Exercising right to vote important even in 'off' years

  • Published
  • By Samantha L. Quigley
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Servicemembers and citizens overseas should participate in local off-season elections, the director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program said here May 9.

"I think it's always important for us to exercise our right to vote," Polli Brunelli said. "We've seen from past elections that our uniformed servicemembers and overseas citizens vote in large numbers. They're engaged in the absentee-voting process, and some actually vote in person as well."

Just because this is not a presidential election year does not mean this election is not important, she said. Many elections will decide state and local issues.

Ms. Brunelli said it is important for absentee voters to look at all of the issues -- state and local -- which concern them in their state of legal voting residence. But it is up to each voter to decide what issues are important and to research the candidates.

"(It's) a little bit easier than it used to be in the old days, where we found our overseas citizens were mostly getting information on elections from their friends and family members," Ms. Brunelli said. "They would either send them local newspapers or tell them what the candidates stood for and what the issues were."

The FVAP Web site provides multiple links to states' Web sites, state associations, political party sites and other organizations where voters can find a plethora of information. News organizations can also be accessed via the Web, she said.

Voter-registration and absentee ballot-request forms are readily available as well.

It takes research to cast an effective vote, Ms. Brunelli said.

"It's incredibly important to be informed about these issues," she said. "An informed voter is a good voter. It shows civic responsibility in that regard when you're informed.

"The (Federal Post Card Application) is the easiest way to request registration and an absentee ballot," she said. "And the easiest way to get the form is from voting-assistance officers at military installations.”