On Sunday, I wrote about the exclusive report from FOX News that New York is now in violation of the Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (MOVE Act). As of yesterday, New York City and four counties in New York State, Putnam, Erie, Niagara and Westchester, have failed to mail out absentee ballots to the members of the military who’s home residence is in New York. At the time of that writing, the only major media outlet that was reporting on the story was FOX News and that remains so today. FOX News is now reporting that the Department of Justice is set to hit the New York State Board of Elections with a court order, aimed directly at those counties who are in violation of the MOVE Act. It is worth noting that FOX News is still the only major media outlet to report on this story. Very strange, if you ask me.
The legal action would mark the most aggressive federal intervention yet amid an ongoing debate over how to enforce compliance with the 2009 Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act , known as the MOVE Act. The Department of Justice is expected to intervene in several New York counties that missed deadlines intended to ensure that overseas ballots are sent, received and counted on time.
“If everything isn’t resolved by tomorrow or Wednesday, the Department of Justice will ask us to enter into consent order,” Douglas Kellner, co-chairman of the state board, told FoxNews.com Monday evening. “We’ve been having discussions with them.”
The consent order, Kellner said, would give the federal authorities power to ensure MOVE Act compliance in New York City and four counties — Putnam, Erie, Niagara and Westchester — which still hadn’t mailed out their absentee ballots as of the latest deadline.
Kellner said the court order likely will mandate one or a combination of the following:
— Further extend the deadline for when returning ballots can be counted.
— Require election boards that are just now mailing ballots to do so by express mail.
— Send an e-mail notification to every absentee voter on file reminding them that they can download their ballot over the Internet or have the ballot e-mailed to them.
I seem to be in a small minority of bloggers who are reporting on this story, but I think it is extremely important. There has been some speculation that the number of ballots that have been delayed is around 50,000, which could certainly change the election results. However, as I said in my original post, I care not about how these men and women will vote, as long as they get the chance to cast their ballots. That’s part of what this country is all about and for it’s finest to have their ballot access restricted is completely unacceptable to me. I intend to keep up with this story and will post updates as they are available. For the moment, I applaud the DOJ for the steps it seems to be taking to enforce the MOVE Act and ensure the ballot access of the men and women in our military.
I think the fact that Fox is the only one’s reporting this is telling. No big news that the majority of military support Republicans. Confirms the old democrat adage, “Better to win an election before you even have it.”
That is one thing that puzzles me, more than anything else. This is not an unimportant story, yet no one is covering it. Very strange.
What would the media have to gain by NOT reporting it? It would seem like a win – win to me?
I second this question. It would appear that Obama’s Department of Justice is prepared to protect the overseas military personell’s right to vote. That clearly puts the Administration in a good light, doesn’t it, so…Where are all the Obama-loving media types?
That’s a bit snarky-this is very important. I’m with Larry-I don’t care how they vote, as long as they’re given the opportunity to do so. But the media angle is very interesting.
I didn’t think it was snarky at all, Laurie. Kind of funny, actually.
Yeah, you would think the media would be all over all angles of this story, yet there is still silence.
I am glad to hear the DOJ is looking into this, this is a travesty! There is no excuse for not getting ballots out to those that serve this country!
LD, I have two posts on this from August. I have this latest one half-done. I’ve railed about it so much, I couldn’t settle down to finish it this weekend.
Someone in Justice should accompany the ballots everywhere abroad they need to go. These “hardship” waivers are obscene – especially when the State election board is deemed to have a “hardship,” as compared to what our troops go through.
In August there were 13 states applying for an extension. I wonder how many of them have missed that deadline and ballots are waning somewhere?
Like you, I don’t care how they vote, and I don’t care if they should decide not to vote, but I really care if they are not given the opportunity.
It’s ridiculous that we have to have legislation to make this work – and of course, now it is not working. Failing to get ballots where they need to go should be a felony.
Thanks for your comment, Maggie.
I think you have hit on a good idea. The ballots should be accompanied to their destination by someone with enough clout to make sure they get into the proper hands.
The four counties that neglected to send out the ballots are all traditionally pro democratic. Coincidence? I , for one, have my doubts. They were even given a fifteen day extension and zilch. If it wasn’t deliberate, it was a case of contemptible incompetence. Heads should roll either way as they are evidently incapable of doing the jobs for which the taxpayers reimburse them. The military has usually voted for a conservative party, in this case the Republicans or the Tea Party.
Thanks for your comment, Bob.
I am not so ready to say these counties are doing this on purpose, but either way, it’s simply uncalled for. This requirement was not a secret, but was known well in advance. There is no excuse for this.
They’ll count the votes… but only the Democratic ones.
Like I said in reply to Bob, I am not so ready to say they are doing this on purpose, ie. to quell the conservative military vote, but it is still inexcusable. It could have and should have been avoided.
Westchester? Isn’t that Doug Hoffman’s district? Everything related to voting is crooked in that district.
Sorry to be late getting to this, but why is this suddenly a massive problem this year? I know there have been issues in the past, but any like this?
I don’t recall a big problem like this before, Matt. Steve is reporting that there are problems with military ballots in Illinois as well. Kind of odd that the problem has seemed to get worse, after legislation was passed to prevent something like this from happening.