Editorial: The bobtailed ballot
The Republican National Committee is making capital of the soldier vote issue by distributing widely its version of the “bobtailed ballot” called for in the compromise Congressional bill, now in its final stage.
The ballot covers only the presidential, senatorial and Congressional races. This, the Republicans say, means that the Armed Forces “would be partially disfranchised in that they could not participate in state, county and local elections.”
There has been a suspicion that some Republicans are bleeding less over the possible disfranchisement of the soldier than over the danger that he will instructively write in the name of his Commander-in-Chief rather than that of Mr. Dewey, Mr. Willkie or whoever the Republican nominee may be. Be that as it may, recipients of the GOP’s “sample ballot” should bear in mind that–
Under the Congressional bill – to which the Senate gave its final assent yesterday – the “bobtailed ballot” can be used only by overseas servicemen whose states have certified acceptance of the federal ballot, and who have applied for but not received state ballots.
The onus for any disfranchisement of the troops is thrown back on the states, whether or not President Roosevelt vetoes this bill.
It is to the governors and the legislatures that the serviceman must look for an opportunity to cast either a full state ballot or the short federal ballot.