US general election is just around the corner

  • Published
  • 944Th Fighter Wing
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The November 6th general election is just around the corner. For those of us in the military voting can be tricky. Capt. Derrick A. Young is the Voting Assistance Officer for the 944th Fighter Wing and can help guide the way.

According the Federal Voting Assistance Program website, if you have not requested your absentee ballot for the 2012 general election, you should do so immediately. Go to FVAP.gov, select "Get Started" and "Register to vote/Request absentee ballot" to complete your Federal Postcard Application and have your forms completed, printed out, and ready to send to your local election office - all in less than 10 minutes.

If you have already applied, but have not received your State ballot, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as your back-up ballot. Go to FVAP.gov, select "Get Started" and "Get my Ballot Now" to complete the FWAB. If you receive your State ballot after submitting the FWAB, vote and return the State ballot as well.

Stationed Overseas? The Military Postal Service Agency provides free expedited ballot delivery and ballot tracking to your local election office for military and their family members. Go to your local post office or postal clerk, use the Label 11 - DOD form on your absentee ballot envelope and mail it. Go to www.usps.com to track the status of your ballot.

Remember: don't wait until your State deadline to return your ballot; mail delivery times vary from location to location and it may take extra time for your ballot to get from your location to your State.

On September 1st, the Military Postal Service Agency began free expedited ballot delivery and ballot tracking to local election offices for military and their family members stationed overseas. Go to your overseas military post office or postal clerk and use the Label 11 - DOD on your absentee ballot and mail it. You will then be able to track the status of your ballot on the U.S. Postal Service website at www.usps.com.

For questions, unit member may contact the FVAP directly at (800) 438-8683, (703) 588-1584, DSN 425-1584, or www.fvap.gov. Or contact Capt. Young at 623-856-5350.

Information taken from the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.fvap.gov).