This bill affirms Congress's commitment to ensuring that every vote from uniformed service members and overseas citizens is counted, as required by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
Deborah Ross
Representative
NC-2
This bill expresses Congress's commitment to ensuring that every vote cast by U.S. servicemembers and overseas citizens is counted, as required by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). It urges states and territories to uphold their UOCAVA obligations, and calls upon the Attorney General to monitor and enforce compliance with the act, protecting the voting rights of those serving abroad.
Congress Affirms: Overseas Military and Citizen Votes Must Be Counted Under Federal Law
This resolution is Congress officially stating its position: votes cast by U.S. military members serving overseas and citizens living abroad must be counted, full stop. It reinforces the importance of the existing Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), the federal law ensuring these groups can vote despite being far from their local polling place. The core message is clear – legally submitted absentee ballots under UOCAVA shouldn't be rejected due to administrative errors, delays, or overly strict interpretations (Sec. 1).
Think of this resolution more as a strong reminder than a new rulebook. It explicitly reaffirms the federal commitment to enforcing UOCAVA protections (Sec. 2), urging states and election authorities to prioritize the timely processing and acceptance of these ballots according to federal law. Furthermore, it calls on the U.S. Attorney General to actively monitor compliance and take action against violations (Sec. 3), safeguarding the voting rights of those serving or living outside the country. It's a formal declaration emphasizing that the logistical challenges faced by overseas voters shouldn't disenfranchise them in any federal, state, or local election.