[[ Why the exceptions? What's the rational basis for excluding, for example, people who, because of unavoidable commitments, cannot be at their assigned polling station on election day? ]]
Because dem's da breaks.
See my post 42 above.
Voting should be "a chore". If someone chooses to be at some other "commitment" during voting day, well, that's his/her "choice" (I'm pro-choice, eh?).
And that includes you, sir. If you don't want to show up at the polls on election day, you've given up your right to be heard politically through that means of expression.
A soldier on duty CAN'T vacate himself from his duty to get to the polls. He has no option, no choice.
Same for the elderly who are physically unable to get to the polls, even if they want to go.
By the way, I put my money where my mouth is. This past November's election day, I chose to visit a severly handicapped friend in another state, rather than vote. No claim for an absentee ballot or any of that. I wasn't there, I didn't vote.
Like I said above, dem's da breaks.