WASHINGTON – The Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) wrote this op-ed ahead of Independence Day. Earlier this week, the Counting All Military Votes Act was included as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Visit the thehill.com to read the full op-ed or read key excerpts below.




Celebrating our freedoms and counting all military votes this November
BY REP. RODNEY DAVIS (R-ILL.), OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 07/03/20

Ahead of Independence Day, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) unanimously approved one of the most important bills Congress passes annually: the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Included in the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA is a bipartisan amendment that embodies the freedoms Americans across this country will be celebrating this holiday weekend. The Counting All Military Votes amendment protects the right to vote for all active duty military serving overseas.

Every American has the right to vote, including our military men and women serving overseas. However, each election, the votes of more than 10,000 military members serving in our embassies, consulates, and diplomatic posts not under jurisdiction of the Department of Defense are at risk of not being counted. If signed into law, the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA will change this.
...

With mail-in voting increasing across the country due to the pandemic, it's critical we do everything we can to help ballots of active duty military arrive on time. I want to thank my colleagues, Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.), who serve on the House Armed Services Committee for offering the Counting All Military Votes Act as an amendment to the NDAA and for their leadership in getting it passed. Having this language included in this must-pass bill to fund our military will hopefully ensure that all the voices of our men and women serving overseas are heard this November.
...