MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- With the 2008 general election for president of the Unites States happening in less than 50 days, PACAF leadership encourages all eligible members to take the necessary steps to obtain an absentee ballot in time to exercise their right to vote.

An overseas member's first step is to complete, then mail a Federal Post Card Application Form SF-76, Registration and Absentee Ballot Request, said Misawa's Voting Official Capt. Cordy Herring. 

"The form is available online at the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site at www.fvap.gov. People may also obtain a hard copy version of the SF-76 from their unit voting representatives or by visiting the clinical laboratory in the hospital where I can provide voters with a form."

When the local election official receives the SF-76, it will be approved or sent back requesting more information. If it comes back, the member must complete the request for additional information and resend it to the local election official, according to Captain Herring. Once the application is approved, the local election official will mail the absentee ballot, on which the vote is cast and then mailed back to the local election official in time to meet state deadline.

To help get absentee ballots to their destination in time, theater postal managers from all service branches will place special emphasis on mailing, to ensure timely ballot delivery.

It is important for people who mail on state deadlines to check the collection schedule posted on the mail box or ask a mail clerk to hand-stamp the election material so a date is clearly visible, according to Mr. Gabe Telles, PACAF Air Postal Squadron chief of postal operations.

"Our goal in supporting federal voting this year is simple -- 10 percent on-time postmarking and delivery of all Federal balloting material," Mr. Telles said.

Misawa members who need more information should call Captain Herring at 226-6034, or follow the step-by-step instructions below from the www.FVAP.gov Web site.

Editor's note: Some information included in this article is courtesy of PACAF Headquarters voting officers.


The following information explains how to apply for an absentee ballot on-line, on-time:

1. Register to vote by logging onto: http://www.fvap.gov/ 

2. Select the appropriate "Get Started" button for your status (military, civilian, etc.) 

3. The next screen asks, "What Would You Like to Do?" in bold red letters--select the option for: "Register to Vote and/or Request an Absentee Ballot" 

4. This takes you to a screen that asks you to select your state--just click on your state 

5. Then you'll get to the screen with "Request Registration/Absentee Ballot." A red arrow with "STEP 1" will ask you to "Fill out the Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request" 

6. Just below that "STEP 1" red arrow, you'll find a PDF file entitled, "Open Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request" click on that area and SF Form 76a, "REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST - FEDERAL POST CARD APPLICATION (FPCA) will open up and you can fill this in on your screen 

7. Going back to the website with the "STEP 1" red arrow, you'll see under the area "What Do I Fill in?" in bold red letters--that you may not need to fill out this entire form, only the information your state requires below the area "Only the following blocks are required:" 

8. Once you've filled out the form, proceed to red arrow with "STEP 2 Submission Options." To mail your form, click on the area "Open Election Official Address List" to get the mailing address for your county where you need to send your form. 

9. If you are able to print envelopes, there is postage paid envelope you can use to send in your form, just click on the area, "Open Postage-Paid Envelop Template." 

10. Your state may also allow you to fax in your form--if so, you'll see the fax numbers and even fax cover sheet you can use--just click on the area "Open Fax Coversheet" 

11. Once you've submitted your Registration and Absentee Ballot Request form, you can take the follow-up actions under the red arrow with "STEP 3 Follow-up" 

12. When you receive your absentee ballot in the mail, make sure to open it right away, make your voting selections, and get your absentee ballot to your post office right away--the same day, if possible to make sure your ballot makes your state "ballot return deadline." 

13. If you've taken all the above steps and still don't receive your absentee ballot two weeks prior to the election--by 21 October 2008, take the following actions: 

a. Go to this website: http://www.fvap.gov/ 

b. Select appropriate "Get Started" button for your status (military, civilian, etc.) 

c. The next screen asks you, "What Would You Like to Do?" in bold red letters--select the option for: "Complete a Back-up Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot" 

d. This takes you to a screen that asks you to select your state--just click on your state 

e. Then you'll get to the screen with "Complete Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot"
f. A red arrow with "STEP 1" will ask you to "Fill out the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation and Ballot" 

g. Just below that "STEP 1" red arrow, you'll find a PDF file entitled, "Open Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot" click on that area and Standard Form 186A, "FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS" will open up and you can fill this in on your screen. 

h. Going back to the website with the "STEP 1" red arrow, you'll see under the area "What Do I Fill in?" in bold red letters--that you may not need to fill out this entire form, only the information your state requires below the area "Only the following blocks of the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation are required:" 

i. Follow the instructions of the red arrows for STEP 2, 3 and 4 for envelope instructions, submission options, and follow-up.