Battalion gears up for Armed Forces Voters Week

Christine June
415th Base Support Battalion


***image1***Time is running out for citizens who are covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to participate in the Nov. 2 presidential elections.

This is why the 415th Base Support Battalion’s Voting Assistance Officers are preparing for the final push of the 2004 Voter Assistance Campaign during Armed Forces Voters Week, which starts today and ends Sept. 11.

“Armed (Forces) Voters Week gives eligible voters who may have initially declined to register but have since changed their minds, the opportunity to mail-in an absentee ballot request,” said Kimberly Birdsong, 415th BSB’s alternate voting assistance officer. “State deadlines for absentee ballots are rapidly approaching, and we want to give all eligible overseas voters the chance to register.”
This week is considered the last really safe week to submit a Federal Post Card Application, Standard Form-76, request for an absentee ballot that meets most state deadlines, but as always, voters should refer to the 2004–2005 Voting Assistance Guide for their state’s ballot deadlines.

The secretary of defense has decreed this week as Armed Forces Voters Week with the goal that 100 percent of military, civilians and eligible family members be contacted and have the opportunity to fill out an absentee ballot request.

“Through the efforts of each of our Voting Assistance Officers, we have contacted 100 percent of the military and civilian personnel with the Army community,” said Ms. Birdsong.

But just in case, the 415th BSB Voting Assistance Officers are making absentee ballot requests available at the Vogelweh PowerZone and commissary during Armed Forces Voters Week.
For more information, call Ms. Birdsong at 489-6030 or e-mail birdsongk@cmtymail.26asg.army.mil