8/2/2019 Tool Kit: Voting in the Elections

1/22 MARCH 2012

IN

FRONT

BY JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal

Soldiers have gone to Iraq and Aghanistan tosupport the new democracies emerging there. Butmany Soldiers will ail to execute their constitu-

tional right and wont vote in this Novembers election,Army ocials say.

Soldiers downrange or stationed in Korea and Ger-many will have to plan ahead to ensure their absenteeballots get counted in time. Te Army has designated

voting services ocers down to the company level tohelp Soldiers exercise their right to vote. And the Fed-

eral Assistance Voter Program provides expatriates andmilitary members resources to help them vote absentee.

Te Federal Voting Assistance Program has morethan 5,000 Soldiers acilitating the voter program in theArmy to ensure every Soldiers vote counts, said Sgt.1st Class Matthew Willison, a senior human resourcessergeant at Human Resources Command and the votingassistance ocer or Soldier programs.

NCOs should lead by example when it comes tovoting in U.S. elections, Willison said. Its importantthat NCOs know the programs and tools in place toensure every Soldier has a voice and can vote, even

when theyre downrange. Being deployed makes certathings more dicult, but NCOs can allot enough time at least 45 days beore the election to ensure theiSoldiers vote will count, he said.

In my experience downrange, Soldiers will havea computer or will have access to one. From there, its

easy to download a pre-paid envelope,print it and print of your ballot, andvote, Willison said. And i a Soldierneeds help, the voting assistance ocer there to provide support.

Moreover, Soldiers also have accessto programs and websites that they canshare with their voting-age amily members, Willison said.

All Soldiers, whether stateside ordownrange, can download a ederalabsentee voting ballot i their local elec-tion ocials havent sent them one.

Otherwise, at least 45 days beore theelection, Soldiers should receive theirabsentee ballots i they have ollowed thprocess and i their local election ociahave responded to their requests or anabsentee ballot.

Voting in elections

TOOLKIT

Soldiers overseas register to vote May

22, 2008, during a unit voting assistance

drive. U.S. ARMY PHOTO

By the numbers

The Federal Voting Assistance Program pub-

lishes a report after every election that com-

pares military voting behaviors to those in the

previous election cycle. The 2010 post-election

report shows a few trends in military voting

patterns:

Increase in military voters

casting ballots

Increase in military votersreceiving ballots

Military who never received

their ballots

24%

27%29%

8/2/2019 Tool Kit: Voting in the Elections

2/2 NCO JOURNAL

Tis year, no Soldier has an excuse to not vote in the presi-dential election, Willison said.

I encourage all Soldiers to get out and vote, Willison said.I would say its the responsibility o the NCO to ensure theirSoldiers understand their rights and to encourage their juniorSoldiers to vote.

NEXT MONTH: ARMY DOCTRINE STRATEGY

Each election season, the Army reminds service members

and civilians that there should be a distinction between

ones proessional capacity and ones personal activities.

Specifc examples o what a Soldier can and cant do:

Campaigningdos and donts

DO REGISTER TO VOTEThis is actively endorsed and

supported by the Army, and there are resources available

in every unit to ensure all Soldiers are able to vote.

DO WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITORso long as you

include a disclaimer that the views expressed are your

personal opinion and not the ofcial stance o the Army.

DO ATTEND POLITICAL FUNCTIONS WHEN OUT

OF UNIFORM, including undraising activities, meetings,

rallies, debates and conventions.

DONT SOLICIT VOTESor a particular candidate or

issue while on duty. Soldiers cannot campaign or perorm

campaign unctions during working hours.

DONT WEAR MILITARY UNIFORMSat political, cam-

paign or election events unless acting as part o the ofcial

joint armed orces color guard at the opening ceremonies o the

parties national conventions.

DONT SPEAK BEFORE A PARTISAN POLITICAL

GATHERING while on duty or while in uniform.

DONT SELL TICKETS or promote political dinners and

fundraising events while on duty, in uniform or on post.

DONT PARTICIPATE IN RADIO, TE LEVISION OR

OTHER PROGRAMdiscussions or groups as an advocate

for or against a partisan political party, candidate or cause.

DONT CONDUCT POLITICAL OPINION SURVEYS

under the auspices of a partisan political club or distribute

partisan political literature while on duty.

DONT ALLOW USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOL-

DIERS IN UNIFORM in campaign media, including bill-

boards, brochures, websites or television commercials.

Registering to vote

FVAP.GOV: The Federal Voting Assistance

Program gives service members and their amilies

resources they need to vote. Since registrationcan vary rom state to state, its important that

service members ollow the voting guidelines or

the state they are either registered in or are

a resident o. This website provides

inormation specifcally or

those who are looking to vote

absentee.

CANIVOTE.ORG: Most

states require that you

register weeks beore you

vote. This website gives a

breakdown o who can vote,where you can register and what

inormation youll need to cast your

ballot.

IN YOUR COMPANY: For additional inormation,

voting assistance ofcers are available in each

company to ensure that absentee voting materials

are ordered or their units.

Ways to ensurethat your vote counts

REGISTER EAR LY I you are unsure which state

you are allowed to vote in, consult your voting

services ofcer. Usually, it is the state o your

home o record.

UPDATE YOUR A DDRESS I you are moving,

deploying or in the process o either, be sure

to update the address where you want your

absentee ballot to be sent.

PRINT OFF THE FORMS You can go online

and print o the ballots at www.vap.gov or all

national elections, i you havent received your

absentee ballot by mid September.

VOTE! You can vote as soon as you receive or

print o your election orms.

MAIL YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT Send yourabsentee ballot back to your state and local

elections ofcials to ensure your vote counts. You

can return your ballot as long as it is returned by

the frst Tuesday in November, but the Federal

Voting Assistance Program suggests mailing

the absentee ballot at least 45 days beore the

election