R 222131Z AUG 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 470/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK 27 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER 2012//
POC/JOSEPH SCHUMACHER/GS12/UNIT:MFP4/-/TEL:703-784-9511//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS SET ASIDE THE WEEK OF 27 SEPTEMBER THRU 4 OCTOBER 2012 AS ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK.
2.  DURING ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK, ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS (MARINES, CIVILIAN MARINES AND THEIR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS) ARE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN THEIR COMPLETED ABSENTEE BALLOTS.  MAILING COMPLETED BALLOTS DURING ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK WILL ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR YOUR BALLOT TO BE MAILED AND COUNTED IN YOUR STATE.
3.  MARINES, CIVILIAN MARINES AND AUTHORIZED FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR STATE ABSENTEE BALLOT BY "ABSENTEE VOTING WEEK" SHOULD USE THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT (FWAB).  THE FWAB IS AN EMERGENCY BALLOT AND IS VALID WHEN AN ELIGIBLE VOTER MAKES A TIMELY ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST AND THE BALLOT IS NOT RECEIVED.
4.  SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING ON DEPLOYMENT, WHO WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO REGULAR MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY, SHOULD USE A FWAB IMMEDIATELY.  IF YOU NEED AN FWAB OR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THE FWAB, SEE YOUR UNIT VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER.
5.  VOTERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR STATE ABSENTEE BALLOT AFTER ALREADY SUBMITTING THE FWAB SHOULD ALSO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE RECEIVED BALLOT IMMEDIATELY.
6.  VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING 100 PERCENT OF THEIR SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CIVILIAN MARINES WITH THE GOAL OF ENCOURAGING THEM TO VOTE THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.  VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING FWAB FORMS, AND SHOULD OFFER MAILING ASSISTANCE FOR VOTING MATERIALS TO ALL PERSONNEL.
7.  COMMANDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING TRAINING IS COMPLETED FOR VOTERS AND VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS.  COURSES ARE CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED VIA MARINENET TO AUTOMATICALLY DOCUMENT THIS TRAINING TO THE SERVICE MEMBERS OMPF.  THE FOLLOWING LINKS SHOULD BE UTILIZED IN THE INTERIM: FOR VOTERS (REQ ANNUALLY): WWW.FVAP.GOV/VAO/VOTER-TRAINING.HTML.FOR INSTALLATION VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER (IVAOS): WWW.FVAP.GOV/VAO/OFFICE-TRAINING.HTML. FOR UNIT VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER (UVAOS): WWW.FVAP.GOV/VAO/VAO-TRAINING.HTML.
8.  FOR HELP WITH THE FWAB OR ANY OTHER VOTING CONCERN, CONTACT YOUR UVAO OR VISIT THE MARINE CORPS VOTING WEBPAGE AT: WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL, KEYWORD "VOTING", OR THE FVAP WEBSITE AT: WWW.FVAP.GOV.
9.  DON'T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT NOW. "OUR COUNTRY, OUR LEADERS, OUR CHOICE.  VOTE."
10.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//