Time running out for voter registration

  • Published
  • By Monte Miller
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  With less than two months to go before Election Day, the window of opportunity to let your voice be heard is closing.

Efforts have been ongoing at Scott since the beginning of the year to get as many servicemembers and their dependents registered to vote as possible.

U.S. Transportation Command voting officer, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott Brewer, explained the Federal Voting Assistance Program is designed to ensure all active duty servicemembers at home and overseas have the opportunity to register to vote.

"We like to be proactive," Sergeant Brewer said. "We have 100 percent saturation through e-mail contact and mailings, which is up from 37 percent a couple of years ago. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if just one servicemember or dependent said they didn't get to vote because they didn't know how to register."

The FVAP is a yearly program, which is highlighted during years of federal elections such as 2008. There are major voter registration drives in the months of January, March, June and August, but doesn't stop there.

"During a drive here last week, we registered about 150 people," Sergeant Brewer said. "We also directed another 100 people to the base library to register to vote locally or find local polling places."

Sergeant Brewer explained absentee voting is not just for servicemembers that are deploying, but for any personnel or their dependents that are not near their home voting district, or have special needs and must then vote absentee by mail.

"About 75 percent of the people we talked to said they we registered to vote," Sergeant Brewer said. "Our job is to provide them encouragement, assistance and motivation to follow up on their words."

Registration and voting is encouraged by the Secretary of Defense and is reiterated down the chain of command.

"It is especially important for servicemembers to understand they are voting for their commander," Sergeant Brewer said. "It is like a vote of confidence, but is not a litmus on the current state of the military in any way."

Although the official registration drives are over, there is still a little time for potential voters can still register.
"Registration cut-offs vary by state, so servicemembers are encouraged to contact their unit voting officer or directorate," Sergeant Brewer said. "If they had their chance and didn't' get it done it would be a major missed opportunity."

Scott personnel needing assistance or having any questions about voter registration are encouraged to visit the FVAP web-site at www.FVAP.gov or call 256-VOTE.