Secretary of State Sam Reed recently announced that America’s 2004 online voting project for military and overseas citizens has been cancelled by the United States Department of Defense.

“I remain deeply committed to ensuring the right to vote for our military and overseas citizens,” said Reed. “We must embrace every effort to give all Americans a voice in the democratic process.”

The Department of Defense informed participating states that the Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment, or SERVE, will not involve online voting in 2004 because of security issues with the Internet but that research will continue.

“I trust the Department’s decision,” said Reed. “The integrity of the voting process is critical and any process used must meet the highest standard.”

Washington was among seven states to participate in SERVE. Voters registered in Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Island, Spokane, and Cowlitz counties were eligible to participate.

Currently, online voting is not used for public elections on a broad scale anywhere in the United States. SERVE would have only been available to American military and citizens abroad.

For more information on SERVE visit www.serveusa.gov/public/aca.asp.