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Joint Chiefs Chairman's 2004 Voting Message Special to American Forces Press Service In this election year, you – our men and women in uniform – are stationed around the globe serving our Nation and defending democracy. We have both the responsibility and the privilege to participate in our democracy by exercising our fundamental right to vote. I encourage every eligible man and woman in uniform, as well as all family members of voting age, to join in the democratic process and cast your ballots. You will have the opportunity to vote, either in person or through absentee ballots, in...

U.S. Troops in Afghan Theater Face Ballot Deadline By Sgt. Stephanie L. Carl, USASpecial to American Forces Press Service BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Sept. 16, 2004 –– As coalition forces help Afghanistan prepare for its presidential election in October, U.S. servicemembers in that country aren't losing sight of their own upcoming elections. Facing them is the fast-approaching deadline for citizens serving overseas to mail absentee ballots for U.S. general elections Nov. 2. All registered voters assigned in Afghanistan should receive their absentee ballots for the general elections by the first week of October. Servicemembers who don't receive a ballot...

  Commissaries Help to Raise Voting Awareness By Bonnie PowellSpecial to American Forces Press Service FORT LEE, Va., Sept. 15, 2004 – Commissaries worldwide are joining forces with the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the Defense Department to encourage military members, retirees and their families to register and vote. "Since commissaries are among the busiest locations on any installation, we can make a significant contribution toward increasing awareness among military families of the importance of registering to vote," said Patrick B. Nixon, chief executive officer for the Defense Commissary Agency. All over the world, commissary employees are working directly...

Use Electronic Voting From Overseas As 'Last Resort,' Official Says By Gerry J. GilmoreAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2004 – Some overseas servicemembers have another way to vote in the upcoming Nov. 2 elections, but they should use it as a last resort, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The alternative electronic voting method would apply only to troops whose local voting laws allow it, Charles Abell, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, noted during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service. Servicemembers stationed overseas who want to...

Marines prepare to cast votes in IraqSubmitted by: 3rd Marine Aircraft WingStory Identification #: 2004829182754Story by Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 29, 2004) -- As November’s general elections approach, the time for Marines to consider their vote has arrived. After working hard to help stand up the first elections for the people of Iraq since the removal of Saddam Hussein from power, the time has now come for American forces to exercise their freedom to vote. Even while deployed to a war zone, those who wish to vote are actively supported by the military. However, it’s...

Tuesday, August 17, 2004 Election 2004: Overseas military voters may be key to presidential race By Patrick Dickson, Stars and StripesPacific edition, Tuesday, August 17, 2004 Click here to view or download Stars and Stripes' Election 2004 guide (PDF format, 2.7 MB), with graphics and two pages of "on the street" interviews in which servicemembers talk about the election. Informationon the Web ...The Internet can be a terrific resource for elections information, or a complete waste of time. Or both! Have a look at some of these Elections 2004 sites:¶ www.georgewbush.com and www.johnkerry.com — Promises, promises. The candidates’ stances on the...

New procedures will ensure absentee ballots count   E-mail story   Related Links       • Airmen Votes by Tech. Sgt. Patrick MurphyAir Combat Command Public Affairs 8/6/2004 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN)  -- With the 2004 elections fast approaching, the handling of absentee ballots from overseas servicemembers is undergoing intense scrutiny. Air Combat Command's 82nd Communications Support Squadron postal flight is among the many organizations working to make sure these ballots arrive in the hands of election officials in time to be counted. ACC is the managing authority for the U.S Central Command area of responsibility, where a majority of U.S. military...

HRC sends largest AKO e-mail to date By Annie Shippen May 20, 2004 WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 20, 2004) -- The Army’s top adjutant general e-mailed all Soldiers through AKO accounts on May 11, telling them to register to vote. Brig. Gen. Gina S. Farrisee, the adjutant general, wanted to contact the Soldiers to ensure that they were aware of their ability to vote while overseas and saw the importance of registering to vote. The e-mail was sent to 1.3 million Soldiers. “Hopefully the e-mail will effect the Soldiers and they will think, ‘Gee, I am overseas, or...

Army program helps with absentee votingBy Andrea Takash WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 5, 2004) – Americans across the country are now voting in presidential state primaries, but many Soldiers can’t make it to the polls, said Jim Davis, the Army’s voting action officer. The Army’s Voting Assistance Program aims to ensure that Soldiers, their families and DoD civilians overseas can exercise their right to vote, Davis said. Absentee ballots can be applied for by filling out the federal postcard application, standard form 76, which can be found at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Web site, Davis said. “Not...

• Field organization. Vice-President Al Gore may have won the 2000 New Hampshire primary — and subsequent primaries, which fed on the New Hampshire–generated momentum — thanks to a traffic jam. At least that’s what many Democratic operatives with experience in New Hampshire seem to think. Today, when people look back at the 2000 Democratic-primary season, the prevailing memory is of Gore trouncing former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley. But he beat Bradley in New Hampshire by just four points, a relatively narrow margin of 6395 votes. The bulk of these votes — more than 3000 — came from Hillsborough...