Some troops may not get ballots in time

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - Election Day will be here before we know it. Troops overseas need to be given ample time to get their votes in, but U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions says many states are failing to mail out their absentee ballots on time.

According to a law, absentee ballots for the troops should have been mailed by September 18, but sessions says some states have not followed the law.

Voting is certainly a right, but practicing it in an air-conditioned building is a privilege.

Not every American gets that opportunity. Many troops swore to defend our country, and even from the far reaches of the planet, and deserve the right to vote too.

Federal law states absentee ballots must be sent to troops no later than September 18.

But some states have not followed the law, and Senator Jeff Sessions sent a letter to the US Attorney General, asking the Department of Justice to step in.

A watchdog group called the Military Voter Protection project found a number of jurisdictions throughout America have not followed the law.

The group cited seven Alabama counties in its list: Coffee, Jefferson, Limestone, Montgomery, Morgan, and Pike counties.

"Everyday is critical," says Baldwin County Circuit Clerk Jody Campbell.

Campbell says the county mailed out around 200 ballots overseas, and they made the deadline.

"It just takes such a long time to send our mail over there and get it back to us," Campbell said.

Troops have to find out the absentee ballot procedures in their specific counties. Campbell says federal ballots can be emailed to them. In Alabama, state ballots can only be sent by mail.

Campbell says absentee ballots are a serious matter, and our service members deserve to be given ample time to place their votes.

"They're the ones protecting our freedoms and rights that we have now," Campbell said.

History has proven that our armed forces fought to give us this right.

The Mobile County Probate Court told FOX10 News it met the September 18 deadline.

Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties met the deadline as well.