One-third of armed forces have no vote
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Independent Minds
Ministers are accused of a "scandalous failure" to help Britain's servicemen and women exercise their democratic right to vote in the next general election after it emerged that more than 60,000 are still unregistered – one-third of the regular armed forces.
The numbers of unregistered soldiers, sailors and airmen represents the size of an electoral constituency. About 94 per cent of the British adult population is registered to vote in elections.
Last night politicians and former soldiers called on the Government to do more to extend the franchise across the whole of the forces. The Liberal Democrat peer Lord Roberts of Llandudno said: "A general election could be called any time and these issues must be urgently resolved. It is scandalous that the Government expects our soldiers to put their lives on the line to protect democracy overseas with no guarantee they will be able to vote in elections at home."
He added: "Campaign information must reach people in time so they are informed when they vote. This is pertinent given the unpopularity of the present government."
A former British officer said that it was his experience that soldiers in far-flung or dangerous parts of the world had no time to arrange for a proxy or to register for a postal vote. "To be perfectly frank they have more pressing concerns – registering to vote is last thing they are thinking of."
Lord Roberts called on the Government automatically to register every soldier, sailor and airman in the country. He said the figures, released by the British Armed Forces Federation, revealed a lack of will on the part of the Government to get soldiers to the ballot box.
"The fiasco with late registration forms before the 2005 election left some of our troops disenfranchised. I want to know what the Government is doing to ensure members of our armed forces serving overseas get to vote in 2010."
A spokesman for the British Legion said that it would support anything that made it easier for members of the armed forces to exercise their democratic right.
The Electoral Commission said it had been working jointly with the Ministry of Defence to encourage more armed personnel to vote: "We've sent information to every unit in the country and have assisted in helping them with with proxy and postal voting. We also hold registration days and target military and local press."
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Comments
I guess it 's obvious that this Labour Govt., continue to disrespect the Armed Forces by simply
not even recognising their right to VOTE which is surely against the HRA ?
The statement made by Lord R. maintains that the Govt is less than helpful which comes as no
great surprise but is insulting when they expect soldiers to die for them but these soldiers
as so unimportant to Labour in an election do you share my feeling s and wonder why??
Surely it can't be so difficult to arrange and probably easier than the subterfuse Labour
employs when it comes to issues like OPERATION BRAKE which was the massive cover up
about IMMIG and failed asylum seekers criminals and of course the Taliban being permitted
to remain in the UK no doubt using some of the ARmed Forces taxes to pay for these people
to remain and have a safe secure life and a VOTE>>>> the soldiers pay tax even while on duty overseas.
You all wonder why British people feel betrayed by LABOUR and it's endless lies deceit and illegal
governance practices well perhaps Labour don't have to be concerned about 60,000 potential
votes from the
armed forces when they have half a million' New citizens' votes to fall back on>>>
Just call me cynical huh??
No, I think that I'd be more likely to call you stupid than cynical...nobody is being denied a vote, to vote in an election you have to register, that's how it works...
On the other hand we hear that a prisoner in our jails is arguing that he is being denied his human rights by not being able to vote able to vote. If this is allowed rapists, murderers, thieves etc. are being prioritised above our military.
IT STINKS Mr BROWN GET IT SORTED NOW!
There are millions of UK subjects who do not have a vote, not just our armed forces.
It is time that we had full suffrage in our democracy, if it is to survive.
Here is a woman who should run for Thought you might like to read this letter to the editor ~ ever notice how some people just seem to know how to write a letter?.
This one surely does!
This was written by a Canadian woman, but oh how it also applies to the U.S. , U.K. and Australia
THIS ONE PACKS A FIRM PUNCHPrime Minister!
Written by a housewife in New Brunswick , to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady...
'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?
Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from the capitol of the USA and in a field in Pennsylvania ?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible , the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan ..
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:
I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:
I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:
I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times ' Quran .' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,
I don't care!!
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:
'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.'
I have another quote that I would like to add, AND.......I hope you forward all this.
One last thought for the day:
Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The British Soldier.
3. The Canadian Soldier.
4. The US Soldier, and
5. The Australian Soldier
One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM.
AMEN!