Does it matter? One person, one vote - Airman Consumer

Airman, Oct, 2002 by Dave Nolan

I remember the first time I was able to vote. The election was between a peanut farmer and a vice president turned president. The peanut farmer won, but that's another story.

What was important were the feelings I had in participating in the political process. A feeling of profound pride and patriotism. My vote counted.

Ever since then I've voted no matter where I was -- overseas, deployed or on temporary duty -- I always make sure my vote is counted.

I've been a staunch advocate for voting, encouraging others to get involved, to know the details of their particular race: who's running and what their platforms are. For me, voting Is what makes our country the great nation it is. My vote matters. If you don't think it does, just look back to the 2000 presidential election. Military votes made the difference.

So, where can you go to get the information you need to make a difference? For military and civilians stationed overseas and for military stationed away from home, the Federal Voting Assistance Program administers the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986. The program provides U.S. military and civilians worldwide a broad range of non-partisan information and assistance to help them participate in the democratic process -- regardless of where they work or live.

The voting act requires states and territories to allow certain U.S. citizens, such as members of the military, their families, and U.S. citizens employed by the federal government residing outside the United States, to register and vote as absentees In federal elections. Some states and territories allow citizens covered by the act to register and vote in state and local elections as well.

The program also acts on behalf of the Secretary of Defense to administer the federal responsibilities of the National Voter Registration Act, which designates the more than 6,000 armed forces recruiting offices nationwide as voter registration agencies, allowing eligible citizens to apply for voter registration or apply to change voter registration data.

The three most frequent questions military folks ask program officials are:

What is my legal state of residence?

For voting purposes, your "legal state of residence" can be the last state or territory where you lived before entering military service or the state or territory you have since claimed as your legal residence.

To claim a new legal residence you must have simultaneous physical presence and the intent to reside at that location as your primary residence. Military and family members may change their legal residence every time they change permanent duty stations, or they may retain their previous legal residence. A legal officer should be consulted before changing residence because there are usually other factors besides voting that should be considered.

Can I vote where I'm stationed?

Military members may vote in the state or territory where stationed, if they change their legal residence to that state or territory, even if they live on a military installation. There are legal obligations, such as taxation, to consider when changing residence. There are currently no provisions for military members stationed outside the United States to vote, in person, where stationed.

My family members aren't in the military. Can they also vote as absentees?

The law entitles eligible family members of military personnel to vote as absentees. Family members are in the same absentee voter category as military members and generally should follow the same procedures. Family members residing overseas, who are U.S. citizens and who have never lived in the United States, usually claim a parent's legal state of residence as their own.

And remember, your vote does count.

RELATED ARTICLE: Absentee voting program kicks into high gear

If you think your vote doesn't count, just ask George W. Bush and Al Gore.

The 2002 general election is fast approaching Nov. 5, and Federal Voting Assistance Program officials want to create an awareness of the electoral process and motivate military members to participate in the upcoming general elections.

"We want to encourage our military members, their dependents, our federal employees overseas and our overseas citizens to be aware of the elections and to exercise their right to vote," said Polli Brunelli, federal voting program director.

Brunelli said the 2002 elections cover a third of the Senate, the entire House of Representatives, 37 governors and hundreds of local races.

"These are lawmakers who will effect policies that govern our way of life." she said.

The states govern the voting rules for their residents. The Federal Voting Assistance Program works with state officials to ease absentee ballot processes. For example, Brunelli said, program officials asked the states to allow service members deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom to receive voting materials by fax machines and to fax in completed ballots.

The agency urges military people to contact voting assistance officers to learn about what they must do to vote. All units with more than 25 people also have voting assistance officers.