FVAP Answers Voters Questions 24 Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week
By FVAP Public Affairs

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) opened its 24 hour a day, seven day a week call center July 15. The call center makes voting information accessible to voters living in other time zones and ensures that all issues are addressed.

Voters can call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683), e-mail vote@fvap.gov or choose the online chat option at http://www.fvap.gov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.fvap.gov to accommodate an easy flow of absentee voting assistance and information. Toll-free numbers from 67 countries are listed on the FVAP website at http://www.fvap.gov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html.

FVAP enhanced its existing service by teaming with the Navy Global Distance 24 hour Support Center to respond immediately to e-mails, calls, faxes and online chat from military members, their families and overseas voters worldwide. As always, FVAP subject matter experts are available during regular business hours to handle issues of greater complexity.

The following are some frequently asked questions about absentee voting:

• Can I vote absentee? -

You can vote absentee in local, state and federal elections if you are a United States citizen 18 years or older and are an active duty member of the armed forces, merchant marine, public health service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their family members, or a U.S. citizen residing outside the United States.

• Where is my legal voting residence? -

For voting purposes, “legal voting residence” can be the state or territory where you last resided prior to entering military service or the state or territory that you have since claimed as your legal residence. Even though you may no longer maintain formal ties to that residence, the address determines your proper voting jurisdiction. To claim a new legal residence, you must have simultaneous physical presence and the intent to return to that location as your primary residence.

Military and their family members may change their legal residence every time they change permanent duty stations, or they may retain their legal residence without change. This may mean that the family’s uniformed service member has a different legal voting residence than his or her family members. A judge advocate general officer or legal counsel should be consulted before legal residence is changed because there are usually other factors that should be considered besides voting.

• My family members are not in the military; can they also vote absentee? - Yes. Eligible spouses and children (U.S. citizens, 18 years or older) of military personnel may vote absentee. Some states allow children of military personnel residing overseas who are U.S. citizens but who have never resided in the U.S. to claim one of their U.S. citizen parent’s legal state of residence as their own.

• How do I register to vote or request an absentee ballot? -

You may register and request an absentee ballot with a single form: The Federal Post Card Application. This application form is accepted by all states and territories and is postage- paid in the U.S. mail, including the Military Postal System and State Department Pouch mail. Hard copies of the form can be obtained from your voting assistance officer or requested directly from the Federal Voting Assistance Program by going to http://www.fvap.gov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.fvap.gov or calling 00531-1208-96 toll free from Japan.
 
It is not too late to register and or request an absentee ballot for the November general elections. There are at least 11 states still holding primaries in September and October as well. All states, three territories and the District of Columbia will hold general elections Nov. 2. Puerto Rico will not be holding an election this cycle.

For more information, contact your command’s voting assistance officer or the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka installation voting assistance officer at 243-3372.

New electronic voting capabilities are coming online this year. This November, many of our military voters will receive ballots for the first time via e-mail, directly through the internet or from one of our automated tools available through www.fvap.gov.
Instead of waiting 20-30 days for your vote to count, it could be a couple of mouse clicks and 20-30 nanoseconds.

Visit the website www.fvap.gov or talk with your local Voting Assistance Officer.