Voting assistance available at Misawa

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kaleb Snay
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Why is it important to vote in a federal election? When a question like this comes to mind, it can make servicemembers and citizens wonder what impact their individual vote has stacked against many votes that will drive a candidate to win.

As history shows, several elections have been won by a margin of less than 0.1 percent. In 2008, Alan Franken won the Minnesota U.S. Senate election by a mere 312 votes. In 2000, George Bush won the presidential election by 537 votes.

Small margins such as those can make a big difference in any election, said 2nd Lt. Steven Harvey, 35th Fighter Wing installation voting assistance officer. If men and women overseas did not vote, it could have a substantial impact, he added. Misawa Air Base has more than 10,000 people that could potentially change the outcome of an election if votes are submitted.

The 2012 election cycle has many important office positions that will be decided by voters, said Harvey. Some of those offices include 33 seats in the U.S. Senate, 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, governorships in 11 states and two U.S. territories plus the positions of U.S. president and vice president.

"It's your right to vote," said Harvey. "This is why we do what we do every day. It's to make sure that not only servicemembers have the opportunity to vote, but all U.S. Citizens as well."

Registering to vote while at an overseas location is simple, said Capt. Chad Willis, 35th Fighter Wing alternate installation voting assistance officer. Servicemembers can ask their unit voting officer for assistance or contact the installation voting assistance officer.

"Every vote counts," said Willis. "It is important that you to exercise your right to vote."

For more information about voting assistance contact your unit voting officer or visit www.fvap.gov.