The Pentagon Fails to Send Absentee Ballots to Active Military Service Members
SUMMARY
Republican Representatives Brian Mast (FL), Bill Huizenga (MI), and Mike Waltz (FL) raised concerns to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after reports surfaced of military service members struggling to access absentee ballots before Election Day. In their letter, the lawmakers criticized the Pentagon’s handling of absentee ballot distribution, pointing to inadequate education on voting processes for deployed troops and shortages of federal write-in absentee ballots on some bases. They urged immediate action to ensure service members’ voting rights are protected. Rep. Mast condemned the Biden administration, arguing that while they advocate for voting rights, they have failed to provide necessary support for military personnel voting overseas. He stated that "elite warriors" should be able to vote for the next commander-in-chief, given the life-and-death decisions that impact them.
