Tips on absentee voting

Published Oct. 5, 2012
By Capt. Aaron Taylor
Assistant wing voting representative

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- With the November general elections nearly upon us, now is the time to make sure that you have all that you need to register to vote. To help you with exercising this essential right guaranteed to all American citizens, here are some commonly asked questions and answers to them.

Q. Who is eligible to vote absentee?
A. All active-duty military and their voting-age dependents are eligible for absentee voting, even if you aren't currently residing in the state in which you are registered to vote.

Q. What state should I be registered to vote in?
A. As a general rule of thumb, the state where you should be casting your ballot is the state you file your taxes for, have your driver's license and vehicle plates. If you are still not sure, consult the legal office for advice.

Q. I have received my absentee ballot, can I get some help with filling it out?
A. Each unit has an assigned Voting Assistance Officer who will help you if you need in-person assistance. However, your best bet is to use the resources available at www.fvap.gov. The FVAP website contains a user friendly interface that will walk you through the process for your specific state.

Q. The election is getting close, and I have not yet received my ballot. What is going on?
A. For whatever reason, your registration to vote was not completed in time. Not to worry, you can always use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot to make your voice heard. If you want to work with a paper copy of the FWAB, you can request one from your unit voting officer, and you will be able to find copies at key locations on base (commissary, BX, fitness center, lobby of bldg. 500) for the first two weeks of October. For an electronic, state specific version, go to www.fvap.gov and follow the instructions on the front page.