Nevada secretary of state’s Middle East trip cut short by unrest

CARSON CITY - Secretary of State Ross Miller returned to the United States on Friday after the Department of Defense cut short a trip by secretaries of state to the Middle East because of the unrest in Libya, Egypt and other countries.

Miller had visited military bases to meet with officials and troops and discuss overseas voting issues. He had stopped in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

"The attacks in Libya emphasize the importance of protecting democracy by ensuring our armed forces can easily vote in elections, a right they fight to preserve daily," Miller said. "Their voices need to be heard on Election Day."

Today is National Military Voter Readiness Day, an observance to call attention to military members that they can register, request absentee ballots and vote.

Miller worked with the Nevada Office of Veterans Services and elections officials during the 2009 legislative session to pass Assembly Bill 41, which allows Nevada voters overseas to register to vote and request and submit absentee ballots electronically.

Anyone can register online at www. registertovotenv.gov. by the Oct. 6 deadline. Registered voters must request absentee ballots from their county clerk or registrar of voters by Oct. 30.

But members of the military and overseas citizens can request an absentee ballot by completing and submitting a federal postcard application due Oct. 30.

Some military bases have voter registration drives.

For more information about military and overseas voting, visit the election center on the secretary of state's website: nvsos.gov.

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.