U.S. citizens overseas urged to vote

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hailey R. Davis
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --  With the 2012 national election less than 60 days away, Air Force officials are encouraging service members and U.S. citizens stationed overseas to request their absentee ballots.

National Election Day is Nov. 6, and since many service members and their families are stationed or deployed overseas, they are required to submit an absentee ballot to their local county in order to vote for the election.

"An absentee ballot is classified by a ballot that your local county will send you with a list of nominees for election," said Maj. Carissa Grant, 18th Wing installation voting assistance officer.

There are two types of ballots, Grant said. The first type is the absentee ballot local counties send U.S. citizens stationed overseas -- service members, dependents and civilian employees -- and deployed personnel. The second type is a write-in ballot.

In the case of a delay in the postal system, or counties sending ballots out late, some citizens may not receive their official absentee ballot, Grant said. In turn, service members and civilian employees are encouraged to send in a write-in ballot from the Federal Voters Assistance Program website, available at www.fvap.gov.  

"We encourage folks that think their ballot will be late, or if they know they have not received (their ballot), to fill out (the write-in ballot)," Grant said.

She said the first and easiest way a citizen can get the write-in ballot is by going to the FVAP website. The other way is by contacting a unit voting assistance officer.

One of the challenges faced with voting overseas is ensuring service members send their application back in a timely manner as well as returning the voting ballot once received, Grant said. To help expedite the process, the post office is now providing free express mail of all absentee ballots whether it's one from a county or write-in ballot.

All U.S. citizens stationed overseas or deployed, whether they are active-duty members, dependent spouses, or civilian employees, should express their right to vote, Grant said. For more information about voting, or to obtain an absentee or write-in ballot, visit the FVAP website or contact a representative at vote@fvap.gov.