received her ballot, and he didn't. Some military personnel did receive their ballots in time to vote, of course. From our email today: "I am from the state of Illinois, and requested my ballot in September, I received my ballot on November 6th 2000, the ballot needed to be returned by 2 pm on the 7th. I did send my ballot in, and I did vote for BUSH!!" and "I am a soldier stationed in the US at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, away from my voting district. Everyone at Carlisle Barracks was provided all forms, etc months in advance. I can tell you that everyone here was encouraged to vote." How those who received their ballots on the 7th were to accomplish the stated deadline is a mystery. Related Articles: First Report from Okinawa Showing Missing Military Absentee Ballots Help Us Find Lost Military Votes -- Survey for Soldiers to Take Military Absentee Ballots Missing -- U.S. Military on Assignment Won't Get to Vote Thank you to all who've assisted in blowing this thing wide open. We've had calls from Senators asking servicemen and women to contact their Senators and U.S. Representatives directly. And we continue our request to all military personnel: please fill out our survey from the above link -- especially if you didn't get to vote. Just because you contact your congresscritters doesn't mean that information will get to the Governor. We will get it there.