Voting assistance officers help sailors with absentee voting process

The Navy is encouraging Sailors and their families to take part in the 2006 election season with help from the Navy Voting Assistance Program.

"The Navy Voting Assistance Program is here to assist every Sailor who is eligible to vote," said LT Dave Truman, Navy Voting Assistance Program manager, Commander, Navy Installations Command, Millington Detachment. "Sailors can still vote in their state primary through the process of absentee voting, even though they may not physically be in the state."

Generally, all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who are or will be residing outside the United States during an election period are eligible to vote absentee in any election for federal office. In addition, all members of the uniformed services and their family members who are U.S. citizens may vote absentee in federal, state and local elections.

Once filled out and mailed to the applicant's local voting official in their state of residence, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) acts as a request for absentee ballots for any elections to be held that year. The FPCA is available to all U.S. citizens from local voting assistance officers and the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site, at www.vfap.gov.

Dates for the 2006 state primaries are scheduled throughout the year. Visit www.cni.navy.mil/ NavyVote/Index.html or consult your local Voting Assistance Officer for a particular state election date or for more information.

Story by JOC(SW/AW) Sherri Onorati, Navy Voting Assistance Program Marketing.

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