It's your future

Soldiers Magazine, July, 2004 by Beth Reece

LIVING overseas? You can still vote. According to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, Americans living abroad may use absentee ballots to vote in federal elections.

Americans oversear should request absentee ballots by completing Standard Form 76, which is available through voting-assistance officers and should be completed by Aug. 15.

"It's important that every American citizen of voting age votes," said James H. Davis, the Army's voting-action officer. "Voting is how you influence who is in charge of your quality of life. It's your entitlement as an American citizen."

Absentee-ballot requests are issued from citizens' states of legal residence. At least 49 states now accept electronic transmission of absentee-ballot requests. Instructions are outlined by state and territory in Chapter 3 of the 2004-05 Voting Assistance Guide.

Some states accept electronic transmission of voter ballots, as well. Ballots should be returned by Oct. 11, but can still be mailed up to election day. Ballots are given priority handling within the military postal system but some delays in ground transportation may occur in the Iraq area, due to force-protection concerns and operational commitments.

Those who have applied for but have not received ballots by Oct. 11 can request a Federal Write-in Application Ballot, Standard Form 186, from their units' voting-assistance officer.