JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
With elections right around the corner in November, the Department of Defense is aiming to emphasize and encourage voters to register and request absentee ballots if they have not yet done so, and to encourage those who already have registered and received their ballots to complete their absentee ballots and return them to their local election officials.
DOD officials have taken steps to make absentee voting easier for servicemembers, their families, and federal employees working overseas. What used to be a complicated process of having to check the Voting Assistance Guide for state-specific requirements and deadlines for absentee voting has now been automated.
According to Air Force Capt. Rebecca Bush, the Langley Air Force Base installation voting assistance officer, voters can visit www.fvap.gov/r3/fpca/home to fill in the Federal Post Card Application using a wizard that assists absentee voters with filling in the form based on their particular state or county of residence. If voters have not received their ballot, they should use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot as a back-up ballot.
Similar to the FPCA wizard, voters can visit www.fvap.gov/r3/fwab/home to fill in the FWAB using a wizard that assists with filling in the form, again based on voters' particular state and county of residence. Once completed, voters print out the form, sign and return it to their local election official.
The wizards produce a PDF package that includes a postage-paid envelope template, a security envelope template, instructions to election officials, state-specific information and submission instructions, a voter's declaration or affirmation, and a write-in ballot pre-populated with the information and candidates the voter entered in the FWAB wizard. If the state allows faxed returns, the wizard will also prepare a fax cover sheet with the fax number to the local election official.
If voters receive their state ballot after submitting the FWAB, they should vote and return the state ballot as well. State officials will only count the FWAB if the state ballot is not received by the deadline.
Jose Martin, an assistant to Fort Eustis' installation voting assistance officer, said voting is "a right that each voting-age individual has," which "lends their voice to the democratic process in selecting who they prefer to represent them in each level of government."
"I would encourage all eligible individuals to express their rights by voting in all elections, whether local or national," Mr. Martin said. "It is an opportunity to voice who you would want to represent you."
"Honor the past, support the future and vote," he added.
For more information on how Joint Base Langley-Eustis personnel can get their vote out, contact the following installation voting assistance personnel:
Langley AFB:
Capt. Rebecca Bush, installation voting assistance officer; call 764-9727.
Fort Eustis:
Geoffrey Smith, installation voting assistance officer; call 878-4898.
Jose Martin, assistant installation voting assistance officer; call 878-5473.
Lei Lana Gates, assistant installation voting assistance officer; call 878-2024.