By John Elizondo
KILLEEN - In 2009, both congress and the president passed the Move Act that would protect the voting rights of soldiers overseas, but a new report and top generals views seem to go against that policy, which has lawmakers in Washington D.C. furious.
Senator John Cornyn, along with 21 other senators, sent a letter to General Martin Dempsey after he made a several comments that discouraged service members from voting. General Dempsey quoted a former general who urged soldiers to stay out of partisan politics.
The general's comments came at the same time the D.O.D. report stated the department failed to provide on-base voter assistance at every military installation -- which is required by the Move Act.
Meanwhile officials in Bell County are making sure soldiers overseas stay involved politically through a new electronic system.
Bell County Clerk Shelley Coston said she has seen a surge in the last few months in ballot requests at the county clerks office.
"It is the ballot, it is the envelope, the carrier envelope. All of the required documents are included in that email, with step by step instructions so they will print their ballot, they will cast their ballot, they will print the envelope, they will package it up per the instructions and ship it back to us," Coston said.
Soldiers stationed in Fort Hood who plan on casting their vote won't be able to do it on post, but will be able to vote at two polling stations at CTC as well as around the city of Killeen.
