1 department of defense federal voting assistance program briefing to idaho county clerks november...
TRANSCRIPT
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Department of Defense
Federal Voting Assistance Program
Briefing to Idaho County Clerks
November 30, 2005
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FVAP Mission is to Administer the:
Uniformed and OverseasCitizens Absentee Voting
Act (UOCAVA)
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UOCAVAUniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-410
PRESIDENT
FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
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FVAP Goals
1. Inform and educate U.S. citizensworldwide of the right to vote
2. Foster voting participation
3. Protect the integrity of, and enhance, the electoral process
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UOCAVA protects absentee voting rights for Uniformed Services members, their families and all U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.
Facilitate registration & voting for UOCAVA citizens
Consult state and local election officials
Prescribe absentee registration & ballot request form
Prescribe Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
Suggest design for state absentee ballot envelopes
Compile and distribute descriptive material on state absentee
registration and voting procedures
FVAP Program Responsibilities
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Members of the U.S. Uniformed Services
UOCAVA Covers:
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Members of the U.S. Merchant Marine
UOCAVA Covers:
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Family Members of all the Above
UOCAVA Covers:
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U.S. Citizens Residing Outside the U.S.
UOCAVA Covers:
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More than Six Million Potential Voters
3.7 Million overseas civilians, not affiliated
with the Government
1.4 Million military
1.3 Million military dependents of voting age
0.1 Million Federal civilian employees overseas
UOCAVA Covers:
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Military Voting Participation
All Services 1992 – 67%All Services 1996 – 64%All Services 2000 – 69%All Services 2004 – 79%
Army 2004 – 78%Navy 2004 – 77%Air Force 2004 – 80%Marine Corps 2004 – 79%Coast Guard 2004 – 83%
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Voting Participation
Overseas Civilian Participation1992 – 31%1996 – 37%2000 – 37%2004 – 58%
Federally Employed Overseas Civilians1992 – 79%1996 – 68%2000 – 65%2004 – 80%
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Did not know how to get an absentee ballotDid not know how to get an absentee ballot
Absentee ballot did not arriveAbsentee ballot did not arrive
Discouraged by absentee voting processDiscouraged by absentee voting process
Not interested in votingNot interested in voting
No candidate preferenceNo candidate preference
Not familiar with candidates or issuesNot familiar with candidates or issues
Did not think my vote matteredDid not think my vote mattered
Absentee ballot arrived too lateAbsentee ballot arrived too late
Thought not eligible to voteThought not eligible to vote
Did not know state of legal residency for votingDid not know state of legal residency for votingSource: FVAP 2000 Post-Election Survey
Non-Voters’ Excuses Given
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www.fvap.gov
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FVAP Web Page for Local Election Officials
www.fvap.gov
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Voting Assistance Guide
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Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
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On-Line FPCA
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Inadequate or No Legal Voting Residence Address Inadequate or Illegible Current Mailing Address Illegible Writing Applied to Wrong Jurisdiction Failure to Indicate Party Preference No Signature Received Too Late Form Not Completed Source: FVAP 2004 Post-Election Survey
Problems Local Election Officials Experienced in Processing FPCAs
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Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
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On-Line FWAB
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Mail ballots at least 30 days before election (Oklahoma)
Provide State Write-in Ballot (if authorized)
Use Email to deliver blank ballots (if allowed)
Provide simple ballot marking and return instructions with absentee ballots
Include instructions to return voted ballot by Email or fax, where authorized
Use the postage free mailing indicia — you should not pay postage for UOCAVA citizens
Inform the voters when you receive their FPCAs
Use E-mail or FVAP supplied postcard
Tell them when you will mail the absentee ballot
Information for Local Election Officials What You Can Do To Help Get Ballots Counted
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Internet Voter Registration Verification
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“National Business Service Center”
Ballot Envelope Design
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Insufficient ballot transit time
Most common barrier to UOCAVA voters
Regular mail delivery not available in remote areas
USPS suggestions for expeditious mail delivery
Use black ink on white paper
Use U.S. Postage Paid indicia: U.S. Postage Paid 39 USC 3406 - Reference Domestic Mail Manual DMM 703.8.0
Use Official Election Mail logo
Ballot Envelope Design
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NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IN THE U.S. MAIL - DMM 703.8.0
Ballot Envelope Design
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Ballot Envelope Design
FRONT
BACK
NO POSTAGE NCESSARY IN U.S. MAILS – DMM 703.8.0
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What DoD Did to Move Balloting Materials
Revised ballot envelope design
Proper postmarking — all major military units have postmarking devices
Weekly messages sent to military post offices on proper handling of ballots
Biweekly and weekly surveys of all military post offices to ensure no ballots were delayed
Published recommended mailing dates based on location to assure ballot receipt by state deadlines
Expedited postal delivery to APOs/FPOs with USPS Express mail service began Sep 20, 2004 and was extended through Oct 22, 2005 for a total of 5 weeks
Beginning Oct 24, 2004 voting materials from APO/FPO were express mailed to the gateways where they were packaged and sent express overnight to the
local election official.
