WASHINGTON, DC – At a hearing of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today called for improvements to military voting to ensure the votes of servicemembers and their families are counted while they serve the nation on deployment.

Representing over 37,000 military men and women stationed in Kansas, Senator Roberts made the following remarks:

"I find it disappointing that with all the incredible technology we have today, we ask our military to vote the same way they have since World War II. They can check their e-mail, video conference with their families, and even upload YouTube clips while deployed. Despite these advances, we ask them to rely on a disparate system of state rules and requirements, and the mail system to track them down if they want to have a say in our elections.

"If you ask me, our servicemen and women deserve more. In fact, I don’t think anyone would disagree with the idea that the men and women defending our freedom deserve the right to have their votes counted. Let’s give them the tools to vote, and once they perform this civic duty, let’s make sure their votes are counted.

"The media has certainly exposed some of the problems involved. These men and women risk their lives for democracy and voting rights all over the world. It is time that the United States ensures their right to vote."

Last year, Senator Roberts co-sponsored bipartisan legislation aimed at fixing problems with military voting and also joined a bipartisan group of Senators in writing to then-President Bush to improve military voting overseas. Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Rules Committee and a tireless advocate for men and women in uniform and their families.

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