U.S. EMBASSY informational MESSAGES

VOTING INFORMATION NEWS


March 2008 a Vol. 18, No. 3

A roundup of voting news from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) for voters, potential voters and those who assist voters.

Issue Highlights:

- Indiana, Louisiana Special Elections

- Additional Voting Assistance Guide Updates

- New Registration tool for Overseas Citizens


INDIANA, LOUISIANA TO HOLD SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Both Indiana and Louisiana will be holding Special Congressional Primary Elections for recently vacated Congressional seats. To determine if your legal residence is in one of these districts, you can click on www.fvap.gov/comm/communicating.html.

Indiana
On Tuesday, March 11, 2008 there will be a special election in the 7th Congressional District of Indiana to fill the seat of Representative Julia M. Carson.

Voters from the 7th District and have already requested a ballot for the Presidential and State Primary on May 6, 2008 will receive this ballot, and need not take further action.

The Marion County Board of Voter Registration must receive request for absentee ballot not later than Monday, March 3, 2008.

Voters may send the FPCA for ballot request by fax. After faxing, submit the original FPCA by mail. At www.fvap.gov/ services/tollfree.html#fax, there is a list of toll-free fax numbers you may use.

Indiana allows voters to receive the blank ballot by fax. Indiana allows you to receive the blank ballot by electronic mail through the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Electronic Transmission Service, ets@fvap.ncr.gov.

When returned, your ballot will be counted if it arrives at the appropriate board of elections not later than noon, March 11, 2008 for military voters in the U.S., and by noon on March 21, 2008 for voters outside the U.S., if postmarked by election day. Indiana allows return of the voted ballot by fax, or by electronic mail through the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Electronic Transmission Service, ets@fvap.ncr.gov. The message must contain a scanned copy of your signature on a waiver of ballot secrecy. A transmittal sheet meeting this requirement is available at www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/appendix_b.pdf.

State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Indiana Election Division website, http://www.state.in.us/sos/elections.

Louisiana
On Saturday, March 8, 2008 there will be two special primary elections in the state of Louisiana.

The first closed primary will be in the 1st Congressional District of Louisiana to fill the seat for Representative Bobby Jindal.

The second closed primary will be in the 6th Congressional District of Louisiana to fill the seat for Representative Richard Baker.

Voters from the 1st or 6th District who have already requested a ballot for the Presidential and State Primary on February 9, 2008 will receive this ballot, and need not take further action.

The Parish Registrar of Voters must receive the request for absentee ballot not later than Friday, March 7, 2008.

Voters may send the FPCA for ballot request by fax. After faxing, submit the original FPCA by mail. At www.fvap.gov/ services/tollfree.html#fax, there is a list of toll-free fax numbers you may use.

Louisiana allows you to receive the blank ballot by fax.

When returned, your ballot will be counted if it arrives at the appropriate Parish Registrar of Voters not later than the close of polls on March 8, 2008. You may return the ballot by fax. The message must contain a scanned copy of your signature on a waiver of ballot secrecy. A transmittal sheet meeting this requirement is available at www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/appendix_b.pdf.

State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Louisiana Secretary of State website, www.geauxvote.com.

ADDITIONAL VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE UPDATES The following list the new changes made to the 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide since publication. The complete list is available on the FVAP website at http://fvap.gov/pubs/vag/vagerrata.html, and is updated whenever changes are made to the text of the Guide

Inside front cover and page 457
Replace contact information and ordering procedures with the information below:

NAVY
Voting Action Officer:
Mr. Dave Stevens
Mailing address:
CNIC Code N947
ATTN: Navy Voting Program
5720 Integrity Dr. Bldg 457
Millington, TN 38055-8600
Phone: (901) 874-4634, DSN: 882-4634 Toll-free: 1-866-827-5672 option 6
Fax: (901) 874-6844, DSN: 882-6844
Email: VOTE@navy.mil
Website: https://www.cni.navy.mil/cnic_hq_site/BaseSupport/CommandStaff/index.htm

NAVY Ordering Procedures:
FPCA (SF 76): Purchase from Navy Logistics Library (NLL) Navy Stock # 7450-00-634-5053 - Unit of Issue: 100HD; Download free of charge from FVAP at: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/fpca.html.

