Voting Information News. May 2008, Vol. 18, No. 5

VOTING INFORMATION NEWS

May 2008 * Vol. 18, No. 5

A roundup of voting news from the Federal Voting Assistance Program

(FVAP) for voters, potential voters and those who assist voters.

THE FPCA: THE FIRST STEP IN UOCAVA VOTING The Federal Post Card Application Form (FPCA SF-76) is the first step in the absentee voting process. This form is accepted by all states and territories as a simultaneous request for registration and/or an absentee ballot. The

1995 version of the form is still in circulation and is still a valid registration and absentee ballot request form; however, it is highly recommended that you stock the October 2005 version as soon as older supplies run out. Above is a depiction of the most recent version of FPCA request for registration and absentee ballot.

Citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) are eligible to participate in all elections for Federal offices in their state of legal residence. Many of these citizens are also eligible to vote in state and local elections.

Because election laws vary from state to state, please consult the

2008-2009 Voting Assistance Guide or ask your Voting Assistance Officer

(VAO) for specific information regarding your state's laws. The Guide contains state-by-state procedures for UOCAVA citizens to register and/or request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA, SF-76). All shaded areas for your state or territory as indicated in the Guide must be completed. The Guide is available in hard copy format or on-line at http://www.fvap.gov/.

Things to Remember When Filling Out the FPCA:

* Fill out ALL blocks shaded in your state or territories' instructions in the Guide.

* When filling out Block 3, "My Voting Residence", you must include a complete street address of where you actually lived in the state or territory in which you are voting, in order for the LEO to place you in the proper voting precinct. A post office box is not appropriate. If your address includes a Rural Route, use Block 6 "Additional Information" to indicate the specific location of your residence. For example, state "2 miles south of the intersection of Route 9 and I-34."

This address should be different from your Block 4 address and must be within the county or township where you claim legal voting residence.

* When filling out Block 4.a, "Where to Send My Voting Materials", enter the complete mailing address where you are currently living and where you wish to receive your absentee ballots. This address must be different from your Block 3 address. If you will have a new mailing address by the time election materials will be sent to you, please be sure to indicate this address here.

* In order to vote in Presidential or state primaries, most states and territories require that you specify your party affiliation in Block 5.

Refer to the Guide for specific information regarding your state's primary elections.

* If you use the online version of the FPCA, be careful where you download the form. The official online version of the FPCA is available from each Service's website. A link to the Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Form is also available at http://www.fvap.gov/. County websites may include a version of the form to be used by citizens voting in a specific jurisdiction. Make sure you are eligible to use that form and vote in that jurisdiction before using downloading and completing the form.

Things to Remember if You Are a VAO Helping Citizens Fill Out and Send In the FPCA:

* Do not send out your unit's FPCAs in bulk. Most likely, members of your unit will be registering and requesting absentee ballots from various different jurisdictions. Make sure each individual's form is going to his or her specific voting jurisdiction. These addresses can be found in the Guide, under the "Where to Send it" section or in the State-By-State Instructions at http://www.fvap.gov/.

* Inform voters that it is very important that each applicant follow the instructions for filling out the FPCA according to the State-By-State Instructions in Chapter Three of the 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide (also at http://www.fvap.gov/), including the "Where To Send It" section of their state. If an FPCA is sent to the wrong jurisdiction, it cannot be processed.

* Review the citizen's completed FPCA to ensure it has the correct information according to the Guide. Also, use this opportunity to make sure the form is signed and dated. Check the Guide to see if the citizen's form requires a witness or notary. (Very few states have this requirement.)

Absentee voting materials may be obtained through your unit, Embassy, or Consulate Voting Assistance Officer. Many U.S. citizens' organizations and corporations overseas maintain a stock of absentee voting materials, as well. An on-line version of the FPCA is also available for all states and territories except Guam at http://www.fvap.gov/. This version of the form is a fillable PDF which may be completed online or printed out and completed. After completing the application, it must be signed, dated and placed in an envelope affixed with proper postage. Postage free envelopes, for use in the U.S. Postal System, can also be printed from http://www.fvap.gov/. The Return Envelope template is available under the "Publications and Forms" section.

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WELCOME TO THE NEW NAVY SERVICE VOTING ACTION OFFICER!

The Federal Voting Assistance Program would like to take this opportunity to introduce and welcome aboard LT Jason E. Watkins, as the new Service Voting Action Officer for the United States Navy.

LT Watkins is originally from Knoxville, TN and graduated from the University of Tennessee in December 2001. After graduating, Watkins attended the Navy Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. Following OCS, he continued living in Pensacola and attended Naval Flight Officer School. He received his wings on October 31, 2003.

Subsequently, he was sent to Fleet Replacement Squadron VS-41 in San Diego, CA. There, he learned to fly the S-3B Viking. Upon graduating VS-41, Watkins was sent to VS-22, where he served for 3 years. During this time, he was deployed once to the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and once to the Caribbean onboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73).

