Commissaries help raise voting awareness Published Sept. 16, 2004 By Bonnie Powell Defense Commissary Agency FORT LEE, Va. (AFPN) -- Commissaries worldwide are joining forces with the Federal Voting Assistance Program office and the Defense Department to encourage servicemembers, retirees and their families to register and vote."Since commissaries are among the busiest locations on any installation, we can make a significant contribution toward increasing awareness among military families of the importance of registering to vote," said Patrick Nixon, Defense Commissary Agency chief executive officer.Worldwide, commissary employees are working directly with installation voting assistance officers, making space available for voter information and registration tables."Our store directors are reporting that as many as 40 to 60 people register to vote during commissary events," Mr. Nixon said. "When you have commissaries (holding) multiple registration events, there is a great potential to net very impressive results."The agency operates 273 commissaries worldwide.The effort intensifies throughout September, when all citizens under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act are specifically encouraged to register to vote or request an absentee ballot, officials said.For more voting information, visit the Federal Assistance Voting Program Web page at www.fvap.gov/. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)