Republican lawmakers are pressing the Pentagon for answers after receiving complaints from military personnel about difficulties obtaining absentee ballots ahead of Election Day.

Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), and Mike Waltz (R-FL) have sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, voicing their “grave concern over deficiencies” in the Department of Defense’s absentee voting procedures for service members.

The lawmakers’ letter points to an apparent shortage of federal write-in absentee ballots, with military bases reportedly running low on these ballots and failing to replenish supplies.

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They assert that service members have been left without sufficient guidance on how to register, request absentee ballots, or vote using the federal write-in absentee ballot if their state-issued ballot does not arrive in time.

“Our nation’s brave men and women in uniform brought to our attention that there has been inadequate education at the administrative level on how to register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and fill in a federal write-in absentee ballot if their state-issued ballot does not arrive in time,” the lawmakers wrote.

They also highlighted reports from some service members who were informed that base stockpiles of absentee ballots had been “depleted and had not been replenished.”

The representatives are urging the Department of Defense to take urgent steps to ensure that military members can exercise their voting rights.

They warn that, with only days until the election, immediate action is necessary to support those serving abroad.

Rep. Brian Mast, a veteran and supporter of voting access for deployed troops, criticized what he described as the Biden-Harris administration’s lack of attention to the voting needs of service members.

In a statement, Mast emphasized the administration’s failure to take proactive steps to address the issue.

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have mobilized federal manpower, resources, and tax dollars to block state-level election integrity measures, including in Georgia and Virginia, through lawsuits and smears,” Mast said. “They claim to care about democracy and the right to vote, yet they’ve failed to plan accordingly to facilitate the right to vote for every single one of our nation’s brave men and women in uniform. Our nation’s elite warriors deserve to have every opportunity to vote for the next commander-in-chief, especially since that person will be making life-and-death decisions for our troops.”

This issue has surfaced amid criticism directed at the Biden administration over its handling of military affairs, including statements by Kamala Harris.

In a recent debate, Harris claimed that no active U.S. service members were engaged in combat overseas, a remark that has been disputed by some military observers.

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The Department of Defense has not yet commented on the lawmakers’ request or on the reported shortage of absentee ballots.

The representatives are demanding that the Pentagon take swift measures to ensure all military personnel, particularly those stationed abroad, can exercise their right to vote in this critical election.