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Barksdale's Voting Assistance Officers prepare Airmen to vote

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Members of Team Barksdale who have never voted before or who are not Louisiana residents have until Oct. 6 to register for the upcoming November election.

To help with this process, each unit on base has been assigned a Voting Assistance Officer.

"If you aren't registered, you can't vote," said Raymond Turek, Arms Control and Treaty Office chief. "Voting is your best chance to influence how the government is run and how much or how little the government will impact society."

In order to vote, individuals must be 18 years of age and an American citizen, Turek added. By visiting the Federal Voting Assistance Program website, Airmen and their families can receive directions on how to register and receive voting options.

"Many young voters register in the community they live in by going to city hall or the voting registrar's office," Turek said. "They can also register when and where they get their driver's license."

Many military personnel and their family members are away from their states of residence. Most states give them the option to mail-in or complete their registration online, Turek said.

"The most common inquiry I get is how and where someone can register to vote outside their state of residence," he said. "Using the Voting Assistance Guide, I can provide the addresses and phone numbers of their community's voting registrar."

This information is also on FVAP and each states' voting website. Airmen can receive information on how their state handles the registration process.

Most states require its citizens to be registered to vote 30 days before an election, including Louisiana, Turek added.

"Your vote only counts towards your state of residence," he said. "However, you could change that to where you are currently stationed, but you may have to meet other residency requirements."

According to the FVAP website, military members may vote in the U.S. state or territory where stationed if they change their legal residence to that state or territory, even if they live on a military installation. However, they must be aware of the legal obligations that come with it, such as taxation. Before making a decision, Airmen should contact the Judge Advocates office or a legal counsel.

If voting via absentee, a Federal Post Card Application must be filled out and mailed to their local election official to receive a ballot before their states' deadline.

"When you joined the military, you didn't leave your citizenship behind," he said. "Voting is one of a citizen's most important duties."

For more information on voting, visit fvap.gov or e-mail the Unit Voting Assistance Officers at vote.barksdale@us.af.mil.