R 031638z OCT 08
MARADMIN 562/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ: ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK 12-18 OCTOBER 2008
REF/MCO 1742.1A
POC/DAVID JAMES/YA-2/UNIT: MRP-4/-/TEL: 703-784-9511//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. TIME IS FAST APPROACHING FOR THOSE OF US DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION ON 4 NOVEMBER 2008.
2. 12-18 OCTOBER 2008 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK. ALL MILITARY VOTERS AND THEIR AUTHORIZED FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED AND REGISTERED TO VOTE ABSENTEE SHOULD VOTE AND RETURN THEIR STATE ABSENTEE BALLOT DURING THIS WEEK. IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE USING A FEDERAL POST CARD ABSENTEE BALLOT (FPCA) AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT FROM YOUR STATE OF LEGAL VOTING RESIDENCE, YOU SHOULD VOTE USING A FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT (FWAB) DURING THIS WEEK. IF YOU RECEIVE YOUR STATE ABSENTEE BALLOT AFTER SUBMITTING THE FWAB, VOTE AND RETURN THE STATE BALLOT UP TO AND INCLUDING ELECTION DAY.
3. ALL UNIT VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS (UVAO) SHOULD CONTACT 100% OF THEIR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR AUTHORIZED FAMILY MEMBERS ENCOURAGING THEM TO VOTE THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ON HOW TO FILL OUT A FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
4. SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING ON DEPLOYMENT WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE USING A FPCA AND WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO REGULAR MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE USING A FWAB IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU NEED AN FWAB OR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THE FWAB, SEE YOUR UNIT VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER OR VISIT THE MARINE CORPS VOTING WEBSITE AT: WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL/VOTING. YOU CAN ALSO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FVAP) WEBSITE AT: WWW.FVAP.GOV.
5. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. T. R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//