Voter Assistance

The mission of the Voting Section is to ensure that every Marine, their eligible family members, and other personnel serving with a 1st Marine Aircraft Wing unit, and who are eligible to vote under the laws of their state, are provided voting information and assistance to ensure that they have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

The right to vote is one of the most important civil liberties. Moreover, voting is an obligation that accompanies and protects the freedoms we enjoy. Since the birth of our Nation, Americans have understood their obligation as citizens to vote. By meeting their obligation to express themselves with the ballot, Americans have preserved our democratic system. All Marines, civilian employees, and their family members are encouraged to exercise their right to vote.

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is commonly referred to as UOCAVA. UOCAVA citizens are U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. This Act provides the legal basis for these citizens' absentee voting requirements for federal offices.

The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) amended UOCAVA and other statutes by providing greater protections for Service Members, their eligible family members and other overseas citizens. Among other provisions, the MOVE Act requires States to send absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before federal elections.

1."Sense of Congress" - It is the sense of Congress that each person who is an administrator of a federal, State, or local election-

1.should be aware of the importance of the ability of each uniformed services voter to exercise the right to vote; and
2.should perform that person's duties as an election administrator with the intent to ensure that-

1.each uniformed services voter receives the utmost consideration and cooperation when voting;
2.each valid ballot cast by such a voter is duly counted; and
3.all eligible American voters, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, the language they speak, or the resources of the community in which they live, should have an equal opportunity to cast a vote and to have that vote counted.

2.Uniformed Services Voter Defined - In this section, the term 'uniformed services voter' means-

1.a member of a uniformed service (as defined in section 101 (a)(5) of title 10 United States Code) in active service;
2.a member of the merchant marine (as defined in section 107 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6) [now 52 U.S.C. 201310]); and
3.a spouse or dependent of a member referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) who is qualified to vote. " --Pub. L. 107-107

FVAP works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so - from anywhere in the world.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program exists to:
.Assist uniformed services and overseas voters exercise their right to vote so that they have an equal opportunity with the general population to have their vote counted.
.Assist the States in complying with relevant federal laws by providing current information.
.Advocate on behalf of the uniformed services and overseas voters, identifying impediments to their ability to exercise their right to vote, and proposing methods to overcome those impediments.

For in-person help you should visit your respective Unit Voting Assistance Officer. Through them you will be able to get hard copies of forms, get assistance in completing the forms, or get answers to any of your absentee voting questions.

You can also find voting information at your Installation Voter Assistance Office.

You can check to see if you are registered to vote by going to http://www.fvap.gov/links. Once on that page scroll down to "State Voter Registration Verification Website." Here you will choose the State you vote in, then be redirected to that State's registration verification page. You can always contact your local election official or FVAP directly if you have any additional questions or concerns.

We have put together self-training slides, that will assist you in understanding the absentee voting process from completing your absentee ballot request to successfully casting your absentee ballot. Self-training slides are available in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 formats.
.Military Voter Training (Adobe Acrobat) https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Training/military_voter_training.pdf
.Military Voter Training (Microsoft PowerPoint) https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Training/military_voter_training.ppt

1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Major Command Voting Assistance Officer
DSN 315-645-3324

Voting Assistance Officers:

Walker Gaultney, Capt USMC

Voting Assitance Officer

Office Phone: 636-2110

Brandon Thompson, Capt USMC

Voting Assitance Officer

Office Phone: 636-6220