WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE
Protect Military Votes is a project of the American Constitutional Rights Union designed to encourage military voting and ensure all votes cast by members of the United States military and their family members are counted—and honored.
The mission of Protect Military Votes, a project of American Constitutional Rights Union, is to protect the votes of those protecting us.
There have been numerous cases of military ballots mishandled by local election officials, and we believe these votes should be honored with the highest level of efficiency and integrity.
The goal of Protect Military Votes is to:
Increase voting participation rates of military members and their families by educating them about voting rights, processes and deadlines.
Provide a channel for military members to report concerns or problems in the handling of their ballots
Identify any local or state election officials not adhering to military ballot regulations
Take action in cases of military ballot tampering or mishandling
One in six U.S. military voters didn’t vote in 2018 because their absentee ballot arrived late or not at all, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
VOTING INFORMATION
VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS
WHY WE FIGHT
When a citizen leaves leaves home and family to risk all fighting for our freedoms, they shouldn’t have to worry about whether their vote will be counted. The shocking reality is that our service members abroad face obstacles that hinder their basic right to vote. From difficulty getting absentee ballots, to processes that bring into question whether their vote will even be counted, our military personnel struggle to do what we at home take for granted.
“Nowhere is the right to vote more sacred than when it resides in the hands of America’s warfighters. It is the responsibility of all citizens and government officials to ensure every military ballot is sent and received and each military vote properly counted. As the men and women of the U.S. military protect us here and abroad, we must protect their voices in the political process.”
Hon. Kenneth Blackwell, Former Secretary of State (Ohio), ACRU Action Board of Directors
“I have fought to defend our great Republic on the battlefield alongside great patriots. Now it is time for us to defend the fundamental rights of all soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines to cast their votes for those who would lead our nation. We must ensure that local election officials give every member of the military the opportunity to vote in a timely manner, in accordance with federal laws. We must protect military votes.”
LTC Allen B. West (US Army, Retired), Member, 112th US Congress
“I recognize that getting the ballots out on time requires a special effort by the Local Election Official (LEO). I submit that this is a small accommodation to make to facilitate the enfranchisement of the brave young men and women who are away from home and prepared to lay down their lives in defense of our country. Were it not for the sacrifices of military personnel, from the American Revolution to the Global War on Terrorism, none of us would have the opportunity to vote in free elections.”
Samuel F. Wright, Captain, JAGC, USN (Ret.)
Military Voting Issues in the News
ACRU Amicus Brief Supports Supreme Court Arizona Voting Integrity Policy Win
With the recent successful filibuster blocking Senate consideration of the so-called “For the People Act,” the Supreme Court’s decision in Brnovich takes on added importance. By reversing the Ninth Circuit’s decision, as The ACRU argued it should, Arizona’s race-neutral, generally applicable election rules limiting out-of-precinct voting and ballot harvesting will stand without any danger of preemption by federal statute.
Army spouse: the practical realities of overseas military voting must be simplified
Military voting is of critical importance to Armed Forces command. But like any bureaucracy, execution can be overly cumbersome and confusing. Army spouse Tracey Miller examines the complexities of military voting (from personal experience) noting that instructions like, “fold this piece of paper and make it into an envelope” are confusing and serve as a barrier to military voting. Our service members shouldn’t have to haul around scissors, tape and extra paper in election years.
Military votes could be key in Georgia’s January 5th Senate runoffs
The United States Senate, and perhaps our very Constitutional liberties, depends on the outcome of the Georgia Senate elections — unique in that the state’s two Senate seats are in play at the same time. The Georgia Secretary of State is currently sending out absentee ballots to Georgia residents posted in the military overseas, or at other US bases. We encourage all Georgian members of the Armed Forces to complete and return their absentee ballots as soon as they are received.
Absentee ballot recipients worry they may have been drafted
Civilian voters in Queens got quite a surprise when they received military absentee ballots. Once again, we see absentee ballot errors corroding vote integrity. The only way to ensure your vote is counted is to Vote In Person.
FBI finds 9 discarded Trump military mail-in ballots in PA
ACRU President Lori Roman addresses importance on our Protect Military Votes project after military ballots found discarded in Pennsylvania.
Groundbreaking National Voter Roll Study Reveals Alarming Trends as States Prepare to Vote by Mail
Our colleagues at PILF have performed an extensive nationwide study and found U.S. voter rolls are full of errors, deceased voters and duplicate registrations. They found nearly half a million problems -- how many remain undiscovered?
SIGN THE MILITARY VOTING RIGHTS PETITION
Join the fight to protect the voting rights of our military service men and women. Far too many military votes are not counted – and you can help.
Sign our petition to show Congress and state governments that we won’t rest until every service member has easy access to voting and that each military vote is counted.
Thank you for your support!
MILITARY VOTING HOTLINE
Have you had trouble voting or making sure your vote is counted? Do you know anyone who has? Let us know your experiences so we can take action.
Call us at 877 730 ACRU or contact us using the form below.