A new state law that would extend to cities the absentee voter system currently in place for military overseas who want to vote in state and federal elections, passed committee on Wednesday. State Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, said the bill passed through the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously and will go to the Senate floor next. There’s no fiscal impact to the state and Garcia said he isn’t sure when the Senate will take up the bill. Garcia said the bill will help extend some deadlines for municipal elections so ballots can be mailed to military personnel and state department employees overseas who want to participate in local elections.
Because county elections are typically coordinated with state elections, overseas voters get ballots for every level of government except cities.
“Our opinion is if you’re a service member serving overseas today, why should you get to vote for state representative or senator, but not for a council race or a local tax measure?” Garcia said.
The bill doesn’t make the process electronic. Voters still get paper ballots mailed to them but can make a request for an electronic ballot, Garcia said.
Full Article: Overseas voting bill advances | The Pueblo Chieftain.