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Mail service in Florida delayed due to Hurricane Charlie
Hurricane-related printing delays in several states
Return Address or voter ID barcodes on the back of ballot envelopes misread by USPS equipment resulting in the ballot looping back to the LEO
Pencils, paper clips, etc. included in ballot envelopes resulted in hand processing and delays
A few absentee ballots to overseas voters were returned by local post office to the LEO for postage due
Some combat APO address changes (zip codes) resulted in mail not being redirected to service member still in Iraq
Mail Problems Encountered During the 2004 Elections
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Mail Problems Encountered During the 2004 Elections
Risks to ballots in combat zones
Incendiary device on plane destroyed some ballots
Attacks against supply convoys delayed mails
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Military Postal Agency & US Postal System investigating the feasibility of including a special barcode to identify the mail piece as balloting material
APO/FPO mailing address including country names, i.e., IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, etc. resulted in mail being diverted into the local mail system
Mail Problems Encountered During the 2004 Elections (cont)
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APO/FPO Mail ProblemsImproper Addressing
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What Local Election Officials Can Do
to Improve Mail Delivery
Use the new domestic mail manual (DMM) number when printing new envelopes – DMM 703.8.0
Use machine printed address labels – hand written addresses cannot be read by the automatic mail scanners
Consult your Mail Piece Design Analyst at the USPS when using barcodes on the external envelope
Pencils, paper clips, etc. may result in hand processing and delays
Only use APO/FPO number and address – do not include the country name
Use the correct facing identification marks (FIM) FIM B – Used without a preprinted barcode at bottom of mail piece FIM C – Used with a preprinted barcode
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FVAP Special Efforts
Work with states to facilitate absentee voting
32 states provide 45 or more days ballot transit time
27 states provide a state special write-in absentee ballot
• Available 40-180 days before the election
• Used when military service or remote location precludes voting by regular absentee ballot
Monitor ballot transit times in jurisdictions
Recent court action in state elections
• Late counting of absentee ballots
• Express mail
• Use of FWAB
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FVAP working with HQ National Guard Bureau
• Instruction to contact LEOs upon deactivation
Letter to all Governors requesting voting assistance for National Guard Units
FVAP Election Year Site Visits
• Brief activated units at Mobilization Sites
• In-hand delivery of FPCA before leaving the country
National Guard and Reserve Mobilization And Return
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Special EffortsE-Voting Initiatives Since 2000
Special arrangements for members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan (e.g., electronic transmission & Internet ballot request/delivery)
States permitting fax delivery of blank ballot increased from 23 to 33
States permitting fax return of voted ballot increased from 17 to 24
FVAP Toll free fax access increased from 2 to 51 countries
Some jurisdictions allow blank ballot delivery by e-mail: Several VA counties Chicago/Cook County IL 19 counties in WA Pearl River County MS (state and local election) 12 counties in CA (special election) Florida Wisconsin
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Recommendations
Designate a contact to help UOCAVA citizens
Prepare a state UOCAVA Voter Guide for publication on website and in hard copy
Ensure election officials throughout the state are trained on provisions of UOCAVA
Provide procedures for UOCAVA citizens to follow on elections website
Differentiate between UOCAVA and state absentee voters
Perform internal survey of elections jurisdictions to determine compliance with state law for mailing absentee ballots to UOCAVA citizens
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Federal Legislation
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Defense Authorization Act for FY 2002, Title XVI, Uniformed Services Voting:
