Make it count – Voter’s Assistance Program helps service members register to vote

Navy Senior Chief Leon Johnson, Chief Patrick Moore and Master Sgt. Alfred Morgan assist a potential voter during the JBPHH Voting Outreach Committee's assistance event, held June 29. The event, which was held on Hickam and the Navy Exchange, afforded service members and civilians alike the opportunity to register to vote. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz)

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Make it count – Voter’s Assistance Program helps service members register to vote

Published July 5, 2016
By Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM -- With the goal of ensuring votes of service members are counted, the JBPHH Voting Outreach Committee held a voter’s assistance program outreach event here, June 29.

The event, which was held on Hickam and the Navy Exchange, afforded service members and civilians alike the opportunity to register to vote.

Members of the JBPHH Voting Outreach Committee manned their stations at the Hickam Commissary and the Navy Exchange and answered questions about registration, state voting regulations and concerns regarding registering.

“The purpose of the program is to ensure our military members are able to get registered and have the opportunity to vote,” said Master Sgt. Alfred Morgan, Voting Outreach Committee member. “This is an election year and it is critical our military members have the opportunity to have their voices heard.”

According to Morgan, many states require a person to re-register to vote after a certain period of time. Morgan also stated the laws vary from state-to-state, but said the Voting Outreach Committee is on hand to provide any and all information needed. Morgan said with the primaries quickly approaching, it is a good idea to check to make sure your information is up to date.

The process is made even easier for those wishing to vote, as the forms the Voting Outreach Committee are handing out are pre-stamped with the postage needed to send it off.

However, according to MSgt. Morgan, the easiest way to ensure your vote is counted is to visit the FVAP.gov website, where eligible voters can complete a registration application and request absentee ballots.

Those wishing to vote must hurry though, as many of the primaries are taking place next month.

Below is the listing of presidential preference primaries (P), federal primaries (F) and State primaries (S) within the next two months;

August – 30 Day Notice
- Washington: August 2 (S)
- Kansas: August 2 (S)
- Michigan: August 2 (S)
- Missouri: August 2 (S)
- Tennessee: August 4 (S)
- Virgin Islands: August 6 (S)
- Wisconsin: August 9 (S)
- Connecticut: August 9 (S)
- Vermont: August 9 (S)
- Minnesota: August 9 (S)
- Hawaii: August 13 (S)
- South Dakota: August 16 (State primary runoff)
- Wyoming: August 16 (S)
- Alaska: August 16 (S)
- Oklahoma: August 23 (State primary runoff)
- Guam: August 27 (S)
- Arizona: August 30 (S)
- Florida: August 30 (S)

September – 60 Day Notice
- Massachusetts: September 8 (S)
- Rhode Island: September 13 (S)
- Delaware: September 13 (S)
- New Hampshire: September 13 (S)

For more information about your state’s voting laws, or to register to vote, visit the website www.FVAP.gov.