Voting deadline for primary elections Dec. 1

  • Published
  • By Maj. Beth Kelley Horine
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Giuliani or Edwards? Obama or McCain? Hillary or Huckabee?

For Americans living state-side, most of the 2008 Presidential Election candidates are already household names. But, for Americans living abroad who don't see political ads on television or hear campaign news every day, some may not recognize the political heavy hitters running in the upcoming 2008 Presidential primaries and caucuses.

To vote in the upcoming primary elections, you must be registered to vote by Dec. 1.

RAF Mildenhall's Installation Voting Assistance officer, Maj. Kale Mosley, encourages everyone to register now, whether you plan to vote in a state caucus or primary or not.

"The emphasis now is to contact everyone eligible to vote by the end of the month so they have the opportunity to register," he said. "However, keep in mind that each state has different rules and processes for their primary election or caucus, including the deadline to register for those events," Major Mosley added.

Military members serving overseas should contact their unit voting representative to register to vote as soon as possible, particularly those who plan to vote in their state's primary election or caucus.

"With the dates of many state primaries and caucuses scheduled earlier than in previous years, folks need to register now," said Master Sgt. Dennis Brewer, 352nd Special Operations Group voting assistance representative.

"If everyone is registered by Dec. 1, it's not an issue," Sergeant Brewer added.

Registering to vote is as simple as mailing in a voter registration postcard. U.S. citizens can also register online through their state's electronic registration process.

Visit http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html to register to vote electronically. In addition, most states offer an electronic transmittal process to submit completed ballots. Visit http://www.fvap.gov/ivas/fvap_state_menu.html and click on your state of residency to find out how to vote electronically.

"I'm a Texas state resident, so in addition to having to register to vote, I also have to register with a political party to vote in their primary," Major Mosley said. "However, each state is different and not all states require a political party affiliation. Check with your state legislature to find out for sure."

For RAF Mildenhall, details about how to register to vote, unit voting representatives and upcoming voting registration drives can be found on the base portal at https://dotmildenhall/organizations/100arw/staff/Vote. For information on absentee voting or voter assistance in general, visit http://www.fvap.gov.