As Election Day nears, GOP lawmakers press the Pentagon to resolve military voting issues. The lawmakers argue absentee ballot shortages and inadequate voter information for service members. The federal court claims they are too late.
Concerns Over Military Voting Access
Republican congress members, including Brian Mast, Bill Huizenga, and Mike Walz, are urging the Department of Defense to address voting challenges faced by military personnel as Election Day approaches. They highlight issues such as missing absentee ballots and insufficient voter resources that could lead to disenfranchisement. The lawmakers have reached out to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, emphasizing the need to swiftly allocate resources and enhance voter education to ensure military members can cast their votes. Service members’ voting participation is deemed critical by these representatives.
The GOP has also filed a federal lawsuit involving absentee ballots from U.S. troops overseas. The lawsuit claims Pennsylvania election officials are illegally exempting roughly 25,000 absentee voters from the identity verification process. Republican lawmakers believe this could disenfranchise military voters. The outcome of this legal battle may influence military members’ voting capabilities, as concerns grow about election integrity and participation.
Joe Biden & Kamala Harris are failing to facilitate the right to vote for our men and women in uniform.
I’m calling on the Pentagon to mobilize every resource necessary so our nation’s elite warriors don’t miss out on voting for the next commander-in-chief. pic.twitter.com/WY1BFmtWvC
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) November 1, 2024
Legal Actions and Court Rulings
A recent court ruling dismissed the Pennsylvania GOP lawsuit, citing its timing close to the election and considering the fraud concerns as hypothetical. U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner expressed that imposing election changes at this point would disrupt carefully laid plans, adversely affecting thousands of voters. The dismissal was backed by several parties who support maintaining a secure election process and protecting military and overseas ballots.
Similar lawsuits have surfaced in other states like North Carolina and Michigan, prompted by concerns over the potential misuse of the UOCAVA for election fraud. Although these legal challenges are unlikely to succeed according to experts, they reflect broader Republican strategies that cast doubt on election integrity. The Democratic National Committee and military families warn that these moves could disenfranchise legitimate overseas voters, thereby undermining confidence in the electoral process.
Activist judges. The worst. There are a lot of issues with overseas votes. Soldiers have not received their ballots that were requested in July! @mark_mbmccarthy https://t.co/rwk5p5dVcz
— Dr. Mari Nara⚕ (@marinarapatriot) October 29, 2024
The Broader Implications
The GOP lawmakers’ push includes addressing deficiencies in military voting protocols, particularly the inadequacy of resources available to service members. Complaints have emerged about a depleted stockpile of write-in absentee ballots on military bases. Beyond voter access, Congress has urged the Pentagon to keep military forces apolitical during elections and avoid using active-duty personnel as a domestic police force under the current administration.
As intensifying election campaigns unfold, this marks the first U.S. presidential race since the events of January 6, 2021, prompting further vigilance regarding electoral integrity. Former President Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud continue to loom, adding complexity to current geopolitical contexts. Meanwhile, legal constructs like the Posse Comitatus Act prohibit active-duty military use in law enforcement unless insurrections arise, stressing the tension between military and civilian spheres during such pivotal periods.
