With the November 2004 General Election almost upon us, and registration deadlines even sooner, time is running out for citizens who want to participate in the elections this year. This is why the Secretary of Defense has decreed the week of September 3 - 11, 2004 as Armed Forces Voters Week (AFVW). This week is the last really safe week to submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, request for registration and/or an absentee ballot which meets most state deadlines (always refer to the 2004-2005 Voting Assistance Guide for state registration and ballot deadlines).
Armed Forces Voters Week GOAL: Attaining 100% contact and IN-HAND delivery of FPCAs to all personnel!
As a Voting Assistance Officer (VAO) it is your job to provide voting assistance and support. You are also tasked with disseminating accurate, nonpartisan voting information. So, how do you plan to celebrate this week?
We suggest that you use this week to begin wrapping up the registration portion of your 2004 voting assistance program. Conduct final voting workshops and registration drives (don’t forget to include all eligible family members). Realizing that for most of you, being a VAO is an additional duty-just try to keep the week’s activities simple and fun. We suggest that you join with other voting officers and/or enlist the help of other “on base” organizations, such as wives clubs, family services, boy/girl scouts and other groups to help get out the vote and coordinate voter outreach events.
During these events, emphasize the importance of requesting registration and a ballot as soon as possible. It is also a good opportunity to remind them to always return their voted ballots as soon as possible to allow sufficient transit time back to their local election official.
Installation newspapers and other internal media, including closed-circuit television and Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) are good ways to spread the word about your voter outreach events during this week. Contact them to advertise the importance of AFVW and be included in the Commander’s daily bulletins to help promote the week’s voting activities (remember to give them sufficient lead time). A good way to do this is for them to run inspirational voting spots. These spots can be used in installation newspapers and on closed-circuit television and radio. One is available from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Richard B. Myers has provided an inspirational voting spot which is wonderful in helping to advertise voting. You may view/download this video by visiting www.fvap.gov/vao/cjcs.html.
Another excellent resource to use during AFVW is the Register and Vote 2004 Campaign Public Service Announcements (PSA) These PSAs were created in conjunction with the Ad Council to encourage voter participation among our youth. TV and radio PSAs have been distributed to major commercial media outlets nationwide as well as to Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS) for distribution through Department of Defense outlets. You can view these PSAs by visiting www.registerandvote2004.org.Register and Vote 2004 hopes to show 18-24 year-olds that voting is a simple.
It's Your Future. VOTE For It!
You may download the poster for Armed Forces Voters Week in Adobe Acrobat format: afvw.pdf.
