Law will protect the democratic franchise
of those in military uniform

New York state Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt (R,C-Albion) has announced that legislation, which mirrors a measure he authored, has been passed. The bill eases certain provisions of the Election Law to help ensure that those voters who are serving in the military will have their votes counted.

"This measure no longer causes election boards to rely on cancellation marks of the U.S. Postal Service or of that of a foreign country's postal service as proof that the ballot was mailed before the election deadline. Now, under the new law, a signed and dated ballot accompanied with the signature of a witness will confirm the date an absentee ballot was mailed," said Nesbitt, the deputy Assembly Republican leader.

Nesbitt, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot who served in the Vietnam War, said this law also extends the date by which a military ballot must be received from seven to thirteen days following a general election.

"The Election of 2000 had many uncer-tainties, one of which involved several military ballots that were not received before the set deadline. This law ensures that a maximum number of military ballots cast in an election are counted in that election," said Nesbitt.

The new law will also allow military voters to request a military ballot and military ballot application by telephone and would allow applications and ballots to be transmitted to voters via fax. In addition, the legislation waives the require-ment that an application for a military ballot or a letter requesting a military ballot must be received no later than seven days before the general election.

"Those who choose to serve in the armed forces may be sent overseas; however, their right to vote does not cease once they leave U.S. soil," said Nesbitt. "We must do all that is within our power to ensure that those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation are allowed to take part in one of the greatest liberties that our nation holds: the right to vote," Nesbitt continued.