NASHVILLE -- Legislation making it easier for U.S. military personnel serving overseas to vote in elections back home passed the state House on a 96-0 vote and is on its way to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his consideration.
"Tennessee was ranked among the bottom 16 states as far as ease of voting for our overseas soldiers, and hopefully this affects that," said Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, the House primary sponsor of the bill.
"It will allow our election commissions to e-mail a ballot to them," explained Rep. McCormick, a Gulf War veteran. "They still have to physically mail the ballot back, but we can e-mail the ballot to them to get it there faster."
The legislation bogged down in a misunderstanding last year but has been supported on a bipartisan basis this year. All military veterans in the House were added as co-sponsors and several other legislators rushed to the House well to add their names. The measure recently passed the Senate.
The Pew Center on the States reported last year that 16 states, including Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, do not provide enough time to vote for military personnel stationed overseas. The states send out absentee ballots after the date necessary for military voters to meet all required deadlines.
In other legislative action Monday:
* House members voted 96-0 to include motorcycles in Tennessee's "lemon law" for cars and trucks with defects. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, goes to the governor.
Motorcycle owners would gain the same protections as other vehicle owners.
* The House also voted 96-0 for another Rep. Dean bill that allows local governments to pay less than 10 percent of the documented range for second-hand items.
Rep. Dean said the measure will give local governments an opportunity to save money.
"It just makes sense in these economic times," said Rep. Dean, a former East Ridge mayor.