Vote - It's a right and a privilege

  • Published
  • By Ellen Hatfield
  • 349th AMW voting assistance officer
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Nov. 4 General Election is just around the corner. "Send your vote home" is the 2014 slogan for the Federal Voting Assistance Program, with an emphasis on the importance of registering to vote absentee, and making every vote count.

The FVAP wants to make sure service members, eligible family members, and overseas citizens have the tools to successfully vote from anywhere in the world. It's my responsibility to make sure the Airmen of the 349th Air Mobility Wing are prepared to vote.

If any of you are deploying, or re-deploying, and are going to be gone during an election, you need to register to vote absentee, with the Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). I can provide a paper copy, or you can access one at the FVAP website. Fill it out online, download, print, sign, and mail it in. If you don't have your overseas mailing address, once you arrive there, you can mail it in. The website is www.fvap.gov. Look under the tab, Military Voter.

For milConnect users, last month FVAP implemented a prompt to visit their website, and complete an FPCA when you log in to update your address. The form allows you to update your address and request the ballot from your local election office. If you look under the Military Voter tab on the FVAP website, you can use the map displayed to click your state, where you'll find the list of counties, and email links for each election office.

Under the Links tab at the top right of the FVAP website, you can access the state/territory election websites, and much more. There is good information and resources on the Air Force voting website. Go to http://www.afpc.mil/, click on the Life and Career tab at the top, and click on Voting.  

If you need assistance, have questions or concerns, stop by the public affairs office in the headquarters building, or contact me at 707-424-3936, or ellen.hatfield.5@us.af.mil.

I'm here to help all the wing Airmen exercise their right, and privilege, to vote. We live in a country where you can make your voice, and your vote, count. We can all make a difference.