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MARINE FORCES RESERVE, New
Orleans – The 2000 United States Presidential Elections were decided by
a margin of 537 votes; and according to the Federal Election Commission,
barely half of the United State’s voting-age population voted. Perhaps now
more than ever, one person’s vote can help sway an election.
The act of registering to vote and casting a ballot is designed to be
simple. More complicated steps are necessary for service members stationed
overseas, aboard ship, and away from their home states, but many resources
are available to guide service members through the necessary steps.
In an e-mail to the Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs Office, the Voting
Assistance Officer here, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Regenia L. Smith said, “the
best way to vote is by use of the absentee voting system.”
The absentee voting system is available to all uniformed service members. It
enables service members away from home to mail in a ballot that will be
counted for their home state of record.
“A lot of times it seems like (Marines) don’t vote because they’re afraid
that it’s too much work,” said Staff Sgt. Edwina E. Moore, aviation fiscal
chief for the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters. “Their one vote could
make a difference.”
Moore added that legal offices military-wide offer information about
registering to vote and casting ballots.
“We’re lucky to have the privilege to vote,” said Capt. Brian R. Miller,
deputy director of intelligence here. “It’s a great way to voice your
opinion.”
Miller, who has voted by absentee ballot in past elections, describes
absentee voting as easy. Voting by absentee ballot “is a pretty simple
process. You apply for a card and they send you one in the mail. You fill it
out at your leisure and then send it back.” |
Voter registration forms and applications for absentee ballots can be picked
up at your
local legal office or downloaded
from the Internet. To receive an absentee ballot, simply fill out the
information correctly and legibly and send it in to your local voting
official. An absentee ballot will then be sent to your listed mailing
address.
To download a copy of the Federal Absentee Ballot Registration postcard and
instructions to fill it out, log on to
www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.pdf
For more voting information, contact your local Voting Assistance Officer.
For online information, log onto the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web
site at www.fvap.gov, or
visit the www.usmc.mil
voting Web site at
lnweb1.manpower.usmc.mil/manpower/ mi/mra_ofct.nsf/mrp/Voting+Home.
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