Military Personnel Face New Challenges in 2023 Voting Process

The article was originally published by The 19th.

During the 2020 election, Megan Paone found herself in Okinawa, Japan, as a U.S. military spouse. Her plan seemed straightforward: request an absentee ballot, fill it out, and send it back. After receiving her ballot, Paone mailed it back promptly to ensure it reached South Dakota in time.

However, Paone discovered on her county supervisor’s website that her ballot was “received but not counted.” Intrigued, she emailed the county supervisor but did not receive a response. “I thought voting would be easy for us being military. It’s actually quite complex, especially with differing state deadlines,” Paone remarked.

The military voting bloc is significant yet underrepresented. While nearly 1.3 million active-duty troops exist, only 26% voted in 2022 compared to 46.2% of the general population. Challenges include frequent relocations and varying state laws. Military families encounter administrative hurdles without adequate resources, causing lower voter turnout.

Paone, now residing in Florida, emphasized voting’s priority despite moving eight times in a decade. Service members cannot vote on military installations, adding complexity to the process. Paone noted that military posts offer various amenities, yet voting is not among them.

Despite federal protections like the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, established in 1986 and updated in 2009, many military voters remain unaware of available resources. The act mandates that states send blank ballots 45 days before federal elections and provide electronic transmission options.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program disseminates nonpartisan voting information and reminds states of their obligations. Still, the military community’s awareness is lacking, affecting participation rates. The Department of Defense did not reply to a request for comment before publication.

Even though the receipt of ballots has improved over the years, other obstacles remain. Sarah Streyder, executive director of the Secure Families Initiative, highlighted changing state laws post-2020, saying they either expanded or restricted voting measures, affecting military voters significantly.

States like Ohio and Tennessee shortened the ballot arrival window, while Alabama and Idaho criminalized certain absentee voting assistance. Arizona reduced the period to resolve signature issues, and West Virginia mandated out-of-state driver’s license holders’ voter registration cancellation.

Streyder dispelled the myth that military members vote at high rates due to civic duty. She stated that military lives are already service-oriented, making additional obligations burdensome. Voting registration often becomes secondary when military families prioritize relocation logistics.

Many in the military community feel inadequately informed to vote on local issues or claim they shouldn’t influence temporary residences. However, Streyder encourages them, emphasizing voting as a rare chance to contribute to selecting their future commanders.

Ellie Walker, a military spouse in Georgia, stresses re-registering and voting locally due to family considerations. She noted the significant impact of local leaders on her children’s lives, particularly as a family of color. “By not voting, I’m choosing silence,” Walker asserted.

The active-duty military is diverse and predominantly young, with more than 90% of military spouses being women. Walker, handling household responsibilities during her husband’s deployment, sees voting as a cultural shift within military life. Spouses can vocalize concerns where active-duty members cannot.

Walker mentioned various resources, from the Federal Voting Assistance Program to advocacy groups, that aid military voters. Her husband, a Coast Guard recruiter, also promotes voter registration among recruits, enhancing grassroots efforts. “It takes everybody,” Walker concluded.