Former President Donald Trump has recently stated that Democrats are attempting to send absentee ballots to military members and citizens residing abroad “without any checks for citizenship or identity verification.”

Such unfounded claims about voter fraud weaken the integrity of our electoral process and hinder essential reforms that could facilitate voting for our nation’s defenders.

It’s critical to address the voting rights of military personnel. Congress should enhance the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to create uniform deadlines for ballot returns and ensure processes for correcting mistakes on ballots. Military families also require clearer guidance and support when it comes to exercising their voting rights.

Military personnel’s voting rights must not be overlooked

For a nation that prides itself on honoring its service members, overlooking their voting rights is inexcusable.

Sarah Streyder, the executive director of the Secure Families Initiative and a spouse of a Space Force member, emphasized that criticisms towards mail-in voting are not only harmful in the short term but also diminish public trust in the voting system, complicating essential dialogues about necessary improvements.

“In 2020, military voters were 27 percentage points less likely to participate compared to civilians,” Streyder remarked. “Since then, states have either eased restrictions for absentee voting or imposed new ones.”

She pointed to Ohio reducing the window for absentee military ballots to arrive for counting. Meanwhile, Texas and Florida have introduced new ID requirements for absentee ballots.

“Being stationed far from your voting home makes it challenging to get aware of new voter ID laws that might be highlighted in local news,” Streyder noted.

False narratives regarding absentee ballots damage the voting system

In 2020, heightened political discourse around absentee voting led to superfluous scrutiny and delays in processing military votes. Streyder highlighted the discouragement military voters experienced due to the misleading narratives surrounding UOCAVA.

Military families deserve a voting system that acknowledges their unique circumstances and ensures their participation is prioritized. Anything less is a setback for the democratic system they help defend.

Election officials must acknowledge the distinct requirements of military absentee voters and guarantee their ballots are counted fairly.

Voting is not merely a right – it is a civic responsibility that countless service members have fought for. Undermining the right of military personnel to vote through unfounded allegations jeopardizes both their rights and the essential tenets of our democracy.

The voices of our armed forces and their families must not be muted by the same system they strive to protect.