Judge orders Virginia to preserve absentee ballots from military

[Newsjock]

Source: CNN

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Virginia election officials to hold on to late-arriving absentee ballots from members of the military stationed overseas.

Republican John McCain's presidential campaign has sued the state election board, contending tens of thousands of votes from those in the armed forces might be voided unless a deadline is extended.

Judge Richard Williams ordered a hearing on the lawsuit next Tuesday afternoon in Richmond, and said in the meantime, those ballots will be set aside and preserved.

... State law says completed absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Election Day, when the polls close. The lawsuit asks that any ballots received by November 14 be counted.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/04/judge-orders-virginia-to-preserve-absentee-ballots-from-military/

[BunkerHill24]

1. Apparently these ballots were sent out late!!!!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. frankly, I am all for more people voting, especially military folks

When I drop off books to the local VA hospital, the support for Obama is not just obvious, it is extremely obvious. The GOP thinks, wrongly in my experience, that McCain's history makes him the candidate of choice for the military. I don't agree.

besides, I'd rather have 100% turn out of all voters. That is how democracies work.

[unpossibles]

4. I agree 100%

I cannot stand disenfranchisement in any form. Pisses me off. Granted, people should send their ballots in on time, but... come on.

[JerseygirlCT]

7. Yup

And can we really be sure that they arrive late due to the voters' fault?

Let them count.

[scytherius]

12. Absolutely agree. You put your life on the lnie like they do . . .

for virtually nothing in return . . . you should get something extra. Count em regardless I say.

[msongs]

3. sorry GI Joe if u cannot follow the law u lose. cuz otherwise VA votes on hold til Nov 14th nt

[AlexinVA]

6. Virginia may have sent the ballots out late...

From article:

Federal law requires those ballots be mailed at least 45 days before a general election. Lawyers for the McCain camp say many ballots were not sent until October, and many arrived just days before the election.

[Taverner]

5. McCain is shooting himself in the foot now

Polls show Obama beating McCain among the military 2 to 1

[AlexinVA]

8. Obama leads in donations from the troops

but McCain edges out Obama in donations from the officers.

These may be ballots from both:

The state has a large military population, especially in the Tidewater region, where the U.S. Navy has a large presence, and in northern Virginia, where the Pentagon and other military installations are located.

[kestrel91316]

11. Word from an inside source at Marine Base Camp Pendleton in CA

is that OBAMA is hugely favored over McCain.

McCain cannot count on winning the military vote. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[zbdent]

16. so, there are many more officers than regular joes?

that's a first for me ...

[Ian David]

10. But maybe not in the pile that McCain "found." n/t

[Scooter24]

9. So why are we allowing them to set an arbitrary date when the law is clear on the matter?

[stillcool]

13. I don't understand why someone could not..

put a ballot in the mail box by today.

[Hugabear]

19. That's not the issue here

If someone were to put their ballot in the mail box today, then it would be a few days before the election boards received it.

[stillcool]

20. as long as it stamped today..

it will be counted. Isn't that the law?

[Twinguard]

14. why is this an issue?

I know that there is wording in the law about military ballots being in on time, but seriously... was this law written when there was active combat in foreign wars? When these brave men and women are dodging bullets and IEDs, casting a ballot and getting it postmarked by a certain date isn't their top priority. I fully support counting ALL ballots cast by our military brethren. I don't care who they vote for (although I'd prefer they vote Obama)-- these men and women answer the call to duty, and they should have their opinions respected as much as anyone else.

[happygoluckytoyou]

15. i would shit myself if MCCAIN won... and these ballots turned it back to OBAMA.... CRY ME A RIVER!!!

[EFerrari]

17. GOOD! Our troops support Obama, not McBomb.

Good going, Judge Williams. We need those vctes to be counted. We want this statistic out there.

[bluesmail]

18. I hope they are surprised at the results.

:evilgrin: