Evening star., 1951-12-09
GIVoting
All But D. 6. Men
Will Get Ballots
By J. A. O'Leory

Soldier voting may be substantial
factor In next years election. and
already the Defense Department is
preparing to comply with laws de-
signed to make sure every man and
woman in uniform gets all the infor-
nation needed to vote by mail.
In the information and education
branch at the Pentagon, Col. T. B.
Blocker and Mai. Harry D. Kremery
jr, are compiling a voluminous di-
rective that will set forth for each
State and Territory the dates Of
1852 primaries, the registration days
and all other information essential
to obtaining and casting absentee
ballots, both in primaries and on gen.
eral election day.
Since World War II, nearly all
States have passed laws to aid service
peoples absentee voting, but these
laws are not uniform. The task con-
fronting the military authorities is
to see that their international direc-
tive is complete.
1t will go out late in January or
February to every military post at
home and abroad and to every ship
on the seas. In addition to the de-
tailed catalogue, there will be dis
tributed big posters for display in
mess halls and recreation centers.
briefly summarizing the election data.
So Million in Uniform
1t is estimated that by next July.
when the campaign gets into full
swing, there will be 36 million men
and women away from home serving
in some branch of the armed forces.
This number will not begin to
compare with the IL million who
were in service during the 1914 elec-
ton campaign, at which time 28
million soldier votes were cast by
mail.
Next years total in the armed
forces, however, will be double the
1,625.800 who were in uniform for
the last presidential election in 1948.
OF course. large percentage Of
the 3.6 million will not be eligible to
vote in 1852 because of their age,
This fact may cause revival next
year OF debate on the issue of wheth-
er a youth old enough to defend his
country is too young to help run it.
Georgia has an 18-year-old voting
law. but that State is alone in this
respect
Those who have studied the sub
Ject believe that a majority of the
men and women in uniform 81 or
over nave never voted in a national
election and, therefore, probably have
not registered. This is one reason
why the information directive now
being compiled is important, to ac-
quaint them with the requirements Of
their State laws. Also some pri-
maries will be held early next year.
Safeguards in Low
The soldier-vote statutes Congress
passed during World War II had
a dual purpose: First, to make it
as easy as possible for those in serv-
Ice to receive and cast ballots: and
secondly, to provide safeguards
against any one in the service being
required to vote. told how to vote,
or marched to the polls.
Accordingly, the information be-
ing prepared for distribution to mil
itary posts does not concern itself
with names of candidates, but only
with the basic information as to
when and how ballot from home
may be obtained and cast. The bal
lots, Of course, will contain candi-
dates names when they arrive.
nnn nf tho Foo%,,~o.
existing law on the subject of soldier
voting requires the armed services
to provide each man or woman with
a post card for use in applying for
ballot material. These post cards go
free through the mail Some States
do not accept this post card as q
complete application. but upon re-
ceiving it. send the soldier the
necessary application form.
There has been no talk of changes
in the soldier voting laws. but Chair
man Gillette of the Senate Elections
Subcommittee says he is very much
in favor of putting machinery into
operation to enable the boys to cast
their ballots"
No matter what preparations are
made it won't make any difference to
servicemen from the District. They
can't vote even when they are home.