MOVE Act (Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act)

The MOVE Act was first enacted in 2009 to ensure that ballots for uniformed and overseas voters (UOCAVA) are sent, received, and counted on time.  It establishes procedures for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to request and for states to remit voter registration applications, absentee ballot applications, and blank ballots by mail and electronically.  It applies to general, special, primary, and runoff elections for Federal office.

A provision of the Act requires States to

1. Send out the UOCAVA absentee ballots 45 days before an election [although some States have requested and received a waiver to this deadline.]
2. Allow the voters to request voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications by mail or electronically for general, special, primary, and runoff elections for federal office.
3. The procedures must include a means for the UOCAVA voter to designate whether they want to receive the application by mail or electronic means.

Electronic means include email and/or fax.

A few additional provisions of the Act are:

1. there must be an online repository of State contact information.
2. the procedures must, to the extent practicable, protect the security and integrity of voter registration and absentee ballot application processes.
3. the procedures must, to the extent practicable, protect the privacy of the voter's identity and other personal information.

To see the full bill, click the link below:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2647