Alabama: military-voting bill keeps Alabama at the back of the pack
The Montgomery Advertiser reports: A bill that would have made voting easier for Alabama's military members died in the last days of the legislative session.
Both houses passed a version of the bill that had little opposition this year and was expected to pass.
Championed by Secretary of State Beth Chapman and her staff, it failed after a campaign finance amendment was added to it. ...
According to Department of Defense figures, as of Aug. 31, 2008, there were 38,657 active, Guard and Reserve members from all service branches, including the Coast Guard, who listed Alabama as their home. ...
In January, the Pew Center on the States released a report that found Alabama, the District of Columbia and 16 other states, including Georgia and Tennessee, don't provide enough time for military members abroad to vote.
Alabama topped the list in the time it takes to complete the voting process -- it can take some military voters 88 days from start to finish, the report found. Part of the reason is because Alabama is one of three states -- New York and Wyoming are the other two -- that require everything to be sent via the U.S. Postal Service. --> Read the whole article at Military voting bill likely won't apply to 2010 elections | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser