Military Voters News Published Sept. 22, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- September 18 was the "45 day prior to a general election" mark; this year, states must send traditional and electronic ballots to military voters 45 days before the election. To promote awareness of military voting rights and issues, Absentee Voters Week, set for Sept. 27 - Oct. 4, has a dual focus. "We will work once again to encourage absentee voters to register and request absentee ballots if they have not yet done so; and we encourage those who already have registered, and received their ballots, to complete their absentee ballots and return them to their local election officials," said Maj. Robert Meanley, Altus Air Force Base voting assistance officer. "If voters have previously sent in their Federal Post Card Application requesting registration and an absentee ballot, but have not yet received their ballot, we offer help in filling out and sending in the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to serve as a backup in case the regular absentee ballot doesn't reach the voter in time to fill in and return to their local election officials to be counted in the November election. If voters have not taken any steps toward registering and casting their votes, then we are encouraging them to simultaneously fill in and send in both, the FPCA and the FWAB," said Major Meanley. The Department of Defense has taken steps to make absentee voting easier for military members, their families, and overseas voters (Federal employees working overseas). What used to be a complicated process of having to check the Voting Assistance Guide for state-specific requirements and deadlines for absentee voting has now been automated. Voters can visit https://www.fvap.gov to fill in the FPCA using a "wizard" that assists the absentee voter in filling in the form based on their particular state/county of residence. If voters do not receive a ballot by Oct. 2, they should use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a back-up ballot. Similar to the FPCA wizard, voters can visit https://www.fvap.gov to fill in the FWAB using a wizard that assists the absentee voter in filling in the form, again, based on their particular state and county of residence. Once completed, the voter then prints out the form, signs and returns it to their local election official. The wizard produces a PDF package that includes their postage-paid envelope template, security envelope template, instructions to election officials, state-specific information and submission instructions, voter's declaration/affirmation, and write-in ballot pre-populated with the information and candidates the voter entered in the FWAB Wizard. If the State allows faxed returns, the wizard will even prepare a fax cover sheet with the fax number to the local election official. "If voters receive their State ballot after submitting the FWAB, they should vote and return the State ballot as well. The State will only count the FWAB if the State ballot is not received by the deadline," said Major Meanley. More information and assistance can be obtained from the Altus AFB Installation Voting Assistance Officers, 481-1325.