SUBLANT Voting Assistance Team Helps Sailors Register to Vote

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The voting assistance team (VAT) from Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT) is ensuring that Sailors and civilians assigned to the command have the tools and information necessary to exercise their right to vote.

The team is encouraging those who do not currently reside within their voting precinct to complete and return an absentee ballot to their legal residence for the upcoming general and local elections.

"It's very simple to register. I'm told that it's taking about six weeks. I recommend that people register early and contact their states to see if their ballots were received," said Edward Nixon, COMSUBLANT VAT. "As soon as the ballot is formulated, they will send it back to you with a tracking number assigned to it."

Nixon also said that although the presidential election is slightly less than 90 days away, the importance of registering to vote goes beyond the general elections every four years and extends to other statewide elections during the years in between the vote for commander-in-chief.

"It's not only important to vote in the general election, but the local elections as well because they are the ones that determine your everyday things like mayor, vice mayor, congressman and school boards," said Nixon.

Nixon also added that the process for registering to vote absentee is the same for those stationed in the continental U.S. or abroad and can be done either in person at a voting assistance office or online at www.fvap.gov through completion of a Federal Post Card application.

COMSUBLANT Sailors agreed with Nixon's notion about the simplicity and importance of their vote.

"The registration process was very quick and easy for me, which I completed prior to transferring here online without any problems," said Lt. John Joyce, a Florida resident assigned to COMSUBLANT. "I believe that service members, even when stationed away from home, have a responsibly to exercise their right to vote."

According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website, voting assistance officers around the world aim for 100 percent contact and availability of Federal Post Card applications (to all personnel and dependents. The organization emphasizes 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.

The voting process is not limited to those from the 50 U.S. states, but also includes residents of the American territories and the District of Columbia. The COMSUBLANT VAT can also help unregistered Virginia voters.

For more information on voting issues, visit www.fvap.gov.
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