Time remains for absentee voting

WASHINGTON — Absentee Voting Week is a reminder that it’s still possible for eligible U.S. voters overseas to register and to vote, the acting director of the department’s Federal Voting Assistance Program said today.
“It’s not too late to vote,” said Pamela S. Mitchell to reporters during a telephone news conference.

Mitchell said that during Absentee Voting Week, which ended Thursday, FVAP’s staff encourages all service members, spouses, voting-age family members and overseas civilians who haven’t already done so to visit the program’s website at www.fvap.gov to register to vote and request an absentee ballot.
“It’s important to note that military voters and their families can certainly participate in this election,” Mitchell said. “It’s not too late to vote.”
Registration and ballot deadlines vary by state, she said.

“We encourage everyone to double-check those state-specific deadlines,” Mitchell said. “However, in no case is there a deadline any longer than 30 days prior to the (Nov. 6) election to register. So, again, there is still time to register and to request a ballot.”

As a backup, she said, voters may submit a federal write-in absentee ballot any time after they submit a federal postcard application to register. More than 600,000 of the postcard applications have been downloaded from the FVAP site, she said.

“You can use this write-in ballot as long as you follow the state deadlines,” Mitchell said. Those who need help can visit one of more than 220 voting assistance offices at installations around the globe, she said, or can speak to one of thousands of unit assistance officers in place to help military voters.

Absentee voters, including those deployed or at sea, also can contact their state board of elections directly, visit the FVAP site or call 800-438-VOTE(8683), Mitchell said.

Registering to vote is “very expeditious and very easy” through the FVAP website, Mitchell said. The program staff will continue to provide assistance to overseas voters through the end of the election season.

As a 25-year Army veteran, Mitchell said she’s “very aware how important it is to be able to exercise your right to vote when you’re away from home. I’m confident that voting assistance is the best it has ever been.”