Richmond, VA — Hung Cao called a radical plan that could disenfranchise servicemembers and their families “perfect” – which could jeopardize the voting rights of Virginians across the country and around the world.
In February of 2022, Florida Senator Rick Scott, then serving as the leader of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, rolled out a radical budgetary plan for the GOP that he saw as a blueprint if he were to become Majority Leader. Hung Cao bragged that he was consulted by Rick Scott about the plan and called it “perfect” and endorsed Rick Scott for Majority Leader and called him his political mentor.
Part of Scott’s 11-point plan was to reject ballots received after election day with no exception or consideration for when ballots were mailed. About three quarters of the 1.3 million active-duty military members are eligible for absentee voting because they’re stationed away from their voting residence. That’s roughly 975,000 active duty servicemembers who are at risk of disenfranchisement.
Mitch McConnell even lambasted Scott for this radical plan, saying “It’s just a bad idea.” What is crystal clear is that while this plan was far from perfect for McConnell, Hung Cao thinks this radical scheme would be “perfect.”
“Hung Cao’s radical plan to reject absentee ballots received after election day with no consideration for when they were sent could disenfranchise thousands of servicemembers and their families,” said Michael Beyer, Communications Director for Senator Kaine’s campaign. “Senator Kaine believes that those who are serving their country, no matter where, have a right to vote in elections back home. Overseas servicemembers and their families especially should not have an added worry that their vote won’t count even if they turn their ballot in on time.”
Cao’s Cuts is a series the Kaine for Virginia campaign launched to highlight how Hung Cao supports a radical plan that could weaken border security; defund law enforcement; jeopardize veterans’ benefits; raise taxes on active-duty servicemembers and disenfranchise veterans; put Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid on the chopping block; raise taxes on Virginia families and small businesses; and give the rich giant tax giveaways.
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