GOP lawmaker to propose bill to tighten rules on military absentee ballots

Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) said Thursday that he would soon introduce legislation aimed at protecting the absentee voting rights of members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Olson said his bill is a reaction to reports that some absentee military ballots in Michigan, Mississippi, Vermont and Wisconsin were not mailed out by the required Sept. 22 deadline. Under his planned legislation, the certification of election results would be delayed by one day for each day that military absentee ballots are mailed out past the deadline.

"All Americans, and especially our military members defending our liberty, have the right to make their voices heard," Olson said. "Every vote must count."

Olson said he is also planning a second voter-rights bill that would require voter registration cards and other election materials to be more closely tracked as they move through the mail. It would also increase penalties for voter fraud.

He said this second bill is a response to reports that as many as 25,000 voter registration cards were mailed to parts of Texas and never received. Citing a report in the Fort Bend Independent, Olson said replacement cards were sent out but many are still missing.

"The Postal Service and the states, which oversee federal elections, have a critical duty to ensure there is no opportunity for voter disenfranchisement," he said.

---