Posted on 11/03/2006 5:40:32 AM PST by gridlock
WASHINGTON A New Jersey congressman raised questions Thursday about a new military voting program that lets service members request and submit their ballots by fax or e-mail.
The Defense Department, however, said the program is as secure as possible, and any risks are detailed for the military members when they access the e-mail system.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Democratic Rep. Rush Holt said the electronic registration and voting service is well-intentioned, but could expose troops to identity theft, or allow hackers or others to tamper with the ballots when they are in transit.
"After the Defense Department was stopped from implementing a program like this two years ago because it was full of security holes, I'm angry and astonished that they're doing it again without review, scrutiny, and oversight," said Holt.
He said that while U.S. military personnel should participate in the political process, "no one is served by introducing possibilities for error, insecurity, and fraud."
Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said the Defense Department has set up a secure absentee voter program that will allow military members to request and receive absentee ballots. The new program, she said, lets people vote without relying on the regular mail system.
As part of the program, many states allow military members deployed overseas to return their completed ballot via fax or the Internet. Those ballots, Smith said, will not pass through the hands of any government officials until they are received by a local election authority.
"The e-mail-to-fax operation does have risks, but we have taken every precaution to limit those risks," said Smith. She said U.S. service members have been told of the potential privacy concerns with the system, so they can make an informed choice about whether to use the program.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
While I am mightily pissed at GW and the Congress for some of the things they've done (expanding Medicare, over-funding social programs, and not dealing with illegal invasion of this country), I will not allow myself to fall prey all of this by voting for a damned Democrat. I just won't.
I wouldn't accuse them of hypocrisy. They have always been about winning at any cost. In this they have been perfectly consistent. Suppressing the military vote helps them. Having felons vote helps them. Having illegals vote helps them.
By any means necessary.
Yes, he is. His district also represents Fort Monmouth military base which is closing - due to our Democrat representatives refusing to fight for its survival.
Allowing the military to vote by absentee ballot is not secure. But allowing people to vote WITHOUT ANY PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION OR RESIDENCY? That's secure.
Like you said, Rat logic at its "finest."
}:-)4
Pleez let us stoopid peepul voat.
(Wait a second - if the Army is mostly stupid minority people, then why don't the Dims want us to vote?)
DISGUSTING RASCALS.
Kerry said his "bad joke" eight days before the election. When I was in Iraq, it usually took 10 days for a letter to go from Iraq to the U.S. He probably knew that he said it after absentee ballots needed to be mailed. He knew that, if a servicemember, in Iraq, wanted to vote against a Democrat, because of what he said, it was too late.
Democrats are 'for the military'---right up until the time comes to 'count their votes'!
Well, now the Democrats have their scapegoat for after they lose in four days. Same as the last time, curiously enough. They'll be able to blame everything on John Kerry, and not have to get all squishy and introspective about why the voters just don't like them very much.
I have to keep checking if these stories come from Scrappleface.
Or from Lord Haw-Haw . . .
Well, then, we'd better have no welfare, S.S. or any government programs using the internet or e-mail for anything involving personal information. Like job-seeking, benefit applications, licensing, etc. This must all be done by mail or in person, for the very reasons given by Holt. Right, Congressman Holt?
"Gee ... does this mean Dems are for Voter ID now?"
LOL...I guess so. I wish the dems would figure out if they are FOR EMAIL OR AGAINST EMAIL....lol
This brings up an interesting question.....The dems thought it perfectly ok to 'intercept' emails and IM's on Capitol Hill a few months back....yet, they don't think we should 'intercept' terrorists communicating via email or phone...and now they are against our military voting by Email!!
Has anyone asked Rep. Holt if he thinks the military should also be banned from emailing their families, etc as well?
Because to follow his tortured logic on this 'latest dem scam', it would seem an important question to ask......
Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...
There was a problem with the military ballots during the President's election. This should have been addressed long before today.
About 12 years ago I was coming out of the grocery store and there was a guy (democrat)there getting people registered to vote. One person said that they were an ex-convict and couldn't vote but the guy assured that person it was ok for ex-cons to vote.
Holt is lying and being an obstructionist because he knows very well that the military vote will no go for the Democrats. This is another way to disenfanchise Republican Voters.
Rush Holt votes against every military appropriation out there. He did little or nothing to save Ft. Monmoth. He is a former Princeton University professor. Does that tell you anything.
He's my congressmen. I worked for him in high school. Reasonable guy, but a complete Rat.
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