New York lagging on military voter access

Military families deserve a say in the decisions that dramatically affect our lives. Yet the current voting system leaves the ballot box inaccessible for many in the military community. New York is lagging behind other states and should advance legislation that will allow eligible New York servicemembers, their families, and those with disabilities who need accommodations to securely submit their absentee ballot electronically.

The logistics of receiving and returning an absentee ballot by mail are inherently challenging for those who are stationed overseas or who frequently relocate to new duty stations. Consequently, the military community has shockingly low voter participation rates. Adjusted for demographics, 74 percent of the civilian population voted in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, but only 47 percent of uniformed service members — and a mere 8 percent of overseas citizens — did the same. Many of us wanted to vote but were unable to do so due to unnecessary and arbitrary obstacles.

Those familiar with submitting military ballots say that applying for, receiving, and filling out a mailed ballot requires extra time for deployed servicemembers. Postal schedules, sudden calls to duty, and even the extra time needed to consult family back home about the candidates and issues can add to the delays.

Over 16 percent of New York’s veterans currently have a service-connected disability rating, and many in our community also serve as caregivers. Inperson polling sites can be inaccessible, and voting equipment can be difficult to navigate independently. Voters who are blind face particular challenges with traditional mail-in ballots. New York state still requires voters to print out ballots using a computer printer, which many voters do not have. Often this requires the assis