DOJ Responds to Accusation of Stalling on MOVE Act for Voters in Military

The Department of Justice denied accusations by former voting section attorneys who say states are being encouraged to use waivers to bypass the new federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.

The accusations prompted Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to write a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, dated July 26, demanding answers and requesting specific information about how the agency was going to enforce the MOVE Act provision that requires states to send military and overseas voters absentee ballots 45 days prior to elections.

"The Department of Justice is firmly committed to ensuring that our men and women serving in the uniformed services and living overseas have the opportunity to vote and to have their votes counted. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply untrue," the letter stated.

"While we are glad to hear that the Department is committed to enforcing the MOVE Act, actions speak louder than words. So when is this action going to occur? With only 45 days before the deadline for mailing absentee ballots, I am not sure how the Voting Section realistically believes that it will have remedies in place in the next 45 days.

"Nor is it entirely clear why the Voting Section is waiting in some cases. A few days ago, the Colorado secretary of state's office acknowledged that its waiver application will prevent some military members from voting, especially if they are serving on the front lines of a remote battlefield. What more does the Voting Section need to take action?

It is outrageous that the DOJ has not already worked this out with states to see that they comply with the MOVE act.

Good for Sen. Cornyn for pushing this with DOJ.

1 posted on 08/04/2010 4:33:01 PM PDT by jazusamo

I’m so surprised the DOJ has denied it, I sure expected them to say “yes, we are going to deny the military their right to vote.” (Heavy sarcasm)

2 posted on 08/04/2010 5:16:35 PM PDT by pepperdog (As Israel goes, so goes America!)

I hear you...Obama and his lap dog Holder are going to do everything they can to stall the enforcement of the MOVE act.

3 posted on 08/04/2010 5:25:22 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)

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