Voting Information News
April 2007 Vol. 17, 4

A roundup of voting news from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
For voters, potential voters and those who assist voters.

VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER ONLINE TRAINING SLIDES

FVAP provides online training for VAOs at www.fvap.gov. VAOs are encouraged to visit the FVAP site to obtain the latest guidance and information for citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

From our home page click on the tab titled "Voting Assistance Information". Visitors to the site will find two sections of the training program: one for use by VAOs in the Uniformed Services and another version for civilian VAOs at U.S. Embassies and Consulates, organizations of overseas civilian United States citizens and corporations that employ U.S. citizens overseas. Both the military and civilian presentations are in two formats: Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat. For site visitors without PowerPoint, a link allowing users to download a free PowerPoint viewer is provided.

Although FVAP will be releasing the 2008 workshop presentation in the Fall, the current training on the website is valid and can be very helpful to new VAOs and as a refresher.

The slide show addresses item-by-item completion of the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and provides an overview of the top ten resources available from the FVAP to assist VAOs in carrying out their programs. The presentation also explains the DoD Voting Information Center and the Electronic Transmission Service for transmitting (fax or email) of election materials. Contact information on the Service and Department of State Voting Action Officers is also provided.

The presentations are accompanied by "speaker’s notes" which explain each slide and can be used by VAOs when assisting citizens or training other VAOs, unit members and their families.

To set up your computer screen to view the notes on each slide, click on "PowerPoint Version". Downloading may take up to a few seconds depending on the speed of your Internet connection. Once the presentation is up on your screen, right click over the screen and click on "Edit Slides" on the down select menu. This will bring up the Edit mode and you will be able to arrange the screen to view the notes at the bottom of each slide. You are now able to scroll through each slide and view the notes associated with each slide.

You can also localize the presentation. Download the 2-megabyte presentation to a CDR or local hard-drive, allowing you to run the presentation directly from your computer and make "hard copies" of the slides for printing to 35mm slides or overhead transparencies.

Questions or comments on the online training presentation can be addressed to the FVAP by sending an email to vote@fvap.ncr.gov or using the contact information below.

UOCAVA ABSENTEE VOTING AND STATE ABSENTEE VOTING - WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The Federal government has assisted certain absentee voters since 1942. In 1986, Congress updated and consolidated the provisions of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 and the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975 into the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The UOCAVA requires that the states and territories allow certain groups of citizens to register and vote absentee in elections for Federal offices. In addition, many states and territories have developed their own laws allowing citizens covered by the UOCAVA to register and vote absentee in state and local elections as well.

Many states allow non-UOCAVA citizens to vote absentee, but the procedures may be different from those for UOCAVA citizens.

The vast amount of information and the variance of these laws is why it is very important that organization or unit Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs) know the resources and tools available to them for providing assistance. This will avoid any possible delays in voter’s registering or requesting an absentee ballot.

VAOs should inform voters to always use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA, Standard Form 76). The VAO should promote the use of the FPCA and have these available for distribution by maintaining a sufficient number in stock. Using the FPCA will notify the local election official (LEO) that the voter is covered under the UOCAVA and the LEO will know to respond accordingly. To guide UOCAVA citizens and help clarify voting procedures, the VAO should:

• Know how to use the Voting Assistance Guide
• Be familiar with the vast amount of resources available at the FVAP website (www.fvap.gov)
• Read their organization/Service’s Voting Action Plan
• Attend and conduct voting assistance workshop/training.

If you cannot find voting assistance locally, please feel free to contact FVAP.

ELECTIONS IN 2007

Even though this is not a Federal election year, voting assistance does not stop. States allow citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to vote in these elections, voting assistance will be required. Please ensure that citizens have applied for their absentee ballots using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) or any other acceptable means authorized by the state, e.g., letter, email, by the state application deadline.

Each state has different guidelines, requirements and deadlines for registering and requesting an absentee ballot. Visit the FVAP website (www.fvap.gov) for State By State Instructions when completing the FPCA and include an email address on the application.

Among the many upcoming elections, there are two important races for Governor in 2007. These races are in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Election dates are listed below.

Kentucky:
Primary Election: May 22, 2007
General Election: November 6, 2007
The Kentucky elections website is sos.ky.gov/elections.

Louisiana:
Primary: October 20, 2007
Runoff Election (if necessary): November 17, 2007
The Louisiana elections website is: www.sos.louisiana.gov/elections/elections-index.htm.

Mississippi:
Primary Election: August 7, 2007
General Election: November 6, 2007
The Mississippi elections website is www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/elections.asp.

Additionally, many states and localities are having elections to elect Mayors, members of State Legislatures, members of City Councils, and other local offices. Check with your state elections website to determine what offices are on the ballot this year in your locality.

REAL SIMPLE SYNDICATION (RSS) FEED ADDED TO FVAP WEBSITE

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website now features a Real Simple Syndication (RSS) link to allow all citizens to be kept up-to-date on information related to UOCAVA absentee voting.

RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated digital content, such as blogs, news feeds or podcasts. FVAP is using the latest version of RSS, version 2.0. RSS capability is available in most web browsers and many email clients. If you do not have a reader on your computer, you can choose to get a free reader at multiple sites on the web. One site that has multiple readers available for download is www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Internet/Clients/WWW/Feed_Readers/. NOTE: Due to security concerns, RSS and other news feeds are restricted by some of the DoD networks. Please check with your security personnel before subscribing.

2007 SLOGAN CONTEST SUBMISSIONS STILL BEING ACCEPTED!

The FVAP Voting Slogan Contest is well under way.

Remember, there is no limit to the number of entries a participant may submit, but we request that all slogans be submitted separately (only one slogan per entry). The deadline for submission is July 10, 2005.

All submissions must include your full name, (Service, if military), mailing address, daytime telephone number, fax number and email address (if applicable) so we may contact you upon winning.

Send entries via one of the following methods:

Email:
slogan@fvap.ncr.gov. Text only, one slogan per email with contact information on each email. (Due to security concerns any email message with an attachment will be deleted.)

Fax:
(703) 696-1352 or DSN 426-1352 Visit the FVAP Website for toll-free fax numbers from 51 countries. Submit separate page for each slogan with contact information on each page. No cover sheet is necessary.

Mail:
Federal Voting Assistance Program
Department of Defense
Attn.: Voting Slogan Contest
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington DC 20301-1155

If submitting by mail, please type or print (legibly) on regular 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper one slogan per page with contact information on each page.

VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS
"TO DO" THIS MONTH:

• Encourage participation in the 2007 Voting Slogan Contest. The Slogan Contest is a good way to involve people and promote voter awareness. Distribute this newsletter to the people in your organization. Remember, participants may enter as many slogans in the contest as they wish (see article just above).
• Inventory and replenish your stock of voting materials that were consumed in last year’s elections. Federal Postcard Applications (FPCA), SF-76, Federal Write-in Absentee Voting Ballots (FWAB), SF-186, and Voting Assistance Guides are available through your normal supply distribution channels.
• Visit the FVAP Website for current and back issues of this newsletter, News Releases, other information and resources as well as links to other sites of interest in carrying out your VAO duties. Encourage others to visit the site often.
• Post voting and election information, including this newsletter and the voting news releases on bulletin boards and in unit/installation/ship newspapers to ensure that everyone receives election information in a timely manner.
• Although there are no regularly scheduled Federal primary or general elections this year, there are special Federal elections and state and local elections being held in many localities. Ensure that the citizens you assist have submitted FPCAs to their local election officials to request ballots for these elections and for any changes to their mailing address.

VOTING ACTION OFFICERS

Department of State: Office of American Citizen Services

Chief Voting Action Officer: Jack Markey
tel: (202) 736-4937, fax: (202) 647-6201
Deputy Voting Action Officer: Ms. Stefanie Eye
tel: (202) 647-5435, fax: (202) 647-6201
e-mail: votinginfo@state.gov
World Wide Web: usinfo.state.gov/dhr/democracy/elections.html

Service Voting Action Officers

Dept. of the Army: Mr. Alton Perry
tel: (703)325-4530 DSN: 221-4530, fax:(703) 325-4532 DSN fax: 221-4532
e-mail: alton.c.perry@conus.army.mil
World Wide Web: https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/pssd/psb/votingindex.htm

Dept. of the Navy: LT Dave Truman, USN
tel: 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (827-5672)(select option 6 from menu), fax: (901) 874-6825, DSN fax: 882-6825
e-mail: vote@navy.mil
World Wide Web: www.cni.navy.mil/cnic_hq_site/BaseSupport/CommandStaff/NavyVotingProgram/index.htm

Dept. of the Air Force: Mr. Gilbert D. Harrison tel: (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;
e-mail: afpc/dpffofvotefund@randolph.af.mil
World Wide Web: www.afcrossroads.com/VoteFund/Vote/default.htm

Marine Corps: Mr. David E. James
tel: (703) 784-9511, DSN: 278-9511, fax: (703) 784-9823, DSN fax: 278-9823
e-mail: david.e.james@usmc.mil
World Wide Web: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/voting

U.S. Coast Guard: LTJG Dave Solorzano
tel: (202) 475-5375, fax: (202) 475-5927
e-mail: Dave.N.Solorzano@uscg.mil
World Wide Web: www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wp/g-wpm/g-wpm-1/VotingAssistance/Voting_Assistance.htm

All of the above can also be reached through the DoD Voting Information Center and the FVAP website.

Please feel free to copy, redistribute, and use Voting information News articles in other publications.

FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Department of Defense
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1155

PHONE:
(703) 588-1584
DSN 425-1584

FAX:
(703) 696-1352
DSN 426-1352

VOTING INFORMATION CENTER:
(703) 588-1343
DSN 425-1343

TOLL FREE:
1-800-438-VOTE (8683)

Visit our website for international toll-free phone and fax numbers.

E-Mail:
vote@fvap.ncr.gov

Comments or suggestions on this newsletter are welcome.

We're on the Web!
www.fvap.gov

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 locations.

Last updated/reviewed: July 18, 2007