HR1328 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1328 LRB095 21493 DRJ 51099 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Overseas service men and women are fighting for our rights as citizens to live in a free democratic society; and

WHEREAS, Voting is a right of all citizens of the United States, including those who are serving to protect our way of life and way of government; and

WHEREAS, Overseas military voters had less than half of their votes counted in the 2006 general election; and

WHEREAS, Of the 119,000 military personnel stationed outside the United States who cast a ballot in 2006, only 57,000 - less than 48 percent - had their votes successfully cast or counted; and

WHEREAS, Election Assistance Commission studies have shown major discrepancies on the ballot delivery side, with 72 percent of those who failed to vote never receiving any of their requested election materials; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that steps should be taken to require that the Secretary of Defense implement improved ballot collection and delivery methods for elections for federal offices; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to approve the Military Voting Protection Act of 2008 by passing House Bill 5673; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois Congressional Delegation, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Barack Obama, the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.