Exercising your right to vote

  • Published
  • JBER PUBLIC AFFAIRS
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Every few years, Americans exercise their constitutional right to vote in federal and state elections. For service members stationed away from their home of record, voting can be a challenge. The Federal Voting Assistance Program provides Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska service members and their families with tools and resources to cast their ballot from anywhere in the world.

The FVAP streamlines and simplifies the voting process, allowing service members to find all the necessary resources in one location.

"The Federal Voting Assistance Program is a designed to assist service members and their families as well as overseas-assigned civilians with the voting process," said Senior Master Sgt. Adam Page, 673d Medical Group unit voting assistance officer. "The program provides tools, assistance and resources required to vote. The program is important because it assists uniformed services and overseas voters to exercise their right to vote so that they have an equal opportunity with the general population to have their vote counted. FVAP also ensures States comply with relevant federal laws by providing current information."

Military units facilitate the FVAP by training unit voting assistance officers. All units are assigned a UVAO who is required to make 100 percent contact unit members. The UVAO is the subject matter expert for the FVAP and are prepared to assist with any voting-related questions or concerns.

"Voting assistance officers are your primary link to the FVAP," said Air Force Maj. Steven Shea, 673d Medical Group voting assistance officer. "They are members of your own unit who are ready and willing to assist you in any way possible. Unit voting assistance officers are trained to be familiar with the absentee voting process, provide their unit members with accurate and nonpartisan voting information and assistance, and promote activities related to voting awareness. They also have forms on hand that you can fill out to register to vote.  If you don't receive your absentee ballot within 30 days of an election, they can provide you with a federal write-in absentee ballot, which is a backup ballot."

Shea said they anticipate this year a lot of people will register to vote and cast absentee ballots for their state primaries and the general presidential election.

"JBER voting assistance officers are here to address any questions they may have about the national election in general, as well as the local elections taking place back in their communities back home.  FVAP was designed to put absentee voters in contact with their local election officials. This process allows Airman Snuffy to cast his vote for the candidates and measures that will be on the ballot at the state, county, and local levels in his home town, as well as for the next president of the United States."

Voting is the right of all service members and their families. To learn more about the voting process, contact your UVAO via the JBER Voting Assistance Office at vote.jber@us.af.mil or call the JBER Voting Assistance line at 552-8683.

For additional information about the FVAP, visit https://www.fvap.gov/