FWAB (SF 186): Purchase from NLL Navy Stock # 7540-01-218-4384 - Unit of Issue: 100HD; Download free of charge from FVAP at: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/fwab.html.

Voting Assistance Guide (VAG08-09): Purchase from NLL Navy Stock # 0500-LP-107-1558 Unit of Issue EA; Download free of charge from FVAP at: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag.html.

Posters: Purchase from NLL Navy Stock # 0500-LP-107-1951; Request Tool Box CD (see below); Download free of charge from FVAP at: http://www.fvap.gov/services/poster.html.

Tool Box CD containing digitized posters, self-administered training, forms, media resources, references and templates: Contact the Navy Voting office (Contact information on left).

Chapter Two
Section B.4. Online FPCA (OFPCA):
After the third sentence (Unlike the postage-paid (in U.S. Mails) … before mailing the form.), add the following sentence:

“Also note that the OFPCA consists of one page; the backside of the card stock FPCA (general instructions and postcard) is not included.”

Arkansas
Page 51
In the instructions for the FPCA for Arkansas voters, Section I Application Instructions for FPCA, paragraph D regarding block 5 of the application, it discusses the need for voters to list a party if they wish to vote in primary elections. A parenthetical lists, as examples, Democrats and Republicans. Please be advised that the Green Party recently qualified as a recognized political party in Arkansas.

The examples listed are now the following: Democrat, Republican, and Green.

Also, on page 54 of the 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide for Arkansas, the Pulaski County Clerk's address now reads::

Pulaski County Clerk
401 W. Markham St.
P.O. Box 2659
Little Rock, AR 72203.

Florida
Page 99
The Osceola Supervisor of Elections address now reads:

Osceola Supervisor of Elections
2509 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy
Kissimmee, FL 34744


Indiana
Absentee ballot return deadline for UOCAVA citizens outside the U.S. Replace the first paragraph in Sections II B. on page 137 and III B. on page139 with the following:

Ballot Return Deadline:
For ballots mailed to voters within the U.S., the voted ballot must arrive at the local circuit court clerk in time for the clerk to deliver the ballot to the appropriate precinct election board (for counting) before the close of polls on election day. It is recommended that you return your voted ballot so that it arrives the Saturday before the election.

For ballots mailed to voters outside the U.S., the voted ballot must be postmarked no later than election day and must arrive at the local circuit court clerk no later than noon 10 days after the election.

Nebraska
Pages 239-241: Change the term “absentee ballot” to “early voting ballot” in the body of the text only (titles and subtitles remain unchanged).

Page 239: Section I, Letter G, instructions for Block 5, change 2nd and 3rd sentence to:

In Nebraska, persons not choosing a party (non-partisan registrants) vote the non-partisan ballot and may also vote in the partisan primary for U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate. A non-partisan voter may select one recognized party ballot for these two offices.

Pages 239 and 241: Section II.A and III.A, 2nd, 3rd and 4th paragraphs: Delete “6:00 p.m.”

Pages 240 and 241: Section II.D and III.D, first bullet, add the word “request” after “absentee ballot” in the following sentence: Nebraska allows you to send the FPCA for registration and absentee ballot request by fax.

Pages 240 and 241: Section II.F and III.F, 2nd paragraph, change “57” to “60”:
The state special write-in ballot is available 60 days before the election.

Pages 240 and 242: Section II.H and III.H, change sentence to:
Persons with felony convictions may not register and vote until two years after having completed prison sentence or finishing terms of parole or probation.

Page 242 – 244: Change the following county addresses to:

Antelope County Clerk
PO Box 26
Neligh, NE 68756-0026

Blaine County Clerk
145 Lincoln Avenue
Brewster, NE 68821-9700

Franklin County Clerk
PO Box 146
Franklin, NE 68939-0146

Keith County Clerk
511 N. Spruce Street, Suite 102
Ogallala, NE 69153-2146

Platte Election Commissioner
PO Box 513
Columbus, NE 68602-0513

Saline County Clerk
PO Box 865
Wilber, NE 68465-0865

Seward County Clerk
PO Box 190
Seward, NE 68434-0190

Valley County Clerk
125 South 15th Street, Suite 202
Ord, NE 68862-1444

Washington County Clerk
PO Box 466
Blair, NE 68008-0466

New Jersey
Page 265
The Gloucester County Clerk’s address now reads:

Gloucester County Clerk
Court House, 1st Floor
PO Box 129
1 North Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096-3327

South Carolina
The address of Hampton County, in South Carolina, was changed. The new address is:

Hampton Board of Voter Registration
201 Jackson Avenue West
Hampton, SC 29924

Washington
Washington has expanded the use of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.

