FORT JACKSON, S.C. (July 24, 2014) -- During the 2012 general election, the Department of Defense began to increase its emphasis on the Federal Voting Assistance Program, or FVAP. As Congress and the courts have repeatedly affirmed, voting is a citizen's most fundamental right. Recognizing that absent members of the military, their families, and U.S. citizens living abroad face unique challenges to participating in U.S. elections, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act was amended by the 2009 Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, or MOVE.

Since the adoption of the MOVE Act, the Army has developed a voting assistance officer, or VAO, team to inform communities about the voting process and provide voter materials to eligible voters, including Department of the Army civilian personnel who request voter information and guidance. This includes material on the voting process, requesting absentee ballots and mailing the completed ballots.

Each installation has an organized VAO team, which consists of a unit VAO for each unit with 25 or more permanently assigned Soldiers and an additional unit VAO for each 50 assigned Soldiers above the 25 Soldier base to assist their assigned Soldiers. Senior VAOs oversee and assist the unit VAOs, and an appointed installation VAO manages the installation voting action plan.

Typically, the VAO team's responsibilities have been performed by personnel as an additional duty appointment. In order to heighten the awareness and management of the voting process, IMCOM recently authorized 48 installations with a full-time installation voting assistance officer. Fort Jackson recently appointed Joseph (Joey) Hewitt as the installation VAO.

Hewitt is a military retiree who understands the challenges faced by the military community in getting its vote heard. In addition to 20 years of military service, Hewitt also has six years of customer service experience in the food service industry.

Hewitt, a native of South Carolina, said he is excited to work with the community on post.

"I look forward to teaming with the Fort Jackson VAOs and serving the great people in our Fort Jackson community," he said.

For help with any voting needs, contact your unit or senior VAO. For more information, visit the Installation Voting Office at the Strom Thurmond Building, Room 200, call 751-6791 or email usarmy.jackson.imcom-hq.mbx.dhr-voter-assistance@mail.mil.