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True or false: a test about absentee ballots

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jesse Jaramillo
  • JB MDL Voting Assistance Officer
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Armed Forces Voters Week began June 28 and runs through July 7. This is the week to remind everyone to register to vote and request absentee ballots. It's a good time to address some misguided myths about absentee voting as the national conventions draw near and the general election for president is set for November.

1. Absentee ballots aren't counted unless it's a close election.
False. False. False. And, by the way -- FALSE! Every absentee ballot is counted as long as it is properly completed, sent to the right place and arrives by the deadline set by the voter's state
.
2. Military spouses and dependants can use military absentee voting forms.
True. Spouses and children (as long as the child will be 18 years old by Nov. 6) can use the same Standard Form 76 Federal Postcard Application, and SF 186 Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. They can even go online and register using the same website: www.fvap.gov. If a child is away at college, he or she can still use those forms and website.

3. Once registered to vote, always registered to vote.
False. If a person changes his or her address, name or state residency, he or she needs to update voting information. A standard United States Postal Service Change of Address Form doesn't always make its way to the county elections office. That's one of the reasons the unit voting assistance officer sends SF 76s each January -- to remind voters to update their home states with any changes. They will also remind people to register to vote and request an absentee ballot on the same form.

4. My state of legal residence will track me.
False. See number three. Some states drop people from registration rolls if they don't vote in two successive elections. Those who only vote during presidential elections may have been dropped from the state's registration rolls. Voters can check this link to see if they are still registered: www.fvap.gov/reference/links.html#svrvw. Voters can find his or her state under the state voter registration verification websites, click on it and follow the directions.
5. I'm a legal resident of New Jersey and I live in New Jersey, so I can't vote absentee.
False. New Jersey caters to all absentee voters, military or civilian. People can still vote by mail if they do not want to go to the polls to vote. Register using the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov. New Jersey's voter registration website is www.njelections.org/voting-information.html.

6. I'm a reservist or guardsman. I can't use the military absentee voting forms.
False again. While most reservists or guardsmen are residents of the state in which they serve, they can mail their ballots. If deployed to remote locations or performing duties away from their home state, the SF 186 is a must-use tool.

7. I can't vote if I'm deployed.
False. Of course, service members can vote while deployed. If they are registered to vote while deployed and they don't get their state ballot, they can use the SF 186. They should remember to send it at least 4 to 6 weeks before Nov. 6 (by Sept. 22 is a safe bet).

8. I got my preprinted state ballot from my state a few days after I sent in my SF 186, so now I can fill it out and send it in.
True. Voters won't be voting twice, either. For example: a voter already registered, but didn't receive the state ballot by Sept. 15, so he or she went to www.fvap.gov and filled out the SF 186 and mailed it. Two days later, the voter got the state ballot. The voter is required to fill it out and send it. If the voter's home state receives both ballots -- they'll only count the one they mailed.

9. What is the ugly truth about absentee voting.
If people don't register, they can't vote. If voters don't send in their ballots, it won't get counted.
Voters should use the absentee voting system to their advantage. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (www.fvap.gov) has an online voting assistant that can automatically populate the voter's home state's specific requirements, insert eligible candidates and offer options for how to submit forms and ballots.

Every unit has a unit voting assistance officer who can help you and your dependants. For more information contact the installation voting assistance officer, Maj. Jesse Jaramillo, at 754-VOTE or vote.jbmdl@us.af.mil.

Editor's note: Information provided by Peterson Installation Voting Assistance Office, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.