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

[wicket]

1. Sneaky bastards.

[trogdor]

2. P0WN3D!!!!!!!!!

[Cocoa]

3. they got caught

[Eloriel]

4. What they GOT was bad press on it --

Complaints, which trickle in one at a time by isolated individuals here and there (or even a lot of them) are too easy to ignore.

The Pentagon doesn't want you to vote overseas
A Web site maintained by the Department of Defense is blocking access to non-military Americans. Could it be worried that expatriates are leaning toward Kerry?

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Farhad Manjoo
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2004/09/21/overseas_voting/



I think there were other articles -- and even an alternative website for expats to use -- but this is the one I have bookmarked.

Oh, here's a DU link: Pentagon blocks site for voters outside U.S.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x839817