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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 5, 2008
Media Contact: David P. Coleman
(O) 202-268-2162
(C) 202-268-2155
david.p.coleman@usps.gov

usps.com/news
Release No. 08-088

Postal Service Supports Military Absentee Voting

Absentee Voters are encouraged to verify their address

WASHINGTON, DC —The Postal Service and the Department of Defense (DoD) will combine efforts and expertise again to deliver absentee ballots to members of the armed forces serving abroad during this election season.

As in 2004 and 2006, the Postal Service is working with the DoD’s Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) to make certain ballots are transported and delivered to and from Army/Air Force Post Offices (APOs) and Fleet Post Offices (FPOs) overseas.

Postal officials explained how it works:

  • Service members should request their absentee ballots early from their local election officials, and
  • Verify with local election officials that their address on-file is correct.
  • Local election officials mail the absentee ballots to overseas service members about 45 days before elections.
  • Service members overseas return their ballots free of charge from any APO/FPO, American embassy or consulate.

Accurate addresses are essential to timely delivery, Postal officials stressed.

“Please help us make your voice heard,” says Jeff Burger, Military Mail Operations Specialist. “Make sure that the address on file with local election officials is correct.”

The Postal Service and the MPSA have special handling procedures in place to expedite the transportation and delivery of absentee ballots. The ballots will be shipped via the Postal Service’s Express Mail transportation network, the fastest delivery option.

Voting by mail is a convenient way for Americans living anywhere to exercise their right to vote. Last year more than 17 million absentee ballots were delivered by the Postal Service.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.