In the Season of the Vote, military members get a lot of email notices that "Time's running out and it's absolutely the last chance to get your absentee ballot!" We clearly understand the importance of voting; the national vote has an impact on our futures and is our only legal way of having a voice in the selection of our government. I've spent 29 years in the military and voted in a number of elections, but only once in person. So when I read "A Florida Plane Carrying Absentee Ballots To US Troops In Afghanistan Crashed A Week Ago," along with the possibility that some absentee ballots were incinerated, I thought it wrong such a thing could happen.

We are the most technologically-advanced military the world has ever seen. We are digitally connected, on line, dialed in, wired! In the last decade, the Department of Defense and individual services have turned to automated personnel systems to manage our permanent records, manage our pay and benefits, apply for assignments or any number of tasks, and more is on the way. The DoD also spends a great deal of money providing internet access for deployed troops, so with the power of that amazing resource, there is no reason to lose a single military vote. Our responsibility as citizens should not be left to Murphy's tender mercies. Current news reports of the probable prevention of military votes in Wisconsin due ostensibly to late mailing of absentee ballots -- also preventable. We have the means to assure service members the ability to vote nearly any time and any place, yet we do not. What about identification? The military ID card -- we don't leave home without it. Electronic voting would be something worth giving your military. When the registration window and early voting windows open, service members can rapidly register and at the appropriate time, quickly vote. No paperwork, no muss, no fuss, no problem. Voting done, next firefight, please.

Make no mistake -- we're busy in the military. Fighting our nation's wars keeps us multitasking like the proverbial one-legged man in an @$ kicking contest -- we are always on the move. A readily accessible link that enables us to exercise our sovereign rights as citizens? No more voting officer; an email notice will appear in our email account with a hyperlink when it's time. Then wham, bam, thank you ma'am, next mission please. This makes good sense. Want to do something good for your military today? Preserve our rights as citizens and help us vote no matter where we are. We are honored to be of service to our nation -- casting our vote allows us to do just that.