It’s hard for overseas servicemen and -women to vote back home in Alabama, but bills in the House and Senate will change that, the sponsor of a Senate bill said. The Senate by a 30-1 margin on Thursday approved a bill by Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, to create a 13-member Alabama Electronic Overseas Voting AdvisoryCommittee.
The committee would determine whether secure electronic absentee voting can be developed for Alabamians living and working overseas on election days. The secretary of state would have to establish, test and implement absentee overseas balloting by secure electronic means.
Dial, a retired officer in the Alabama National Guard, said his bill expands how members of the armed forces and citizens temporarily living overseas would be able to vote in local, state and national elections. “While Alabama’s men and women in uniform are protecting our freedom across the world, it’s important that we defend their right to vote here at home,” Dial said in a statement.
Full Article: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20110331/NEWS/110339966/-1/NEWS01?Title=Military-overseas-voting-bill-passes-Alabama-Senate