August 31 to September 7, 2008 is designated Armed Forces Voters Week. The primary purpose of this week is to highlight that all citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) who have not registered to vote or requested an absentee ballot this year, should do so at this time. During this week commanders and Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs) will motivate and encourage all eligible citizens to participate in the remaining state primaries and vote in the November 4, 2008 general election. Activities scheduled during this week should include voting programs explaining the procedures required to register, if required, and how to obtain an absentee ballot from the citizen's jurisdiction of voting residence.
AFVW receives priority support from the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF). During this week Commanding Officers and VAOs will carry out comprehensive command-wide voting awareness and assistance programs and activities to include local events publicizing the upcoming election and focusing on the importance of voting. VAOs should aim for 100 percent contact and availability of Federal Post Card Applications to all personnel. Emphasis should be made on the importance of early action on the part of the voter in order to obtain a ballot for the general election well in advance of state deadlines for registration and ballot request.
VAOs should enlist the help of "on base" organizations to participate in AFVW. Organizations such as spouse clubs, family services, Boy/Girl Scouts and other groups can be effective venues for holding voter registration drives, informational forums and other non-partisan activities which stress the importance of participating in the upcoming elections. Service Voting Action Plans (available from Service Voting Action Officers) and the Voting Information News (found in the For Voting Assistance Officers section of our web site, www.fvap.gov, provide ideas for AFVW activities. VAOs are encouraged to contact installation newspaper editors and other internal media, including closed-circuit radio/TV and Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) program managers to provide daily bulletins and other announcements to promote activities for the week.
All UOCAVA citizens should be informed about the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB, SF 186), which is available online at www.fvap.gov and stocked at military installations. The FWAB can be voted and mailed as a back up to a requested state absentee ballot which does not arrive in time to be returned by election day (consult www.fvap.gov and the 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide for details).
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) can be contacted by using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov, and on the inside back cover of the Guide. In the U.S. call toll-free at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683), local (703) 588-1584 or use DSN 425-1584.
Questions regarding this news release may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington DC 20301-1155. Additionally, the FVAP can be reached via email at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.
Last updated: 08.20.2008