R 231630Z FEB 98 ZYB
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//M-RA//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS //N01742//                
ALMAR 074/98
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC M-RA//
SUBJ/MCBUL 1742. 1998 MARINE CORPS VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM//
REF/A/DOC/DOD/00SEP97//
REF/B/LTR/GPO/00OCT95//
REF/C/DOC/CMC/31MAR95//
NARR/REF A IS THE VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE 1998-99, PUB ID# 9899 VAG
(REV. 97), REF B IS THE FEDERAL POST CARD REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE
BALLOT REQUEST (FPCA), STANDARD FORM 76 (REV. 10-95), AND REF C IS
MCO 1742.1, ABSENTEE VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM//
RMKS/1.  PURPOSE.  TO ANNOUNCE THE MARINE CORPS VOTING ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FOR 1998.
2.  INFORMATION.  IN 1998, 39 GOVERNORS, 35 U.S. SENATORS, 435 U.S.
HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AND THOUSANDS OF STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL
BE ELECTED.  A COMPREHENSIVE VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS A MUST TO
ENSURE MARINES ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE ABSENTEE VOTING PROCESS.
CHAPTER TWO OF REF (A) PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR A COMMAND VOTING
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ASSIST VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS (VAO'S) IN
THE DESIGN OF THEIR PROGRAMS.
3.  PROGRAM OBJECTIVES.  THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 1998 MARINE CORPS
VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE:
   A.  TO ENSURE VAO'S ARE ASSIGNED AT EVERY LEVEL OF COMMAND, WITH
ONE FIELD GRADE OFFICER ASSIGNED AS THE SENIOR VOTING ASSISTANCE
OFFICER (SVAO) ON EACH INSTALLATION.  THE SVAO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO COORDINATE THE PROGRAM FOR SUBORDINATE AND TENANT COMMANDS AND
UNIT VAO'S.
   B.  TO ENSURE IN-HAND DELIVERY OF THE FPCA BY 15 AUG 98 TO
ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND THEIR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS, AND
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THEIR ELIGIBLE FAMILY
MEMBERS, WHO ARE SERVING OUTSIDE THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND TO ENSURE IN-HAND DELIVERY OF FPCA'S BY 15 SEP 98
TO ALL ELIGIBLE MARINES AND THEIR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS WITHIN THE
UNITED STATES.  THIS DISTRIBUTION IS IN ADDITION TO THOSE FPCA'S
PROVIDED FOR USE IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
4.  KEY POINTS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL ABSENTEE VOTING
   A.  ENCOURAGE MARINES AND THEIR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS TO
EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.
   B.  VOTING ADDRESS/RESIDENCE ON THE FPCA.  MEMBERS APPLYING FOR
ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAVING ADDRESSES WHICH ARE ON RURAL ROUTES MUST
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC ADDRESS INFORMATION.  THIS MUST BE DONE
TO ENSURE ELECTION OFFICIALS KNOW THE VOTER'S PRECISE VOTING
PRECINCT.  LACK OF SPECIFIC ADDRESS INFORMATION COULD EITHER
INVALIDATE A BALLOT OR RESULT IN NON RECEIPT.  A DESCRIPTION
SIMILIAR TO THAT USED ON THE RECORD OF EMERGENCY DATA IS SUFFICIENT.
   C.  LEGIBLE WRITING.  FPCA'S MUST BE FILLED OUT LEGIBLY.
ELECTION OFFICIALS WILL NOT PROCESS FPCA'S WHICH CANNOT BE READ.
THIS POINT REQUIRES GREAT ATTENTION.  ILLEGIBLE HAND WRITING IS THE
PRIMARY REASON ABSENTEE VOTERS FAIL TO RECEIVE THEIR BALLOT.
   D.  DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF FPCA'S.  VAO'S SHOULD BE AWARE OF
THE TIME SENSITIVITY OF THE ABSENTEE VOTING PROCESS.  THE LAWS FOR
PROCESSING FPCA'S AND ESTABLISHING DEADLINES FOR RETURN OF BALLOTS TO
THE VOTING PRECINCT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.  IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT THAT EACH VAO RESEARCH STATE REQUIREMENTS (CONTAINED IN
REF A) AND INSTRUCT THEIR VOTERS ON THE PROPER PROCEDURES.
THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT EACH ABSENTEE BALLOT WILL BE COUNTED AND
NOT INVALIDATED BECAUSE IT ARRIVED TOO LATE OR WAS IMPROPERLY
HANDLED.
