Officials: Register to vote before deploying

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ron Tull
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Airmen deploying between now and the general election Nov. 2 should register to vote with their deployed unit address before departing, said voting officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.

Registration is accomplished by completing a Federal Post Card Application Standard Form 76. Some states will accept the form electronically or by fax. The form and all the state rules can be found on the “Airmen Votes” Web page at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/airmenvotes.

"Registering in advance means the balloting materials will be waiting for them at their forward location," said John Lowrance, Air Force assistant voting action officer. "Deploying (Airmen) who do not yet know their deployment address or cannot release it, will need to take some additional steps.

"They'll need to file an SF 76 explaining in the remarks box that no address is available,” he said. “This will prevent the state from sending balloting materials. All states are different, but many will not resend balloting materials.”

When people find out their address or if there is a change of address while deployed, they will need to send another SF 76 with their new APO/FPO address checking off "Mail Absentee Ballot To" (item 4). In the remarks section people should include the dates they will be absent, enter their old address and write in block letters the words "OLD ADDRESS."

Under the updated address, the applicant writes in block letters "NEW ADDRESS."

"The bottom line is to know your state rules and not make your ballot come looking for you," Mr. Lowrance said.