August 10, 2012

The Obama campaign and liberal groups are suing to block Ohio legislation that would allow military personnel to vote more easily using absentee and early ballots. Heritage Foundation election law expert Hans von Spakovsky explains:

Ohio still allows the relatively small number of voters qualified under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to vote early through the end of the day before the election. The essence of the Obama campaign’s complaint is that providing any extra time to such a special class of voters is “arbitrary and capricious” and therefore a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

This argument proves a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of military life, seeing as military personnel face voting obstacles unknown to civilians. Our military makes sacrifices for us every day to secure our citizens’ rights, we must work to make sure our they have every opportunity to exercise their right to vote in November. Von Spakovsky continues:

Ohio has a rational and practical reason to provide members of the military, many of whom put their lives on the line for us every day, extra time to vote. This is not arbitrary, capricious, or somehow unfair to other voters. And it has a perfectly rational reason related to election administration to end early voting for other Ohio voters three days before election day. The courts should rule against Obama and the DNC to ensure that those who defend and serve will have every opportunity to vote in November.

Do you think the military should be given special extensions for early voting?