Voting Information News
February 2007 Vol. 17, 2

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

U.S. State Governors

Following is a listing of State, Commonwealth, and Territory Governors and Chief Executives, including their political party affiliation. The 12 states with new governors elected during the 2006 general elections are marked with an asterisk. The states holding 2007 gubernatorial races are also indicated. Source for Governors: National Governor’s Association website, www.nga.org.

Alabama

Gov. Bob Riley (R)

Alaska*

Gov. Sara Palin (R)

American Samoa

Gov. Togiola Tulafono (D)

Arizona

Gov. Janet Napolitano (D)

Arkansas*

Gov. Mike Beebe (D)

California

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)

Colorado*

Gov. Bill Ritter (D)

Connecticut

Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R)

Delaware

Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (D)

District of Columbia

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)

Florida*

Gov. Charlie Crist (R)

Georgia

Gov. Sonny Perdue (R)

Guam

Gov. Felix Camacho (R)

Hawaii

Gov. Linda Lingle (R)

Idaho*

Gov. C.L. Butch Otter (R)

Illinois

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich (D)

Indiana

Gov. Mitchell Daniels (R)

Iowa*

Gov. Chet Culver (D)

Kansas

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D)

Kentucky

Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R)
May 22 Primary, Nov 6 Election, 2007

Louisiana

Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D)
Oct 20 Primary, Nov 17 Runoff, 2007

Maine

Gov. John Baldacci (D)

Maryland*

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)

Massachusetts*

Gov. Deval Patrick (D)

Michigan

Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D)

Minnesota

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R)

Mississippi

Gov. Haley Barbour (R)
Aug 7 Primary, Nov 6 Election, 2007

Missouri

Gov. Matt Blunt (R)

Montana

Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D)

Nebraska

Gov. David Heineman (R)

Nevada*

Gov. Jim Gibbons (R)

New Hampshire

Gov. John Lynch (D)

New Jersey

Gov. Jon Corzine (D)

New Mexico

Gov. Bill Richardson (D)

New York*

Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D)

North Carolina

Gov. Michael Easley (D)

North Dakota

Gov. John Hoeven (R)

Ohio*

Gov. Ted Strickland (D)

Oklahoma

Gov. Brad Henry (D)

Oregon

Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D)

Pennsylvania

Gov. Edward Rendell (D)

Puerto Rico

Gov. Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá (PDP)

Rhode Island

Gov. Don Carcieri (R)

South Carolina

Gov. Mark Sanford (R)

South Dakota

Gov. Mike Rounds (R)

Tennessee

Gov. Phil Bredesen (D)

Texas

Gov. Rick Perry (R)

Utah

Gov. Jon Huntsman (R)

Vermont

Gov. James H. Douglas (R)

Virginia

Gov. Tim Kaine (D)

Virgin Islands*

Gov. John deJongh Jr. (D)

Washington

Gov. Christine Gregoire (D)

West Virginia

Gov. Joe Manchin III (D)

Wisconsin

Gov. Jim Doyle (D)

Wyoming

Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D)

YOUR SENIOR SERVICE VOTING REPRESENTATIVE

The Senior Service Voting Representative (SSVR) is responsible for Service-wide implementation of the respective voting assistance programs. There is one SSVR for each military service and the Department of State. The SSVR appoints a Service Voting Action Officer (see article on this page) to administer the voting program for that Service. In the military, the SSVR is a uniformed officer of general or flag grade or SES level civilian. In the Department of State the SSVR is an Assistant Secretary of State.

ARMY:
COL Reuben D Jones
The Adjutant General
Human Resources Command

NAVY:
VADM Robert T. Conway, Jr.
Commander, Navy Installation Command

AIR FORCE:
Mr. Art Myers (SES), AF/A1S
Director for Services

MARINE CORPS:
Mr. Michael P. Downs (NF-6)
Director, Personal and Family Readiness Division

COAST GUARD:
CAPT Michael Cosenza
Commandant (G-WPM)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE:
Ambassador Maura A. Harty
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Did you know? The SSVR also manages the voting program for Reserve component members who have been called to active Federal service. The Chief/Director of each Reserve component coordinates with the SSVR and the Director of FVAP to maintain a contingency absentee voting program for the deployed National Guard and Reserve units and personnel.

YOUR SERVICE VOTING ACTION OFFICER

Service Voting Action Officers (SVAOs) are an important resource for Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs). There is one SVAO for each military service and the Department of State. SVAOs work within the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Department of State, to facilitate the duties of VAOs in military installations and at Embassies/Consulates worldwide. They are knowledgeable of the particular internal communications and distribution channels of their organizations and, for this reason, play a critical role in the voting assistance chain.

