Federal program assists absentee voters
by Army Staff Sgt. Alicia K. Borlik - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The more than 2.8 million military personnel and family
members have the right to vote. The Department of Defense Federal Voting Assistance
Program provides them tools and help to exercise this right regardless of where they are
stationed.
In 1996, 64 percent of all service members cast absentee ballots under
provisions of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986. At the same
time, only 49 percent of the U.S. civilian voter population voted.
Director Polly Brunelli said the DOD voting assistance program informs U.S.
citizens worldwide of their right to vote and the avenues open to them. It provides
information to voting assistance officers at each military installation and through its
web site at http://www.fvap.gov and newsletter, Voting
Information News.
The web site includes an online guide that lists absentee registration and
voting procedures for all U.S. states and territories. It also offers training slides for
military and civilian voting assistance officers.
Brunelli said the DOD program is always looking for ways to increase voter
turnout. Some 44 states and territories, she said, make absentee voting easier than ever
by allowing voters to register by faxed Federal Post Card Application, to request and
receive a ballot by fax, and to return their ballot by fax.
Ballot faxing started in 1991 when thousands of service members were deployed
for Desert Shield and Storm, Brunelli said. Electronic voting worked so well Congress made
it permanent, she said.
Electronic mail and online voting are natural next steps, and Brunelli is
helping develop a pilot project for the 2000 presidential election. The plan will allow
military personnel from South Carolina and from six selected counties to vote by e-mail.
The chosen six are Orange and Okaloosa counties, Fla.; Howard and Texas counties, Mo.;
Dallas County, Texas; and Weber County, Utah.
An online system for absentee voting is in the early planning stage, Brunelli
said.
The DOD voting program serves the following individuals:
-- Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard who, because
of active duty, are absent from their legal voting residence.
-- Merchant Mariners.
-- Eligible family members of all the above who, because of their sponsor's
active duty or service, are absent from their legal voting residence.
-- Members of the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and
commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who, by cause of
active duty, are absent from their legal voting residence.
-- U.S. citizens, military or civilian, residing overseas.
For help and more information, see your unit or installation voting assistance
officer, visit the assistance program's web site, or contact program staff by calling
1-800-438-VOTE toll free or sending an e-mail to vote@fvap.gov.