   E.  COMPLETING THE FPCA.  THE VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE 1998-99
GIVES SPECIFIC INSTUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF THE 1995 REVISION OF THE
FPCA.
   F.  EMPHASIZE THE WEEK OF 28 JUN - 4 JUL AS "OVERSEAS
CITIZENS VOTERS WEEK".
   G.  EMPHASIZE THE WEEK OF 30 AUG - 5 SEP AS "ARMED
FORCES VOTERS WEEK".
   H.  ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES ANNUALLY RECEIVE AT LEAST ONE
BRIEFING, TRAINING PERIOD, OR INFORMATION PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION
DEVOTED TO ABSENTEE REGISTRATION AND VOTING.
   I.  ENSURE THAT INSTALLATION TELEPHONE INFORMATION OPERATORS
HAVE THE NAMES AND OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF ALL VAO'S AT THE
INSTALLATION.
   J.  ENSURE CONTINUING EVALUATION OF COMMAND VOTER ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS.
   K.  ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE CONTINGENCY MOBILIZATION PLANS AND
SUPPORTING MATERIALS ARE IN PLACE TO PROVIDE VOTING ASSISTANCE TO
MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE FORCES IN CASE OF THEIR ACTIVATION AND
SUBSEQUENT DEPLOYMENT.
5.  VOTING MATERIAL
   A.  MCLB ALBANY GA IS CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTING THE 1998-99
VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE AND, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE VOTING
POSTERS/CALENDARS.  THE 1996-97 VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE MAY ALSO BE
USED TO PROPERLY COMPLETE THE FPCA (REV. 7-88), IF VAOS STILL HAVE
THEM ON HAND.
       (1) THE PCN FOR THE 1998-99  VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE, PUB
ID# 9899 VAG (REV. 97), IS PCN:  10000662800.
       (2) IF YOU ARE NOT IN RECEIPT OF THE CURRENT EDITION OF
THE 1998-99 VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE, CHECK WITH YOUR UNIT S-1 AND
ENSURE THAT YOUR COMMAND IS ON THE DISTRIBUTION LIST FOR THE GUIDE.
ENSURE YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF GUIDES REQUIRED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR
MISSION.
   B.  THE FPCA (SF-76), NSN:  7540-00-634-5053 IS AVAILABLE
THROUGH NORMAL SUPPLY CHANNELS.  FPCA'S ARE TO BE ORDERED IN
SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES (RECOMMEND FOUR PER BILLET ON THE UNIT TABLE
OF ORGANIZATION (T/O) AND ONE PER ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER) TO FURNISH
REGISTRATION AND BALLOT REQUEST SUPPORT FOR ALL PRIMARY AND GENERAL
ELECTIONS.  REFS A AND B PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON APPROPRIATE
HANDLING OF THE FPCA.
   C.  FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS (FWAB'S) (SF-186), NSN:
7540-01-218-4384 ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH NORMAL SUPPLY CHANNELS
AND ARE TO BE ORDERED IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES (RECOMMEND ONE PER
BILLET ON THE UNIT T/O AND ONE PER ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER) TO PROVIDE
EACH ELIGIBLE VOTER THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE WHEN THEIR BALLOT DOES
NOT ARRIVE IN A TIMELY MANNER.  FWAB'S SHOULD BE STOCKED BY ALL OVER-
SEAS UNITS, ALL RESERVE UNITS AND ALL ACTIVE DUTY DEPLOYABLE UNITS.
   D.  ENCL (4) OF REF C PROVIDES A LIST OF ALL THE
PUBLICATIONS, FORMS, AND PAMPHLETS A UNIT VAO NEEDS TO RUN A
SUCCESSFUL VOTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
6.  ACTION
   A.  VAO'S.  INSTALLATION COMMANDERS WILL APPOINT A SVAO TO
COORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF ALL SUBORDINATE/TENNANT COMMAND VAO'S, PER
PARA 7B(1) OF REF C.  UNIT COMMANDERS WILL APPOINT A VAO
FOR THEIR UNIT DOWN TO THE BATTALION/SQUADRON LEVEL TO INCLUDE ALL
MARFORRES UNITS REGARDLESS OF SIZE.  A SAMPLE APPOINTMENT LETTER IS
PROVIDED AT ENCL (1) OF REF C.  VAO'S AT ALL LEVELS ARE
TO BE TASKED WITH ACCOMPLISHING ALL MISSIONS SET FORTH IN THIS
BULLETIN AND THE REFS CITED HEREIN.
