Posted on 10/15/2012 8:14:07 PM PDT by Red Steel
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign has filed a federal lawsuit in Wisconsin to extend the amount of time military and overseas absentee ballots can be returned.
The federal suit came on the heels a campaign request to the state’s Government Accountability Board to extend the deadline after at least 30 Wisconsin municipalities failed to send overseas ballots 45 days before the election, which is required under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voter Act (UOCAVA). The campaign proceeded with the suit against GAB after their initial request was denied.
“Because members of the military are often stationed in remote, dangerous, frontline locations, there is a substantial likelihood that the defendants’ violations of law will prevent military voters from receiving, completing, and returning their ballots in time to have them counted,” the lawsuit filed Friday reads. “The defendants’ unlawful conduct therefore may effectively disenfranchise the very men and women who make daily sacrifices to protect our system of democratic government.”
The campaign is requesting that the court grant at least five additional days, beyond the Nov. 9 deadline, for those ballots to be returned. The suit is part of a larger push on the part of the Romney campaign to ensure that all military ballots are counted.
Romney spokesman Ryan Williams told The Daily Caller that the campaign is monitoring the military ballot process across the country, not just in swing states. The campaign has also sent letters regarding potential UOCAVA violations to officials in Mississippi, Michigan, New Jersey, Alabama, and Vermont.
“Governor Romney believes that our fighting men and women overseas deserve the full voting period that is required under federal law,” Williams said. “It is unacceptable for government bureaucrats to drop the ball and deny them what is required by law.”
The Department of Justice filed suit against Vermont last week for failing to send out ballots on time.
Williams said that Wisconsin has been a “serial offender” when it comes to ensuring overseas personnel receive their ballots on time, noting that this is the third time in two years that the state has had issues with military ballots.
GAB downplayed the issue at the beginning of October, telling the Huffington Post that out of 4,288 military and overseas ballots sent from Wisconsin, only 44 ballots were sent out late.
According to Williams, however, the GAB’s excuse was “unacceptable.”
“Governor Romney believes that one military ballot sent out too late is one ballot too many,” he said. “We’re taking action, sending letters and looking at potential legal action elsewhere and Wisconsin had replied to us saying they were not going to extend the deadline and that is why we acted.”
GAB public information officer Reid Magney said that they have been working to fix the issue, and now claims that only four of the ballots went out late.
“The Government Accountability Board has been working diligently with municipal clerks, whose responsibility it is to send out absentee ballots, and with the U.S. Department of Justice on military and overseas ballot issues,” he said in a statement. “We will respond to the substance of the lawsuit in court filings. Only four ballots were sent out too late to have the required 45 days of transit time to reach the voter and be returned for counting.”
This story has been updated.
Damn DemocRATS are always disenfranchising the military people. They’re always worried about the “po’ folks” who can’t “afford an ID” but don’t mind screwing over the military.
If he gets a chance in the debate, he should invite Obama to express his support for this.
Is this the breaking story? it says 1:53pm.
Good story either way.
Very telling that the RAT’s arent joining the Republican’s in these suits, no?
The story broke on Greta last night but no one picked it up in print until today.
Democrats are all for not requiring ID to vote because so many pets, dead people, illegals, and vacant lots vote Democrat.
Of course they won’t support this.
Make that last Friday on Greta.
God Bless Mitt Romney!!!
Take this all the way! Our military deserve to vote more than anyone else because THEY are willing to put their lives on the line for our country and they aren’t asking for “Obama-Phones”.
My congresscritter (Chambliss), seems neutered, although when I contacted him about preserving our military’s voting rights, he remarked he was behind some sort of bill to ensure they get to vote—BUT, it doesn’t seem like he’s working too hard on seeing they get the chance. (RINO)
Thanks. been a week since I watched her show.
nice to hear the clank of steel testicles for a change
Has Soros BOUGHT the states’ Government Accountability Board, like he’s trying to BUY the Secretaries of State?
“A group backed by Soros is gearing up to steal the 2012 election for President Obama and congressional Democrats...”
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/12/04/soros-eyes-secretaries/print
(Note the date on this article.)
This MUST happen.
The idea that military . . .
I can’t even talk about it.
Hey..... GREAT idea for a question from Romney to Zippy. Imagine the look in zippy’s eyes. Who ME defend da military? The deaths of our Americans are a bump in the road and I am doing a bang up job of defunding our military to shreds.
“........ you gotta let him go....”
Acitve Duty Ping.
We've had to fight them tooth and nail for Walker's re-call votes in some areas within the state. They've come up with all types of “what did they say and do now” moments.
Frankly we Wisconsinites have had it up past our Cheeseheads with the lefty slimes. Yes, I'm bitter. Tired from 2 solid years of fighting the good fight. Watch us now, lefties - unless you continue the voter fraud steeling of our state again, we'll take Romney/Ryan over the line.
Keep the faith and vote early - take everyone you can get to vote for R/R.
bttt
Willards getting desparate ???
When was he ever concerned about whether or not the military voted ???
Should mention this in the debate tommorrow, another Federal Law Obama is not enforcing to benefit him politically.
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