National: New Executive Order Requires Pentagon to Track Military Absentee Ballots | Patricia Kime/Military.com
A new executive order signed by President Joe Biden and designed to expand voting rights requires the Pentagon to better track absentee and military ballots from overseas. Biden’s order, issued Sunday, comes as a voter rights and campaign finance bill passed the House last week in a 220-210 vote, with no support from Republicans. The legislation, H.R. 1, the “For The People Act,” faces obstacles in the Senate, where Republicans must join Democrats for legislation to be approved. Biden has urged the Senate to approve the legislation but used his authority as president to direct federal agencies to create strategies for promoting voter participation, including encouraging — via the agencies’ websites and social media accounts — people to register to vote. The order also calls for revamping the government’s voting information website, Vote.gov, within 200 days. For military personnel stationed around the world, the Defense Department will be required to work with the State Department, Military Postal Service Agency and the U.S. Postal Service to establish an “end-to-end tracking system” for all absentee ballots cast by military personnel and Americans living overseas.
Full Article: New Executive Order Requires Pentagon to Track Military Absentee Ballots | Military.com