[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H6420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SOLDIERS OVERSEAS SHOULD HAVE THEIR VOTES COUNTED

  (Mr. FLEMING asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today out of concern with the recent 
news that one out of every four ballots requested by military personnel 
and other Americans living overseas may have gone uncounted in the 2008 
election. These findings were released in a recent Senate hearing.
  The report claims that of 441,000 absentee ballots requested, 98,000 
were claimed to be lost. Over 13,000 were rejected because of missing 
signatures or failure to notarize. Another 11,000 were returned as 
undeliverable.
  I agree with Senator Schumer that this system needs an overhaul. 
While serving our country overseas, our soldiers deserve to have their 
votes counted and their voices heard. We need to ensure there is 
sufficient time for ballots to reach them and have them fill them out 
and return them for inclusion for their vote to count.
  The cornerstone of democracy, Mr. Speaker, is the right to vote. 
Those sacrificing to protect this right should be given every chance to 
participate in the electoral process.

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