Bill aims to boost votes from overseas

By Ashley Speagle

Correspondent

ATLANTA -- Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, has introduced a bill to encourage more Georgians living overseas to cast ballots in local, state and federal elections.

"It makes it easier for military and people that live overseas to get absentee ballots, and it ensures those people's votes are counted," Rep. Meadows said.

The legislation would help state law comply with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act that took effect in October.

That law requires states to allow electronic ballots and requests for ballots in time for the November elections. Rep. Meadows said House Bill 1073 does the same.

"If everything goes by the mail and you're in Afghanistan, you might have a problem getting your absentee ballot back to be counted," Rep. Meadows said.

OVERSEAS VOTERS* Nearly half of overseas voters fail to vote or to have their votes counted because of current voting rules, according to the Pew Center on the States.* Nearly 150,000 overseas voters from Georgia participated in the November 2008 election, according to the United States Elections Project.HB 1073* Any eligible voter who makes timely application for but does not receive an official absentee ballot may vote by completing, signing and mailing a federal write-in absentee ballot.* Electors may designate whether the elector prefers the transmission of such ballots by mail or electronically.* A federal write-in absentee ballot shall be submitted and processed in the same manner as provided for official absentee ballots.* Any eligible voter who submits a federal write-in absentee ballot and later receives an official absentee ballot, may submit the official absentee ballot.* The board of registrars shall, at least 45 days prior to any general primary, or general election other than a municipal general primary or general election, and at least 21 days prior to any municipal general primary or general election, mail official absentee ballots.

He said the bill also allows overseas voters to receive ballots earlier -- at least 45 days before general primary and general elections, rather than 30 days before.

"They get them in time to make wise decisions, and they make sure their vote is counted," Rep. Meadows said.

He said the Secretary of State's office pushed his bill along with legislation carried over from last year.

"One ballot cast by a member of our military that is not counted due to slow mail service or a missed deadline is one too many," Secretary of State Brian Kemp said in a news release.

Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming, has a similar bill, HB 665, that allows overseas citizens to vote by e-mail in the next general and runoff elections under a pilot program.

Rep. Hamilton is chairman of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs, which passed his bill out to the floor Thursday and now will review Rep. Meadow's bill.

"I think mine's written real well. It's very simple, and we're confident it will pass," Rep. Meadows said.

He said every co-sponsor of his bill has served in the military.

Ashley Speagle covers the Georgia Legislature. Contact her at speagle.ashley@gmail.com.

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