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Secretary of state encourages military personnel to request absentee ballots Friday, Sep 1, 2006 By Betsy Turner Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - As Secretary of State Charlie Daniels encouraged military personnel to request absentee balloting for the Nov. 7 general election Thursday, his Republican opponent questioned Daniels' performance in securing military absentee ballots two years ago. Flanked by members from each branch of the military at a Capitol new conference declaring Sept. 3-9 Armed Services Week in Arkansas, Daniels, an Air Force veteran, said he understood the importance of voting for military personnel, particularly when legislation affects their pay and housing. "I want to do I can to defend that right to be heard," Daniels said. He said absentee ballot applications are available through the county clerks. Also, federal post card applications are available through voting assistance officers in the military or online. He said those applications should be returned on or before Oct. 31 by fax or e-mail. Col. John Edwards of the Arkansas National Guard said when a court challenge delayed absentee ballot printing for the 2004 general election, the secretary of state's office worked with the military and U.S. Postal Service to speed the absentee ballot process and make ballots available to military personnel. "Everyone in the 39th that wanted to vote had the opportunity to do so," Edwards said, referring to the Arkansas National Guard unit that was serving in Iraq during the last general election. Daniels, a Democrat, faces GOP challenger Jim Lagrone of Bryant in the November general election, and Lagrone has raised questions whether military personnel were able to cast absentee ballots in 2004. Lagrone has publicly blamed Daniels for a large number of absentee ballots not returned to the state in 2004. Lagrone's son, Matt Lagrone, appeared at Daniels' press conference holding a sign referring to the issue of uncounted absentee votes by military personnel. Jim Lagrone said in an interview that his son served in the military during the 2004 elections and did not have his ballot counted. He said his son voted on his ballot but the county clerk's office did not have a record of it being counted. "It is wrong to deny the right to vote to any American, but especially to those that put their life on the line for the country," Jim Lagrone said. He said that, if elected, he would make changes in the secretary of state's office, such as using electronic voting, to meet the needs of military personnel. Daniels said all Arkansas military personnel had the opportunity to vote in the 2004 general election but that some just simply chose not to cast ballots. ------ On the Net: U.S. Department of Defense Federal Voting Assistance Program: www.fvap.gov |
