> That left most military voters only 25 days to receive, mark and return their absentee ballots, which everyone agrees isn’t enough time, given overseas mail delays.
If they really wanted the problem permanently fixed they would subcontract the entire US elections to the New Zealand Post.
Mail takes no longer than a day to get anywhere in New Zealand. Overseas about a week, two weeks max if delivering to the US. Voter fraud is unheard-of here: everyone by law is on the electoral roll as soon as they turn voting age. That, too, is managed by New Zealand Post. You cannot move house without having the electoral roll changed: it’s not possible, it happens automagically. But just in case it does, everyone in NZ gets multiple opportunities to make sure they get to vote: again, managed by NZ Post.
Military votes? Our NZ military votes on time, and their votes are accurately counted, no matter where in the world they are. As often as not, that’s deep jungle in some godforsaken Pacific island somewhere.
Now, I’m not seriously suggesting that NZ Post be given the task of doing American elections — not because they couldn’t, they certainly could easily — but this problem could be fixed by the authorities if they wanted to. It isn’t an impossible task or even a difficult one. What is lacking is political willpower. Nothing more.
If it can be done by New Zealand it can surely be done by the United States. Accept no excuses: throw temper tantrums until the authorities get this fixed. Like what happens when McDonalds gets your order wrong: ask nicely first and get more strident if they don’t remedy it, up to and including a blue screaming fit.
Soldiers’ votes ought to count.
“Soldiers’ votes ought to count.”
They put their lives on the line for us - it’s the LEAST we can do - fight for their votes to count.