Vote

By Spc. Monte Swift (USARCENT)November 7, 2009

Members of the military, Department of Defense civilians, eligible family members and all U.S. citizens overseas are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act.

All requirements to vote such as age, citizenship and legal residence remain the same as in the U.S.

However, it is very important that local election officials are kept informed of address changes in order to receive a ballot in a timely manner.

ItAca,!a,,cs voting season again. No President to vote for' Not an issue. In the U.S. itAca,!a,,cs always voting season and itAca,!a,,cs not only your duty to vote, itAca,!a,,cs your privilege.

Servicemembers can take advantage of their right to vote on an up-coming vote for

congress. However, they should also know that it will require different steps than voting in the US. HereAca,!a,,cs what you need to know.

Many states and territories allow the electronic transmission (Fax, E-mail) of the Federal Post Card Application, and some allow electronic transmission of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). It is important to know which transmission is allowed in your area. The FWAB is pre-positioned at Uniformed Service bases throughout the world and available on-line at www. fvap.gov.

To be eligible to use the FWAB, the voter must be a uniformed servicemember, family member or U.S. citizen overseas. The voters request for a regular ballot must be received by the local election official at least 30 days before the election or before the stateAca,!a,,cs ballot request deadline. Also the voter must not have received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state.

An important thing for service members to know is that there are many resources available to assist you in the voting process. For more details on voting overseas or help in placing a vote, visit the local voting assistance officer on post.

Remember, voting is a right that can be taken advantage of many times a year. Voice your opinion and make a difference at home.