WASHINGTON – Today, the Military Voting Protection Act (MVP Act) received a major endorsement from the nation’s largest Iraq and Afghanistan veteran organization, Vets for Freedom.

The MVP Act, introduced by the Ranking Republican of the Committee on House Administration’s Elections Subcommittee, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., ensures military personnel serving this country are not erroneously left out of the election process. If passed, the bill would direct 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.

“This important piece of legislation ensures that the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform are not left out of the election process while serving in harm’s way,” Vets for Freedom’s Executive Director, Pete Hegseth noted in a letter of support. “These brave and patriotic soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who protect the very right to vote deserve nothing less. As such, Vets for Freedom strongly supports this bi-partisan effort.”

Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, please contact the Committee press office at (202) 225-8281.