If a VAO has a question about obtaining supplies, or about the voting process in general, which he or she cannot answer locally, or by visiting the FVAP’s website at: www.fvap.gov, the next recourse is the SVAO for his or her particular organization (see contact information on page 3). For example, if a VAO is having difficulties obtaining supplies of the Federal Post Card Application or the Voting Assistance Guide, or any of the other materials necessary to carry out his or her duties effectively, the SVAO should be contacted.

THE FVAP WANTS YOUR VOTING SLOGANS

Send Your Slogans Today

The FVAP staff announced the kick-off for the 2007 Voting Slogan Contest on Thursday, January 11, 2007 and is looking forward to your participation in the contest.

The Voting Slogan Contest is a biennial contest sponsored by the FVAP in its efforts to promote interest in the democratic process among citizens covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) -- members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, their families, and all U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.

It is very easy to participate. Just create a simple slogan (or slogans) that expresses in your own words the importance of voting or something that may inspire someone to vote, and submit it to the FVAP.

Upon completion of the contest (April 9, 2007), a panel of independent judges will review slogan submissions and choose the winning slogan on its originality and motivational value. This winning slogan will be featured in the FVAP’s 2008 information campaign which focuses on increasing voter awareness among U.S. citizens worldwide and encouraging them to participate in the democratic process. In addition, slogans will be posted on the FVAP Website at www.fvap.gov, in the 2008-2009 Voting Assistance Guide, on motivational posters, audiovisual materials and in other FVAP publications and manuals.

The contest winner and runners-up will not only feel the satisfaction of knowing that their slogan is helping improve voter awareness, but they will also be given a certificate of recognition for their contribution to this important endeavor.

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 April 9, 2007. All submissions must include your full name, (Service, if military), mailing address, daytime telephone number, fax number and email address (if available) 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.

Please join the FVAP in helping to inspire others to vote by submitting your entry today. You could be one of this year’s winners!

CHANGE OF ADDRESS - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!

It is the citizens’ responsibility to notify their local election official of changes in their mailing address (where the citizen needs their ballot mailed). Many local election officials report that absentee voting materials mailed to citizens are returned to them marked "Address Unknown." This problem may be caused by changes in duty stations or overseas residence addresses.

Use a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF 76. FVAP highly recommends that the FPCA be completed in its entirety and submitted every year. In addition to informing the local election official of the citizen’s current mailing address, submitting the FPCA will register or confirm the citizen’s registration, and acts as a request for absentee ballots for any elections to be held that year.

When completing the FPCA enter the following additional information to notify the local election official of your address change. In Block 4.a (My Current Address) enter "NEW ADDRESS"in the top of this box. In Block 6 (Additional Information) write your previous address and enter "OLD ADDRESS". As a result, the FPCA will serve as a simultaneous absentee ballot request and a change of address form for voting purposes.

Remember, the FPCA must be properly completed and legible in order for it to be processed by the local election official. Completion instructions for each state can be found in Chapter 3 of the 2006-07 Voting Assistance Guide (also on the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov.)

A second option to indicate a change in address is writing a letter to your local election official with your name, date of birth, and both new and old addresses. The new address is where you would like to receive your ballot.

Sign and date the FPCA (or letter) and send it to your local election official. Addresses for local election officials can also be found in Chapter 3 of the Guide (at www.fvap.gov) at the end of the instruction section for each state.

Note: The FPCA does not require postage if mailed within the U.S. mails.

When using any of the options provided, it is important to include a voter registration number or Social Security Number and any further information that can help the local election official properly identify you.

Submit an address change early enough so that you have enough time to receive, vote your ballot, and return it to the local election official to meet state deadlines.

Voting Assistance Officers
"To Do" This Month:

• Share your good ideas by sending them up the chain or directly to FVAP. Help others improve their voting assistance program by learning from your successes. Look at your voting assistance program, processes and procedures. You will find that there are some things you are doing very well with excellent results that others could use to improve awareness and participation in the absentee voting process.
  
  
• Be sure your installation or Embassy/Consulate telephone information operator has your name and telephone number for referrals.
  
  
• We encourage you to make this newsletter available to all the people that you are assisting. If you receive the newsletter by email we recommend that it be forwarded to all in your command or organization.
  
  
• 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. (The 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide will be available this Fall.)
  
  
• Make sure you are on the distribution list for FVAP News Releases and this newsletter, which is available by email, regular mail, or both and, on the FVAP website. Because of their time-sensitive nature, News Releases are available only by email and on the FVAP Website. To be added or to change your information on the distribution list send an email to: vote@fvap.ncr.gov.

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
e-mail: markeyjd@state.gov
Deputy Voting Action Officer: Ms. Stefanie Eye
tel: (202) 647-5435, fax: (202) 647-6201
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.perry@hoffman.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: MSgt Steven Dawson 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