• Accept the FPCA as a Simultaneous Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Application
• Polling on Military Installations
• State Governor’s Report to Congress on Status of FVAP Legislative Initiatives
Federal Legislation
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Help America Vote Act of October 2002Title VII - Voting Rights of Military Members and Overseas Citizens
The Secretary of Defense shall:
• Prescribe regulations & procedures for VAOs to be provided time & resources necessary to perform their duties
• Implement measures to ensure a postmark or other official proof of mailing on ballots collected by DoD overseas or vessels at sea
• Develop standard oath for UOCAVA voting materials
• EAC Board of Advisors – 37 appointed members
Includes Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program
• EAC/DoD study report on best practices for facilitating voting by Uniformed Service and overseas citizens
Federal Legislation
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Help America Vote Act of October 2002Title VII - Voting Rights of Military Members and Overseas Citizens
The States shall:• Designate a single office responsible for UOCAVA citizen procedures
• Report to the Commission on number of UOCAVA absentee ballots sent, received and cast
• Extend effective period of the FPCA through the next two regularly scheduled general elections
• Inform UOCAVA voters if their registration or ballot application was refused and the reason for the refusal
• Shall not refuse an FPCA submitted within calendar year
Federal Legislation
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Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005, Title V, Subtitle I, Military Voting:
• Expand use of FWAB to Absent Uniformed Services Voters Inside the U.S.
• Expand FWAB Acceptance by Extension of Registration Deadline to Meet State Date
• Delay for on-line voting demonstration project
Federal Legislation
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State Legislative Priorities
Each year FVAP forwards recommended legislative changes to the states. The top priorities are:
Provide at least 45 days between the ballot mailing date and the date ballots are due. State Chief Election Officials should have emergency authority to extend ballot return deadline, allow electronic transmission, etc. Further expand the use of electronic transmission of voting materials. States should provide a state write-in absentee ballot to be sent out 90-180 days before all elections.
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Idaho - Legislation Passed
Allows voter to submit the FPCA by fax for absentee ballot request
Allows voters to receive the blank ballot by fax under certain emergency circumstances
Elimination of Notary Requirements
45 Day Ballot Transit Time for General Election
FPCA effective for all elections through the next two regularly scheduled general elections.
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www.fvap.gov
Phone: 1-800-438-VOTE (8683)
Toll Free Numbers from 59 Countries
Office Fax: 703–696–1352
ETS: 1–800–368–VOTE (8683)
Toll-free Fax Numbers from 49 Countries
Ombudsman Service
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2006 Election Dates Poster
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2006 Motivational Posters
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Train-the-trainer sessions directly to Embassy/Consulate, Installation/Unit Voting Assistance Officers
Workshops schedule began November 2005.
Voting Assistance Workshops
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Embassy and Consulate Support
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Local Election Official
FAX
E-mailVOTE!
Electronic Transmission Service (ETS)
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Jurisdictions that allow blank ballot delivery by e-mail:
Several VA counties
Chicago/Cook County IL
23 counties in WA
Pearl River County MS (state and local
election)
12 counties in CA (special election)
Electronic Transmission Service (ETS)
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Get-out-the-Vote
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Questions?
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Department of Defense
Federal Voting Assistance Program
Briefing to Idaho County Clerks
November 30, 2005