Bill Makes it Easier for Overseas Military Personnel to Vote

Servicemen and women stationed overseas and civilians working abroad are one step closer to being able to participate in local and state elections as a result of the state Assembly’s recent bipartisan approval of Assembly Bill 1805, authored by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael).

AB 1805 honors the men and women who serve our country by creating the systems to allow them to cast votes in state and local elections back home, Huffman said.

“Overseas military and civilian voters need special voting accommodations due to frequent address changes and slow mail delivery,” said Huffman, who represents the 6th Assembly District, which includes Novato. “These Californians still have a keen interest in their home communities and deserve the ability to help determine the leadership and direction of those communities by exercising their right to vote." 

Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher (I-San Diego) is a Marine Corps combat veteran and coauthor of the bill. 

“I know first-hand the impact our deployed military face when called to serve their country,” he said. “This bill honors those overseas by protecting their right to vote. We should do everything possible to help our servicemen and women exercise their right to vote in the electoral process.”

AB 1805, the Military and Overseas Voter Act, accomplishes three goals:

• Ensures that members of the military and civilians working abroad who would be entitled to vote if they were living in California are able to vote in state and municipal elections of the jurisdictions where they are registered;
• Utilizes infrastructure that exists or that is in development for overseas voters to participate in federal elections, thus maximizing the efficient use of Federal Voting Assistance Program dollars; and
• Ensures that unnecessary obstacles don’t prevent military and overseas citizens from exercising their right to vote.

The bill proceeds to the state Senate for further consideration.