New Britain herald., 1918-08-21
"War Departme ent,

"War Department,
 Washington, June 2S, 1918.
 "1, The War Departm lent is desir- Ous of perfecting arrangem ents under which it will be possible to take the votes of members of the American EXpeditionary Forces in both primary and general elections without seri- ously interfering with military oper- atiOns, and the question has received long and careful consideration by de partm officials. An examination of the present State laws on the subject shows that a practicable method of taking these votes under prevailing conditions in Europe is provided in very few cases. Tn order, therefore, that qualified voters from all the States may exercise their voting priv ilege while serving In the American Expeditionary Forces the cO-opera- tion of the States with the military authorities is essential, to the extent that the States shall so amend their present election laws as to validate votes of soldiers that have been cast under limitations which the depart ment has found necessary to pre- scribe. It is, of course, highly desir- able that these amended laws be passed by the States at the earliest practicable moment in order that they may be operative on the dates OI the approaching primary elections, consideration being given to the fact that, after the passage of the laws, considerable time will necessarily be consumed in making preliminary ar engagements and in getting the eXecut- ed ballots back to the States to be counted. In all cases where practi- cable laws are passed by the States l the department will cooperate heart fly with the State authorities and af- ! ford them every available facility in taking the soldiers votes.
 "2. The ability of the military au- thorities to assist in taking the votes of members Of the Amer. EX. F. at American Expeditionary Forces at 1 both primary and general elections is necessarily limited because of the ex~ l traordinary conditions which will pre- | vail during the existing emergency in l several respects. The extent of these | limitations is set forth below, and l should be carefully considered in con- l nection with the framing of any leg | islatiOn on this subject.
 "a. The War Department will not 1 be responsible in any way for obtain 1 Ing the vote or anyone III fidIlCe or III
 any other part of Europe, but will as- 1 stst the States to secure the votes of l men in the military service so far as l it may be possible to do so without l interfering with military duties.
 "b. It will not be possible to take | the vote of any soldier who is ac-
 lively engaged in military operations, | unless such soldier be able to cast his 1 vote by transmitting an executed bal l lot through the mails as ordinary c0r- | respondence.
 "c. In no case will the War De- ! partment furnish to States, or to elec- ] tiOn officials thereof, lists of persons | who have entered the military serVlce 1 therefrom. Neither can the War De-
 partment undertake to forward to
 men who are, or who are supposed to | be, in the military service blank pal l lots or any other species or electloh 1 forms or literature which may nave i been addressed to them, care or the | War Department or of any bureau or i office of the War Department LOT 1 their use or guidance in connectloh 1 with casting their votes at eltnef d