Board To Allow Military Voting By Fax

The rules are expected to be in place by the 2002 elections.

A 1999 law adopted by the Legislature allows electronic andfaxed voting for the military and overseas voters.

The Department of Defense has encouraged states to allow suchvoting because of the potential for delay with mailed absenteeapplications and ballots.

According to a report given to the board Friday, 56.6percent of all absentee ballots mailed to military personnel fromlocal election offices in North Carolina were returned during the2000 general election.

Eighty-seven percent of civilian requests were returned.

The report also shows that North Carolina is one of 12 statesthat do not permit even ballot requests to be made by fax. Thirteenstates allow voting by fax.