Federal Voting Assistance Program
WEST VIRGINIA TO HOLD SPECIAL ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR
On Saturday, May 14, 2011, West Virginia will hold a special primary election for Governor to fulfill the unexpired term, through January 13, 2013. The vacancy was created when former Governor Joe Manchin won election to the United States Senate. This is a statewide primary election, however only the Democratic and Republican parties have chosen a primary as their method of candidate selection. The Mountain Party has chosen to hold a convention to select a candidate.
Two West Virginia Counties, Harrison and Upshur, will have local (non-partisan) questions on the ballot.
- Voters registered with the Democratic Party may request a Democratic ballot only.
- Voters registered with the Republican Party may request a Republican ballot only.
- Voters registered with the Mountain Party may request a non-partisan ballot in Harrison and Upshur counties only. The remaining 53 counties will not have a ballot for Mountain Party voters.
- Voters not registered with one of the three major parties (Republican, Democratic, or Mountain) may request a major party ballot or a non-partisan ballot, where available.
Please indicate the party’s ballot you are requesting in Box 6 of the FPCA.
Voting Assistance Officers should contact any West Virginia voters and inform them of this news release and assist them in requesting and returning their absentee ballot.
Register to Vote
To vote in this election you must register by submitting a post-marked Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) or a West Virginia Voter Registration Application. West Virginia allows you to email or fax the FPCA, but if this is your first time registering to vote in a particular West Virginia county, you must mail the original FPCA. Mailed Voter Registration applications must be postmarked and sent to the local county clerk by April 25, 2011. Voter Registration Applications transmitted by other methods must be received by the county clerk no later than close of business April 25, 2011.
Request Your Ballot Now!
You may also use the FPCA to request an absentee ballot. Go to FVAP.gov and get started! It only takes a few minutes! Alternately you may obtain an FPCA from your unit or installation voting assistance officer and at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide; but you must follow the West Virginia instructions given at FVAP.gov. Indicate on the FPCA how you would like to receive your absentee ballot, by mail, email, or fax. You will not receive a ballot automatically, even if you voted in the November 2, 2010 general election.
If you are already registered to vote, the deadline for submitting an FPCA to request a ballot is May 9, 2011.
Send the FPCA by Email, Fax or Mail
If you choose to email your FPCA, you should send the form to the email address listed for your county clerk at http://www.wvsos.com. If you choose to fax your FPCA, fax the form to the fax number listed for the county clerk’s office where you reside. You may also use the DoD Electronic Transmission Service to fax your FPCA toll-free. To use the Electronic Transmission Service, use the cover sheet available in the Voting Assistance Guide, or at FVAP.gov, and fax to: (703)-693-5527, DSN 223-5527, or toll-free from the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands to 1-800-368-8683. International toll-free numbers can be found at FVAP.gov. Voter Alert Telephone: 703-588-1584 E-mail: vote@fvap.gov.
Receive Your Ballot
If you request a ballot be mailed to you, it will be sent on or after March 29, 2011. If you request a ballot to be emailed, you will receive an email with log-on instructions and a link to your ballot. You will then be able to mark your ballot online and download a ballot package to be returned by email, fax, or mail. If you request a ballot by fax, the ballot will be sent to the fax number you supplied on your absentee ballot application.
PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you include a fax number or email address on your absentee ballot application.
Return Your Ballot
Your voted ballot must be postmarked by May 14, 2011 and must be received by May 19, 2011, in order to be counted.
Civilians residing outside the U.S.: Contact your closest U.S. Embassy or consulate for specific instructions on how voted ballots, with proper domestic postage attached, can be returned to the United States from any U.S. embassy or consulate. To locate your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, visit http://www.usembassy.gov/.
If a voter is concerned about not receiving their ballot in time to vote, they may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB, SF-186). The FWAB instructions are available at www.FVAP.gov. The FWAB is also available in embassies and consulates and military installations around the world.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
FVAP is currently seeking public input on the redesign of forms used in registration, ballot request and voting. If you would like more information go to www.fvap.gov/global/news/2011news/nr6-2011.html.
FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach FVAP toll-free from 67 countries by using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html. Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC, 20301-1155, vote@fvap.gov, and on the World Wide Web at www.FVAP.gov.
