Andrea Joy Campbell: “today I introduce the ``Armed Services Voting Rights Protection Act of 2001.'' This important legislation takes a two…”

“today I introduce the ``Armed Services Voting Rights Protection Act of 2001.'' This important legislation takes a two pronged approach to help address the technical problems that resulted in far too many of the ballots cast by those serving in our nation's Armed Services being thrown out in the last election. The first part of the bill would amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 to help protect the voting rights of our armed services members. This first part is companion language to a bill, H.R. 159, that has been introduced in the 107th Congress by Representative Bob Riley of Alabama. Specifically, this part of the bill would prohibit a state from determining that an absentee ballot submitted by a uniformed services voter has been improperly cast unless the state finds clear and convincing evidence of fraud. It states that the lack of a witness signature, address, postmark, or other identifying information cannot not be considered clear and convincing evidence of fraud unless there is other evidence or information. Further, it is designed to have no effect on filing deadlines as determined by the states.”