       (1) MARINES ASSIGNED AS VAO'S MUST BE SCHEDULED TO REMAIN
WITHIN THE COMMAND UNTIL AFTER THE 3 NOV 98 GENERAL ELECTON.
THE CHANGING OF VAO'S DURING THIS CRITICAL PERIOD DEFEATS THE
PURPOSE OF THE VOTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  COMMANDERS ENSURE THAT
ALL VAO'S ARE TRAINED AND INSTRUCTED IN THE PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO
CARRY OUT THEIR ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES.
       (2) ALL VAO APPOINTMENTS WILL BE IN WRITING.  PROVIDE A
COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT LETTER ALONG WITH THE E-MAIL ADDRESS OF THE
UNIT S-1 (E.G., ELMS [GMHP03:HQIHQMC] AND THE VAO'S DSN, COML, AND
UNIT FAX NUMBERS, TO THE CMC (MHP).  APPOINTMENTS OF NONCOMMISSIONED
OFFICERS AS VAO'S SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE SPECIFIC WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
BY THE UNIT COMMANDER TO WITNESS AND ADMINISTER OATHS REQUIRED ON
VOTING MATERIAL IF A COMMISSIONED OFFICER IS NOT AVAILABLE.
       (3) VAO'S WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE AND EQUIPPED TO GIVE
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO VOTERS FOR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND OTHER
JURISDICTIONAL ELECTIONS DURING 1998.  IN ADDITION, ANY PERSON WHO
APPEARS TO NEED ASSISTANCE IN READING OR UNDERSTANDING ANY ENGLISH
LANGUAGE MATERIAL RELATING TO VOTING OR VOTER REGISTRATION SHOULD
RECEIVE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE.
       (4) VAO'S SHALL CONCENTRATE ON PROVIDING ABSENTEE
REGISTRATION AND VOTING ASSISTANCE TO PERSONNEL FOR THE STATE PRIMARY
ELECTIONS.
       (5) VAO'S AT ALL LEVELS MUST ENSURE THAT VOTING MESSAGES
AND OTHER MATERIAL IS DISSEMINATED DOWN TO THE LOWEST ECHELON; THIS
ENSURES THAT ALL MARINES GET CURRENT VOTING INFORMATION.
   B.  VOTING ASSISTANCE TEAMS.  COMMANDING OFFICERS DOWN TO THE
BATTALION/SQUADRON LEVEL, TO INCLUDE ALL MARFORRES UNITS REGARDLESS
OF SIZE, WILL ESTABLISH VOTING ASSISTANCE TEAMS HEADED BY A VAO.
REF C PROVIDES GUIDANCE REGARDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
COMMANDING OFFICER AND THE VAO.  VOTING ASSISTANCE TEAMS ASSIST
MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND AND ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH VOTING AND
ELECTION PROCEDURES AS REQUIRED.
   C.  COMMAND INTERNAL INFORMATION.  COMMANDS WILL ESTABLISH AN
INTERNAL INFORMATION PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE VOTER REGISTRATION.  THIS
MAY INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS FULL USE OF
VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS SUCH AS MEDIA AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS, BASE OR
STATION NEWSPAPERS, PLAN OF THE DAY, UNIT BULLETIN BOARDS,
FORMATIONS, UNIT TRAINING SCHEDULES, AND THE MARINE CORPS TROOP
INFORMATION PROGRAM.  EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON PROVIDING RAPID,
ACCURATE RESPONSES AND SOLUTIONS TO VOTING ORIENTED PROBLEMS.
   D.  UNIT VAO BRIEFINGS.  COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL CONDUCT
ORIENTATION BRIEFINGS WITH UNIT VAO'S PRIOR TO THE START OF PRIMARY
ELECTIONS.  THE BRIEFINGS SHOULD PREPARE VAO'S FOR THEIR DUTIES AND
ASCERTAIN THAT VOTING MATERIALS ARE ON HAND IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES.
THE DOD HAS PREPARED A VIDEO TAPE TO ASSIST COMMANDS IN BRIEFING
NEWLY APPOINTED VAO'S.  GENERAL DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN MADE; COPIES
MAY BE REQUESTED FROM THE NEAREST TRAINING AND AUDIO VISUAL SUPPORT
CENTER.  THE TITLE OF THIS VIDEO TAPE IS "VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER
TRAINING (MILITARY VERSION)".  WHEN INQUIRING ABOUT THIS VIDEO TAPE
USE REF NUMBER 505373.
