Pentagon Restores Voting Web Site Access

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon (news - web sites) has restored access to a Web site that assists soldiers and other Americans living overseas in voting, after receiving complaints that its security measures were preventing legitimate voters from using it.



The site, www.fvap.gov, had been closed to users of certain Internet service providers, because some hackers were using those providers to launch attacks on U.S. government sites, military officials said. But that had the effect of restricting legitimate traffic from those providers, as well.


The move prompted criticism from overseas voter advocates and a few Democratic members of Congress, who said the security interfered with the voting rights of Americans overseas.


In a statement, the Pentagon said the changes will open the Web site, run by the Foreign Voting Assistance Program, to most, but not all, users. The site assists U.S. citizens overseas in casting absentee ballots.


"It is always a challenge to balance access with the required security on Department of Defense (news - web sites) systems," said Charles S. Abell, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20040923/ap_on_el_pr/us_overseas_voters