Voting assistance

  • Published
  • By Jim Anderson
  • 509th Services Squadron
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Things to Remember When Filling Out the Federal Post Card Application:

* 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 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.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program web-site www.fvap.gov provides links to the official sites of the Secretaries of State and/or Directors of Elections in the 55 states and territories. If these offices do not have an official Web site, you will be taken to the official Web site for that state. This is a great additional resource for military voters and since the sites are state specific, they often provide more detailed information.

The site also provides a link to State Absentee Registration and Voting Procedures which offers detailed state specific rules regarding electronic transmission of applications and other procedures.

Finally, each squadron has been assigned a Unit Voting Assistance Officer (UVAO) to assist eligible members and their families in the voting process. Although UVAO's are not voting experts, they have all been trained on the process and can provide the appropriate forms to ensure your vote is counted. If you do not know your UVAO contact the Installation Voting Assistance coordinators by e-mail; jim.anderson@whiteman.af.mil , 2nd Lt. Mealiff, michael.mealiff@whiteman.af.mil or Master Sgt. Smart, david.smart@whiteman.af.mil or call the Voting Action Line at 687-6528.