Section II.B and Section III.B
Add “Section F and” to the second sentence of the third paragraph (underlined text below):
If you have not received your state ballot in a timely manner, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. See Section F and instructions in Chapter Two.

Section II.F and Section III.F
Insert the following Section/paragraph:

F. Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
Washington has expanded the use of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), SF 186. The instructions described in Chapter Two of this Guide remain the same, except that Washington allows eligible voters to use the FWAB to vote in any election (including state and local elections.) Washington also allows the FWAB Declaration/Affirmation to be used as an application for registration if the person is otherwise eligible to vote in Washington.

Section II.F-J and Section III.F-J
Change numbering sequence of subsequent paragraphs to G, H, I, J, and K.

Voting Assistance Officers
“To Do” This Month:
- Be sure that you are signed up to receive up for FVAP News Releases. These News Releases provide information about changing deadlines, Special Elections and more. Subscribe by sending an email to vote@fvap.ncr.gov with “Subscribe” in the subject line.

- Distribute Federal Post Card Applications (FPCAs) to all members of your unit and family members and overseas citizens who did not receive their FPCAs in January. Coordinate with local organizations so they can emphasize the importance of voting at their next meeting. Visit www.fvap.gov for on-line materials and help.

- Ensure you have an adequate supply of Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) for deploying and stateside personnel and all private overseas citizens. Be aware that some states have expanded use of the FWAB to primaries and non-general elections. Consult the Guide for details.

- Be sure your installation or Embassy/ Consulate telephone information operator has your name and telephone number for referrals.

- Check with communications and distribution centers or the voting officer at the next higher organizational level to ensure you are receiving voting information in a timely manner.


Voting Action Officers

Department of State: Office of Overseas Citizens Services
Chief VAO: Mr. Jack Markey, tel: (202) 736-4937, fax: (202) 647-6201, email: votinginfo@state.gov
Deputy VAO: Mr. Peter B. Platukis, tel: (202) 647-3441, fax: (202) 647-6201
http://usinfo.state.gov/dhr/democracy/elections.html

Service Voting Action Officers
U.S. Dept. of the Army: Mr. Alton Perry tel: (703) 325-4530 DSN: 221-4530; fax: (703) 325-4532, DSN fax: 221-4532,
Email: alton.c.perry@conus.army.mil, https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/pssd/psb/votingindex.htm

U.S. Dept. of the Navy: Mr. Dave Stevens tel: 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (827-5672) (select option 6 from menu), fax: (901) 874-6844, DSN fax: 882-6844, Email:vote@navy.mil, Web page

U.S. Dept. of the Air Force: Mr. Gilbert D. Harrison, Jr. tel: (210) 565-5000, toll free: 1-800 616-3775 (Select options 1, then 1, then 2 from menu), DSN 665-5000; fax: (210) 565-2543, DSN fax: 665-2543; Email: afpc/dpffofvotefund@randolph.af.mil; http://www.afcrossroads.com/VoteFund/Vote/default.htm

U.S. Marine Corps: Mr. David E. James tel: (703) 784-9511, DSN: 278-9511; fax: (703) 784-9823, DSN fax: 278-9823;
Email: mra.voting.officer@usmc.mil, https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/pls/portal/url/page/m_ra_home/MR/Personnel/Voting

U.S. Coast Guard: LTJG Frank Marcheski tel: (202) 475-5375, fax: (202) 475-5927; Email: Frank.A.Marcheski@uscg.mil / http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wp/g-wpm/g-wpm-1/VotingAssistance/Voting_Assistance.htm

Links to the above Services websites are available from the FVAP Website.

Federal Voting Assistance Program
Department of Defense
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1155

Phone:
(703) 588-1584
DSN 425-1584
FAX:
(703) 696-1352
DSN 426-1352

TOLL FREE:
1-800-438-VOTE (8683)
Visit our website for international toll-free phone and fax numbers.
Email: vote@fvap.ncr.gov

Comments or suggestions on this newsletter are welcome.

Website: www.fvap.gov

Vote!