Vote to make a difference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Whether it's being deployed or going through a permanent change of station, military members are always on the move. Because of this, voting may not be on the top of their to-do list.

That's why each installation has a voting assistance officer to help individuals through the process of sending in absentee ballots.

According to the Air Force voting webpage, the legal voting residence can be either the state or territory where the servicemember last resided prior to entering military service, or the state or territory that they have since claimed as the legal residence.

"It's hard for military members and their families to get the chance to vote, whether they are stationed overseas or just right here," said Capt. Lauren Loughrey, Moody's installation voting assistance officer. "That's where my job comes in; we are the ones who provide the needed assistance and get the information to those members."

Voting is different for military members and their families because extended or overseas absences can prevent them from following their state's normal voting rules.

According to a special law, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, states and territories are required to allow certain groups to register and vote by absentee ballot in federal elections.

"The active-duty members of the U.S. uniformed services, including Merchant Marines, their family members and U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S are allowed to vote under this law," said Captain Loughrey.

There is also help provided for members who will be deploying prior to departure or returning in time to vote at their local polls.

"Generally there are one to two unit voting assistant officers who will help members before they deploy," she said. "However, they can always contact one of their installation voting officers to get the information they need, no matter where they are located."

Deploying members are encouraged to take a copy of two voting forms with them: the SF-76, Federal Post Card Application, and the SF-186, Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.

"When I was stationed in Korea I wanted to vote in the election but I couldn't go to the voting polls so I contacted my squadron voting representative," said Staff Sgt. Kisha Kelley, 38th Rescue Squadron aircrew flight equipment assistant NCO in-charge. "They gave me the information I needed to receive an absentee ballot and I was able to send that in."

Before Sergeant Kelley could fill out her information, she had to figure out which state she was registered to vote in.

"The hardest part of the voting process is figuring out where you are registered," Captain Loughrey said. "For new military members it may be where you last resided before you joined but for others it may be where you are currently residing."

For more information on voter registration for military members, individuals can contact your installations voting assistance officer or visit http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/library/airforcevoting/index.asp.