   E.  VOTING ASSISTANCE BRIEFINGS.  VAO'S WILL PROVIDE AT LEAST
ONE BRIEFING ON ABSENTEE REGISTRATION AND VOTING PROCEDURES TO UNIT
MEMBERS AS OUTLINED IN REF A.  EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON
THE AVAILABILITY OF VOTING INFORMATION, SUPPORTING MATERIALS,
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING.  THIS BRIEFING
WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO
VOTE.  INCOMING PERSONNEL WILL BE PROVIDED GUIDANCE IF THEY REPORT
INTO A UNIT AFTER THE VOTING INFORMATION BRIEF HAS BEEN CONDUCTED.
   F.  ARMED FORCES VOTER'S WEEK.  THE WEEK OF 30 AUG - 5
SEP 98 IS DESIGNATED AS "ARMED FORCES VOTERS WEEK".  THIS
WEEK SHOULD BE UTILIZED BY COMMANDING OFFICERS AND VAO'S TO HOLD
LOCAL EVENTS TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND TO PUBLICIZE
THE REMAINING ELECTIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE 3 NOV, GENERAL
ELECTION.  ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED DURING THIS WEEK SHOULD INCLUDE
VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AIMED AT INFORMING ELIGIBLE VOTERS ON
PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE GENERAL
ELECTIONS.
   G.  OVERSEAS CITIZENS VOTERS WEEK.  THE WEEK OF 28 JUN - 4 JUL IS
DESIGNATED AS "OVERSEAS VOTERS WEEK".  THIS WEEK SHOULD BE UTILIZED
BY COMMANDING OFFICERS AND VAO'S TO ENSURE THAT OVERSEAS U.S.
CITIZENS, INCLUDING ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE INFORMED OF CURRENT
REGISTRATION AND VOTING PROCEDURES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
PARTICIPATING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
   H.  IN-HAND DISTRIBUTION OF FPCA'S.  COMMANDS WILL ENSURE
DISTRIBUTION AS INDICATED IN REF A.
   I.  VOTER REGISTRATION.  MARINES SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THE
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF REGISTERING TO VOTE EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT
INTEND TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION.  REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE
SOMETIMES WAIVED FOR ABSENTEE VOTERS AND IN CERTAIN STATES THE
ABSENTEE BALLOT SERVES TO REGISTER THE VOTER.  REF A CONTAINS
COMPLETE DETAILS CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL STATE REQUIREMENTS.
   J.  VOTING ASSISTANCE REPORT.  THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE
ACT OF 1995 AND THE OVERSEAS CITIZENS VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1975
REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO PROVIDE THE PRESIDENT AND
CONGRESS WITH DATA ON THE ARMED FORCES VOTING PROGRAM.  THIS DATA IS
OBTAINED THROUGH A RANDOM POST-ELECTION SURVEY OF UNIT VAO'S THAT
WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE END OF THE ELECTION YEAR.  IN ADDITION TO
THE DOD SURVEY, VAO'S WILL SUBMIT A REPORT IN THE FORMAT CONTAINED
IN ENCL (3) OF REF C TO BE RECEIVED BY THE CMC (MHP) NO LATER THAN
15 DEC 98.  REPORT CONTROL SYMBOL DD-1742-03 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO
THIS REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
   K.  CIVILIAN ASSISTANCE.  COMMANDERS OF OVERSEAS UNITS SHOULD
PROVIDE THE SAME ABSENTEE VOTING ASSISTANCE REQUIRED BY THIS
BULLETIN TO U.S. CITIZENS ATTACHED TO THEIR COMMANDS AND TO OTHER
U.S. CITIZENS TEMPORARILY RESIDING OVERSEAS WHO REQUEST IT.
   L.  TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE.
       (1) THE HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS "VOTING ACTION LINE" IS
DSN:  426-2026 OR COML:  (703) 696-2026.  THE DOD VOTING
INFORMATION CENTER (VIC) TELEPHONE NUMBER IS LISTED ON PAGE ONE OF
REF A.
       (2) ENSURE THAT THE TELEPHONE INFORMATION OPERATORS AT YOUR
INSTALLATION HAVE THE NAMES AND OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF ALL LOCAL
VAO'S.
6.  RESERVE APPLICABILITY.  THIS BULLETIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE
CORPS RESERVE.
7.  THIS BULLETIN IS CANCELED 31 DECEMBER 1998.//
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