Overseas members' voices count too

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic Of Korea --  In the upcoming 2008 presidential election the almost 3,000 men and women assigned to the Wolf Pack will still have the opportunity to vote thousands of miles away from American soil. 

Though they can't just walk into a polling station the day of elections and choose then and there who they will cast their vote for, servicemembers can cast absentee from anywhere in the world. 

An absentee ballot is commonly used by military members to cast their vote when they are stationed outside of their state of residence during the time of an election. To help direct Airmen in the process of casting their absentee ballots Kunsan Air Base has thirty-three voting representatives from every Squadron and a help line -- 782-VOTE. 

"We basically supply the base populace with the tools necessary to vote," said 1st Lt. Allison Minnig, assistant installation voting assistance officer for kunsan Air Base. "An absentee ballot allows you to vote just like you would back in the states it lets your voice be heard" 

The start the process, Airmen should check on their state's requirements by going to the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site at http://www.fvap.gov/, contacting their Squadron voting Representative--listed at https://web.kunsan.af.mil/Voting/index.htm; or by calling 782-Vote and leaving a message for Kunsan's Voting Assistance Officers.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program website has information for each such registration deadlines, ballot request due dates, the due date for when the ballot is to be turned in, and even how to register and complete the ballot request correctly. 

With the election getting so close the best time to register is now said Lt. Minnig. 

" The election is the first week of November, we are hitting that critical time period within that ninety day window, So I would go ahead and do it [register] now," she said. "I would also request your absentee ballot now, that way your county has enough time to process the paper work and get it sent here" 

Servicemembers can register and request an absentee ballot all at the same time with a Standard Form 76A (Rev. 10-2005) which is available from squadron voting representatives also and from the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site. Absentee ballot are processed though the county and state, and then mailed back to the member -- typically in about thirty days. Once received, the absentee ballot has to be filled out properly and mailed back to the servicemember's state of residence state by the dead line in order for the vote to count. 

Registered Kunsan members who haven't received their ballot by mid October should get with their squadron voting representative to fill out a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. 

Every Airman, Soldier or Department of Defense civilian aged 18 and older, and a United States citizen is allowed to vote. 

"I know we have a lot of younger Airmen on this base and this is probably the first election they've been old enough to vote in" said Lt. Minnig. "Airmen should prepare themselves the best they can for this election by staying informed on the issues being voted on, not only in the presidential campaign but in their county and State elections." 

During Armed Forces Voters' week, Aug. 31 through Sept. 7; and Absentee Voters' Week, Oct. 12 to 18, the Kunsan's voting representatives will set up stands to answer questions, and assist in filling out registration forms and Ballot requests. 

"It's important to vote," said Lt. Minnig. "It's one of the rights we fight for and if you don't vote your voice isn't going to be heard, and you won't get to be part of the decision making process."