Get ready for Independence Day: Register to vote!

  • Published
  • By Federal Voting Assistance Program
  • 8th Fighter Wing
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The days get longer and the heat rises as summer season begins at the Wolf Pack. This means we'll soon celebrate our nation's birthday and all the freedoms that come with it.

One of the most important freedoms we serve to protect is our right to vote.

June 29 is the beginning of "Overseas Voter Registration Week." This is a time to pause and ensure we register to vote this November.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program has a solution for overseas servicemembers and other U.S. citizens living outside the country who need to register. In fact, you have at least three choices and can use the option that best serves your needs and desires.

1) Register online at www.fvap.gov. This automated process takes each individual through a personalized step-by-step registration process. Most people can complete everything in less than 10 to 15 minutes without ever printing off a form. If only updating information, this could be as short as five minutes.

2) Pick-up a Federal Post Card Application at the Installation Voter Assistance Office in Bldg. 755, Room 102. There you can find instructions on how to complete the application, along with any state or country specific information or requirements within the Voters Assistance Guide to ensure your request gets to the right office.

3) Send an email to vote@kunsan.af.mil with your name, state and county, and we'll send the form to you with your home state and county instructions. If your form needs to be witnessed, your unit voting assistance officer or the installation VAO can help.

All you have to do is act -- the key is to register early, register now!

The easiest and timeliest manner to register is online at fvap.gov. American citizens can visit the site, indicate whether they are military or civilian, and the process is started. Either answer leads them to an interactive U.S. map. Click on a home of record or state of most recent residence, and it will lead to specific options to register to vote or to request or track a ballot. Each of these options leads to a state-specific page that tells voters what to do next.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program website also offers a reference center that provides answers to frequently asked questions, program contact information, and a chat option for voters who need more help.

Exercise your right to vote in 2012!