Evening star., 1943-08-08
Action on Soldier Vote
Put High on List Of
Congressional Plans
BY I. A. OIEARY,

Legislation to make it easier for
men and women in the armed serv-
ices to vote in next years national
election, no matter where they are
stationed, will be one of the first
problems tackled by Congress when
it returns next month.
Senator Hatch, Democrat. of New
Mexico, member of subcommittee
appointed recently to study the
subject. said yesterday that what
ever changes are going to be made
in the soldier-voting law should be
made promptly, to leave time for all
necessary arrangements to make the
plan effective.
Hearings are expected to start in
mld-September on the Green-Lucas
bill, main feature of which makes
the V-mail process available 70
photograph and transmit the bal
lots of the hundreds of thousands
of Americans on the fighting fronts.
Workable Method Asked.
II favor any workable method
for permitting those in the armed
forces to cast their votes" Senator
Hatch said. He admitted there are
some obstacles in gathering ballots
from the fronts, but added, II think
they can be worked out"
Senator Green, Demo ocrat, of
Rhode Island is chairman of the
Privileges and Elections Subcom-
mittee appointed to consider the
bill he and Senator Lucas, Demo-
crat, of Illinois joined in introduc-
ing June %. Others on the sub
committee are Senators Hatch, Kill
gore, Democrat, of West Virginia; :;
Bridges, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire and Moore, Republican, of
Oklahoma
The pending bill is designed to
simplify the present law. which was
enacted September 16, 1912, too late
to be very effective in last years
congressional elections. Though 1943
is not general election year, there
will be special elections held soon to
fill two House vacancies, one in
California and one in Kansas, and
the Army and Navy have sent out
postcard blanks to members of the
armed forces to enable any who are
eligible to vote in elections this year
to apply for ballots.
Election Dates Set.
The California election will be
held August 81 to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Representa-
tive Englebright, Republican, and
the Kansas election is set for Sep
tember ID to pick a successor to the
late Representative Guyer, Repub-
hcan.
Word reaching Capitol Hill indi-
Gates some State officials have been
puzzled by receipt of the post card
applications in this off year from
men in the armed forces, request
ing absentee ballots. One official
pointed out that a soldiers address
may change frequently in a year.
Even If no further legislation is
enacted, however, the War and
Navy Departments will have to dis
tribute new postcard application
forms again early in 1914, because
the. present law requires that, I'm
each year in which an election for
Senators and Representatives in
Congress is to be held, such post
cards shall be made available on
Febrary l, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, and from time to time
thereafter. prior to the holding OF
the election"
For the men and women stationed
in camps in this country. the new
Green-Lucas bill retains the post
card application method of having
the States send them ballots.
Ballots to Be Printed.
For those overseas. however. the
new bill directs the Secretaries of
War and Navy to have V-mail bal
lots printed. They could even have
the ballots printed in foreign coun-
tries if that should be found more
practical. The form of this ballot
is prescribed in the bill. 1t has a
space at the top for those who wish
to vote a straight party ticket. II
also has spaces in which the SOL
dier or sailor could write in his
choice for President, Vice Presi-
dent, Senator and Representative.
Since the bill was introduced SEN
ator Lucas has suggested the hear
ings may develop the advisability OF
letting the uniformed forces in
camps in this country use the same
special ballot proposed for the over
seas contingentS and abandon en-
tirely the procedure of requiring the
men and women in the service tc
send home postcard application
for ballot