In July 2007, Watkins was sent to Tampa, FL to work with Central Command. After a month in Tampa, he was sent to Kabul, Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Watkins served as a liaison officer while working at International Security Assistance Force Headquarters. After his 5 month tour in Afghanistan, Watkins was given orders to report to Millington, TN as the Navy Voting Action Officer.

As the Navy Voting Action Officer, LT Watkins has already attended a FVAP Voting Assistance Officer Workshop at Naval Station Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington to learn about his new responsibilities and how to fulfill his duties.

LT Jason Watkins has served in the U.S. Navy for 6 years. In his spare time, he enjoys scuba diving and jogging. He also likes watching and attending University of Tennessee football games. Watkins is married with no children.

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Great News for Missouri UOCAVA Voters!

The Missouri Secretary of State's Office has determined that state law allows UOCAVA voters to request an absentee ballot via e-mail directly to their local election authority.

Missouri statutes still only allow for voter registration via postal mail, as an original signature is required.

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FVAP AND FAWCO: WORKING TOGETHER FOR OVERSEAS VOTERS

During the month of March, 2008, Polli K. Brunelli, Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, visited key locations in Asia urging all Americans living and working abroad to exercise their right to fully participate in the upcoming elections.

Ms. Brunelli addressed members of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas, Inc. (FAWCO) at their annual conference in Seoul. FAWCO was established in 1931 as a non-partisan, non-profit corporation that serves as an umbrella network linking more than 75 independent American and international volunteer organizations for citizens living overseas.

FAWCO serves as a resource and channel of information among its members, provides a voice for American women abroad, and supports the rights of all Americans worldwide. With a combined membership of more than 15,000 individuals in more than 35 countries worldwide, FAWCO has been, and continues to be an important ally to FVAP in supporting our mission of providing U.S. citizens living overseas with the information, education, and the tools they need to participate in the voting process. Ms. Brunelli highlighted the fact that voter registration information is readily available at http://www.fvap.gov/ and that there are easy-to-use tools and resources provided by FVAP and Voting Assistance Officers around the world. She recognized FAWCO for their important contribution to U.S. citizens living outside the United States, and for their assistance in helping to energize Americans abroad to exercise their right to vote.

Ms. Brunelli also conducted workshops and met with both high ranking officials and Voting Assistance Officers at U.S. Embassies and Consulates and military installations in South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, and Cambodia. The Department is dedicated to providing UOCAVA citizens with the opportunity to vote and have their votes counted.

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Voting Assistance Officers' "To Do" This Month:

* Encourage citizens to participate in the state primary elections. An updated list of all Presidential and state primary elections is available at http://www.fvap.gov/.

* Plan to participate in one of the interactive training workshops conducted by the FVAP in or near your area. You should be notified if one is coming to you! You can also take a self-administered training by visiting http://www.fvap.gov/.

* Take an inventory of your voting supplies to ensure you have enough materials for all the citizens you assist,, including their family members. Make sure you have plenty of FPCAs and FWABs. Distribute FPCAs to all that you assist (including family members). O* Start preparing for Overseas Citizens Voters Week, June 28- July 7, 2008 and Armed Forces Voters Week, August 31- September 7, 2008 which are fast approaching!

* Review and update your Voting Continuity Folder. If you do not have one, start one now.

* Post voting and election information, including this newsletter, voting news releases, the Election Dates Calendar, and motivational posters on bulletin boards and in unit/installation/ship newspapers to ensure that everyone receives election information in a timely manner.

* Visit http://www.fvap.gov/ frequently for updates to the Voting Assistance Guide, other resources, and various links to other sites related to voting.

NOTE: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Federal Government, United States Department of Defense or the Federal Voting Assistance Program of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. The Federal Voting Assistance Program does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locationsne of the best ways to distribute these materials is to conduct local voting information sessions or training workshops.

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VOTING ACTION OFFICERS

Department of State: Office of Overseas Citizens Services

Chief VAO: Mr. Jack Markey (202) 736-4937, fax: (202)

647-6201, votinginfo@state.gov

Deputy VAO: Ms. Elizabeth Gracon, (202) 647-6129, fax: (202)

647-6201

http://travel.state.gov/law/info/info_2964.html

Service Voting Action Officers

Army: Mr. Alton Perry (703) 325-4530, DSN: 221-4530, fax: (703)

325-4532, DSN fax: 221-4532,

alton.c.perry@conus.army.mil,

https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/pssd/psb/votingindex.htm

Navy: LT Jason Watkins 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (827-5672) (select option 6 from menu), fax: (901) 874-6844, DSN fax: 882-6844, vote@navy.mil,

http://www.cni.navy.mil/cnic_hq_site/BaseSupport/CommandStaff/NavyVoting

Program/index.htm Air Force: Mr. Gilbert D. Harrison, Jr. (210) 565-5000, toll free: 1-800 616-3775 (Select options 1, then 1, then 2 from menu), DSN: 665-5000, fax: (210) 565-2543, DSN fax: 665-2543, afpc/dpffofvotefund@randolph.af.mil,