National Security Leaders for America Letter to Election Officials to safeguard ballot access under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)

March 13, 2026

Dear Election Offcial,

The National Security Leaders for America is a group of over 1,400 senior national security professionals who are united in defense of American democracy. We write to express our support for overseas U.S. citizens who have the right to vote in accordance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

Our national security professionals include military personnel, intelligence and diplomatic personnel, embedded US contractors, and their family members, either overseas or stationed away from their voting residence within the United States and its territories. They rely on early notification of ballot availability, via USPS mail, the Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, or Diplomatic Post Office, U.S. embassy diplomatic pouch, electronically via Fax, e-mail, or Internet, or by Express courier. Late-breaking changes to voting districts, voting requirements, and ballot formatting cause significant delays, as can mail delays.

These dedicated individuals have made immense sacrifices to serve our nation, and it is our sacred duty to ensure their voices are heard in our democratic process without barriers or discrimination that make it harder or impossible to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

We, the National Security Leaders for America, respectfully request that your office commit to accessible voting solutions for our national security professionals from your state who are stationed elsewhere. Voting is a fundamental keystone for our democracy for all Americans, but perhaps even more so a cherished right for those standing guard for our country. Most of us have cast remote ballots for our entire career, either from overseas or away from our local voting district, and have seen firsthand how difficulties can result in our ballots not being counted. We must honor the dedication of those who have served and also to those who have given their last full measure of devotion to maintain this right and reaffirm our commitment to a truly representative democracy.

We would appreciate a written response identifying your UOCAVA point of contact and your current plans to ensure all voters covered by UOVAVA are able to participate in this year’s midterm elections.

Please send this information to James Mcilmail at jim.mcilmail@nsl4a.org.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Smith Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Founder and President, National Security Leaders for America