Ballot Changes for Deployed Soldiers Approved

Tennessee soldiers who are deployed overseas will have an easier time voting during the next election.

The state House of Representatives Monday night passed a bill that sends ballots to the deployed by email. Ballots are now sent by regular mail. The measure already passed the state Senate and is now headed to Governor Phil Bredesen for his signature.

A federal requirement spurred the bill, so the changes are taking place nationwide.

Web Extra

The bill is SB 2681 Ketron/HB 2799 McCormick.

State Representative Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) is the sponsor of the bill. In 1990 and 1991, he was in the Army, serving in the first Gulf War. He added 19 more members as co-prime sponsors, all members who have served in the military.

“I added, as co-prime sponsors, all the veterans of the House of Representatives, I believe there are 18 or 19 of them, and I did that as an honor to them, to recognize their service.”

Legislators in the state House of Representatives shown as co-prime sponsors of the military voting bill – who also happen to be military veterans:

Gerald McCormick , John Mark Windle, Jimmy Naifeh, Curtis Halford, Stratford Bone, Karen Camper, Jim Cobb, Charlie Curtiss, Craig Fitzhugh, George W. Fraley, Dale Ford , Curtis Johnson, Ron Lollar, Jon Lundberg, Judd Matheny, Charles Sargent, David Shepard, Tony Shipley, Mike Stewart, Eddie Yokley.

Previous story on this issue:

State Senate Approves Electronic Ballots for Deployed Military