Press Releases
VFW Strongly Supports MVP Act
April 23, 2008
The MVP Act, recently endorsed by Vets for Freedom, was introduced by the Ranking Republican of the Committee on House Administration’s Elections Subcommittee, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. If passed, the legislation would ensure military personnel serving this country are not left out of the election process by directing the Secretary of Defense to collect the absentee ballots of overseas military voters, and deliver the ballots to state election officials via air transport with tracking capabilities.
McCarthy introduced the MVP Act in response to the September 2007 Election Assistance Commission (EAC) report on military and overseas absentee voting. According to the report, “The third largest reason for rejected ballots was that they were received by the election offices after the deadline stipulated by State law.” The EAC’s findings also suggested that roughly 10% of all uncounted military and overseas absentee ballots were rejected because they were received post deadline. The MVP Act is designed to ensure absentee ballots submitted by military personnel, who have little control over their geographic assignments, are delivered to election officials in a timely fashion.
“At a time when our brave men and women in uniform are protecting our liberties and preserving freedom abroad, it is paramount that we ensure they are not disenfranchised of their right to vote,” VFW’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Director, Michael Wysong noted in a letter of support.
The VFW currently has 2.3 million members in approximately 8,400 Posts worldwide. For more information, please contact the Committee press office at (202) 225-8281.