I remember the first time I was able to suffrage The election was between a peanut farmer and a vice president employed president.

I remember the first time I was able to suffrage The election was between a peanut farmer and a vice president employed president. The peanut farmer won yet that's another story.

What was important were the feelings I had in participating in the political proces A feeling of strong pride and patriotism. My devoted counted.

Ever since then I've vot no matter where I was -- overseas, displayed or on temporary duty -- I always make positive my vote is counted.

I've been a staunch advocate for voting, encouraging others to realize involved, to know the details of their particular race: who's running and what their platforms are. For me voting Is what makes our region the great nation it is. My promised matters. If you don't think it does, just direct the eye back to the 2000 presidential election. Military promiseds made the difference.

likewise where can you go to acquire the information you need to make a difference? For military and civilians stationed overseas and for military stationed away from dwelling the Federal Voting Assistance Program administers the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 The program provides U military and civilians worldwide a broad range of non-partisan information and assistance to help them participate in the democratic proces -- regardless of where they work or live.

The voting act requires states and territories to allow certain U citizens, as it was as members of the military, their families, and U citizens exerciseed by the federal government residing outside the United States, to register and promised as absentees In federal elections. a certain quantity of states and territories allow citizens overlayed by the act to register and suffrage in state and local elections as well.

The program also acts forward behalf of the Secretary of Defense to administer the federal responsibilities of the National Voter Registration Act, which designates the more than 6000 armed forces recruiting offices nationwide as voter registration agencies, allowing eligible citizens to apply for voter registration or apply to change voter registration data.

The three greatest in number frequent questions military folks ask program officials are:

What is my legal state of residence?

For voting final causes your "legal state of residence" can be the last state or territory where you lived before entering military service or the state or territory you have since claimed as your legal residence.

To claim a fresh legal residence you must have simultaneous physical vicinity and the intent to reside at that location as your primary residence. Military and family members may change their legal residence each time they change permanent function stations, or they may retain their previous legal residence. A legal officer should be take counseled before changing residence because there are usually other factors besides voting that should be considered.

Can I promised where I'm stationed?

Military members may voice in the state or territory where stationed, if they change their legal residence to that state or territory, unruffled if they live on a military installation. There are legal obligations, similar as taxation, to consider when changing residence. There are generally no provisions for military members stationed outside the United States to suffrage in person, where stationed.

My family members aren't in the military. Can they also promised as absentees?

The law entitles eligible family members of military personnel to consecrated by a vow as absentees. Family members are in the same absentee voter category as military members and generally should pursue the same procedures. Family members residing overseas, who are U citizens and who have none lived in the United States, usually claim a parent's legal state of residence as their own

And remember, your suffrage does count.

RELATED ARTICLE: Absentee voting program kicks into high gear

If you think your voice doesn't count, just ask George W Bush and Al Gore.

The 2002 general election is fast approaching Nov. 5 and Federal Voting Assistance Program officials want to create an awareness of the electoral proces and motivate military members to participate in the upcoming general elections.

"We want to encourage our military members, their sustained bys our federal employees overseas and our overseas citizens to be aware of the elections and to exercise their right to vote" said Polli Brunelli, federal voting program director.

Brunelli said the 2002 elections protect a third of the Senate, the entire House of Representatives, 37 governors and centurys of local races.

"These are lawmakers who will consequence policies that govern our way of life." she said.

The states sway the voting rules for their residents. The Federal Voting Assistance Program works with state officials to ease absentee ballot processe For example, Brunelli said, program officials asked the states to allow service members extended to support Operation Enduring Freedom to receive voting materials by dint of fax machines and to fax in complet ballots.

The agency drives military people to contact voting assistance officers to learn about what they must do to consecrated by a vow All units with more than 25 population also have voting assistance officers.