Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congressman Joe Neguse Reintroduce Bipartisan Supporting Military Voters Act
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL-15) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) announced the reintroduction of the Supporting Military Voters Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen oversight of the federal government’s efforts to support active-duty military members and their families in the voting process.
The legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a comprehensive report evaluating the effectiveness of the federal government in carrying out its responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and recommending ways to improve access to voter registration information and assistance for military families.
“The brave men and women who serve our country should never face unnecessary barriers when it comes to voting,” said Congresswoman Laurel Lee. “This bill ensures Congress continues to exercise oversight of federal programs designed to serve military voters and gives us the information we need to improve the process. Every service member who wants to vote should be able to do so securely, and on time.”
“The right to vote is sacrosanct, and those who bravely serve our country must have every opportunity to make their voices heard, including when serving overseas. That’s why I’m proud to team up with Rep. Laurel Lee in introducing the Supporting Military Voters Act. This bill would ensure that distance does not disenfranchise those protecting our country from voting,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.
"Institute for Responsive Government Action is pleased to endorse the Supporting Military Voters Act." said Sam Oliker-Friedland, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsive Government Action. "This bipartisan legislation from Rep. Lee and Rep. Neguse is not only critical to ensuring access to the ballot box for military and overseas personnel and their families, but also holding the federal government accountable regarding its responsibilities to these voters. We will proudly continue to support any effort in reducing red tape that hinders election participation for Americans serving in the military or living abroad."
“Ensuring that our military voters can cast their ballots securely and without unnecessary barriers is a fundamental obligation of our democracy. By directing the GAO to study how effectively current systems are working, this bipartisan legislation takes a commonsense, evidence-based approach to oversight, laying the groundwork for future improvements while protecting the rights of those who serve," says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.
“Evaluations as described by the Supporting Military Voters Act will help inform election officials to better understand what information gaps exists and what additional support is needed for our military servicemembers and their family members to achieve parity in voting rates with their contemporaries. We owe all of those who serve and protect our country a great debt. As they defend democracy and our way of life across the globe, the least we can do is give them the tools to participate in this great Republic,” said Paul Lux, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections.
“This bipartisan bill calls for a comprehensive study and analysis of all factors and data that impact the ability of our service members and their families to vote.The results of this study will help us better understand the factors that result in the very low voting rate of our uniformed service men and women. It will provide a basis of knowledge upon which we can improve the resources and outreach to our military voters, thus improving their ability to vote in a more hassle-free and seamless manner that is also secure and timely,” said Mark Earley, Leon County Supervisor of Elections.
Background:
UOCAVA, first enacted in 1986, is the only federal law solely dedicated to protecting the voting rights of active-duty military members, their families, and overseas citizens. Under this law, states must provide an option for these voters to request and submit absentee ballots, often through the Federal Post Card Application. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) is responsible for administering UOCAVA.
Despite these protections, voting rates among active-duty military remain significantly lower than the general population. In the 2022 midterm elections, only 23 percent of active-duty military voters participated, compared to 52 percent of civilians. For military voters stationed overseas, the turnout dropped to just 15 percent.
In June 2025, the House Administration Committee held the first congressional oversight hearing on FVAP in over a decade. FVAP Director Patrick Wiedmann highlighted the persistent challenges military voters face—such as time constraints, frequent relocations, and access to voter information.
Supporting Organizations & Individuals:
- Issue One
- Institute for Responsive Government Action
- Bipartisan Policy Center Action
- Concerned Veterans for America
- Supervisor Paul Lux, Okaloosa County, FL
- Supervisor Mark Earley, Leon County, FL