Voting: It's your right, so use it

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The presidential election is just around the corner, and for military members and their families who are U.S. citizens stationed overseas, exercising their right to vote is just as important as if they were living in the United States. 

"Voting provides a medium for us to support the democratic structure," said Master Sgt. Milton Erkins, 18th Force Support Squadron unit voting representative. "Taking the time to vote reflects pride in our nation and its government. We should never surrender our right to speak our mind via the vote on Election Day." 

Through the Federal Voting Assistance Program, unit voting representatives can provide assistance in registering to vote and obtaining an absentee ballot from a member's home of record with a Standard Form 76. If people are already registered to vote, they should request an absentee ballot as soon as possible. 

According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website, www.fvap.gov, state election officials will handle the processing and distribution of absentee ballots and may need to contact voters for more information on clarification on their applications. 

Unit voting assistance representatives will conduct one last push during Overseas Voters Week Oct. 12-18. These reps will be educating people on how to make their voice heard by setting up booths outside the Base Exchange and conducting radio shows and speaking to individual units. 

"It is important that every service member and their families exercise their right to vote to ensure that their voice is heard, even from Okinawa, Japan," said 1st Lt. Frank Bednar, assistant installation voting assistance officer. "Being thousands of miles away from the United States and our hometowns can cut us off from participating in some of the events back home that are important to us. Voting absentee gives us the chance to become involved not only in the federal elections, but also in state and local elections." 

As each state has their own guidelines for voter registration, people are encouraged to contact their unit representative for specifics. The deadline for most states to have ballots turned in is Nov. 4. 

The Department of Defense Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site at www.fvap.gov, also has information and resources to help service members with voting absentee. Kadena members and their families who are eligible to vote can also call the voting assistance hotline at 312-425-1584 or toll free 1-800-438-VOTE if they have questions.