Voting Information News
October 2007, Vol. 17, 10

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

ORDERING VOTING MATERIALS

Maintaining an adequate supply of voting materials is an essential function of every Voting Assistance Officer (VAO). With the updated Voting Assistance Guide (VAG) coming out this fall, it is essential for every VAO to know the proper procedure for ordering new materials, such as the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA, SF 76), Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB, SF 186), and the VAG. The following can be used as a reference for VAOs to order new and replacement materials. These materials are also available online.

Army: There are Form/Publication numbers for the voting forms. The FPCA is Standard Form 76, the FWAB Standard Form 186, the VAG is Misc. Publication 360-02, motivational poster is DoD 113, and the 2008 State Primary Election Dates Poster is Publication EDP08. Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs) are responsible for ensuring these items are ordered for their unit from the Army Publishing Directorate. The website for ordering forms and publications is www.apd.army.mil. Each Army ordering agency has an account number and the items are mailed from the Distribution Operations Facility in St Louis, MO.

Navy: FPCA (SF 76): Order from Navy Logistics Library (NLL) Stock # 0506LP0103130 - Unit of Issue: 100HD; Contact Navy Voting Assistance Officer at vote@navy.mil for limited quantities. FWAB (SF 186): Order from NLL Stock # 0506LP1752400 - Unit of Issue: 100HD; Contact Navy Voting Assistance Officer at vote@navy.mil for limited quantities.

Voting Assistance Guide (VAG08-09): Order from NLL Stock number not available at time of publishing Unit of Issue EA; Contact Navy Voting Assistance Officer at vote@navy.mil for limited quantities.

Posters: Contact NVAO at vote@navy.mil, 901-874-6636, or toll-free 1-866-827-5672 Training CD: Contact FVAP at vote@fvap.ncr.gov, 703-588-1584 Toll-free: 1-800-438-8683 or NVAO at vote@navy.mil, 901-874-6636, or toll-free 1-866-827-5672 Tool Box CD: Contact NVAO at vote@navy.mil, 901-874-6636, or toll-free 1-866-827-5672

Air Force: Air Force Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs) order voting materials (FPCA, SF 76; FWAB, SF 186; VAG08-09; DoD 113; and ED08) at: afpubs.hq.af.mil. VAOs may establish an online account to order the materials or place their order through an Organizational Account Representative (OAR). OARs are squadron personnel (normally in the orderly room/CSS) who order forms and publications. Units are not charged for voting materials. Voting information is available at www.afcrossroads.com/VoteFund/Vote/default.htm. .

Marine Corps: Forms are available through unit supply officers via SABRES or through Direct Support Stock Control (DSSC) outlets, or directly from General Services Administration (GSA).

• FPCA (SF 76): NSN: 75-00-634-5053
• FWAB (SF 186): NSN: 7540-01-218-4384

Voting Assistance Guide (VAG08-09): Available through unit S-1 offices via MCPDS or may be requested from the SVAO.

Marine Corps VAOs may also obtain information on ordering voting materials by accessing www.manpower.usmc.mil/voting. Once on the web page, click the link in the right column for Required Voting Materials. Internet Explorer works best for navigating this site. If you experience problems ordering voting materials listed above, contact the SVAO at the following email address: mra.voting.officer@usmc.mil.

Coast Guard: FPCAs and FWABs must be ordered using unit funds from General Services Administration (GSA) using the following data:

FPCA (SF 76): NSN: 7540-00-634-5053 - Unit of Issue: 1HD FWAB (SF 186): NSN 7540-01-218-4384 - Unit of Issue: 1HD Voting Assistance Guide (VAG08-09): Distributed through the DOT warehouse whenever a new edition is issued.

Any unit on distribution that fails to receive their issue by January 1, 2008, should contact the Voting Action Officer. There is also a Coast Guard Instruction to guide VAOs: Federal Voting Assistance Program, COMDTINST 1742.3(SERIES).

Department of State: To restock supplies, each post should order the FPCA and FWAB forms through the normal General Services Administration (GSA) supply channel. GSA requires the funding information, the stock number, and the quantity.

• FPCA (SF 76) Stock number 7540006345053
• FWAB (SF 186) Stock number 7540012184384

For expedited service, send a request to GSA, Attn.: Pat Bright, via email at burlington.cscorder@gsa.gov or by fax: 215-446-5123; tel: 215-446-5088

FVAP TOLL-FREE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FROM OVERSEAS

When local assistance is unavailable, please call the Federal Voting Assistance Program. During non-business hours, citizens may leave a message. When doing so, please leave sufficient information to allow us to get back in touch with you in a timely manner. Tell us what country you are calling from, a complete telephone number including international prefixes, and your email address (if available).

The United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands share one set of Toll-Free Numbers: Phone: 1-800-438-8683, Fax: 1-800-368-8683.

WATCH FOR POST-ELECTION SURVEY INFORMATION - COMING YOUR WAY!

Each Presidential election year, the Federal Voting Assistance Program conducts surveys to determine voter participation in the electoral process and to evaluate our program.

Selected Uniformed Services members, Federal civilians overseas, non-Federal overseas citizens, Unit Voting Assistance Officers and U.S. local election officials will receive surveys after the general election in November 2008.

We encourage you to get prepared for these surveys by tracking UOCAVA voting in your district, state, county or parish. At a later date, the FVAP will send out a form to help you do this and a letter with more information.

To make things easier and more available, the survey will be provided to you on paper or Internet.

Your participation in this survey can play a very important part in improving the absentee voting process for Uniformed Service members and U.S. citizens overseas. We ask that you track UOCAVA voting and then fill out and return the survey as soon as you receive it. FVAP thanks you in advance for your participation.

VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS "TO DO" THIS MONTH:

• Ensure that you are on the distribution list for the FVAP News Releases and this Newsletter. The VIN is available by e-mail, regular mail, or both! News Releases are available only by e-mail. Contact our office (see page 4) to be added to the distribution list.
• Ensure that citizens you assist have submitted new FPCAs to their local election officials if they have recently changed their mailing address or are residents of a state holding elections this year.
• Make sure your organization’s budget provides funding for voting materials such as FPCAs and FWABs. Ensure that you have adequate supplies of these items on-hand and order additional stock, if necessary.
• Plan to attend a FVAP workshop to ensure you are properly trained to provide assistance to your citizens. Contact your SVAO (see page 3 for contact info) for schedule information.

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
email: 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
email: 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
email: 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;
email: 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
email: mra.voting.officer@usmc.mil
World Wide Web: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/voting

U.S. Coast Guard: LTJG Frank Marcheski
tel: (202) 475-5375, fax: (202) 475-5375;
email: Frank.A.Marcheski@uscg.mil
World Wide Web: www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wp/g-wpm/g-wpm-1/VotingAssistance/Voting_Assistance.htm

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 October find at these locations.

Last updated/reviewed: December 3, 2007