Voting Emphasis Weeks
Each federal election year (even-numbered years), we work with the Military Services and overseas citizens groups to conduct Voting Emphasis Weeks in an effort to inform absentee voters of their right to vote and help ensure they are aware of the steps they need to follow.
Armed Forces Voters Week
Goal
Deliver the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to all Service members and their voting-age family members. Encourage everyone who wants to vote to fill out and submit the form immediately.
What you can do
- Offer assistance in completing the form.
- Conduct nonpartisan voting workshops and registration drives. Invite election officials from your area to assist.
- Hang voting banners near installation entrances or display a voting slogan on installation marquees.
- Run voting Public Service Announcements (PSAs) at the installation theater.
- Put up motivational posters with voter registration information in popular areas such as installation housing, gyms, commissaries, and exchanges. Be sure to include your contact information.
- Use media outlets to encourage voter registration. Advertise events on Facebook and in installation newspapers.
- Plan your events around Independence Day.
Overseas Citizens Voters Week
Goal
Deliver the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to all whom you assist. Encourage everyone who wants to vote to fill out the form immediately.
What you can do
- Put up posters to tell voters how to reach you for assistance.
- Use the Guide or information provided at FVAP.gov to help everyone fill out their forms.
- Conduct a nonpartisan voting workshop and registration drive.
- Get help from other VAOs and overseas citizen organizations.
- Use media outlets to encourage voter participation.
- Hang banners and posters in the Consular section of embassies and consulates.
- Run Public Service Announcements (PSAs). Download our PSAs and see what other materials we have available.
- Plan your events around Independence Day celebrations.
Absentee Voting Week
Goal
Encourage everyone to return their voted ballots immediately or use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
What you can do
- Ask voters if they have received their requested state absentee ballot. If they have not, give them a FWAB and provide assistance with completing the form as necessary.
- Use media outlets to encourage people to return their state absentee ballot or the FWAB. Run reminders and articles in installation newspapers.
- Enlist the help of other VAOs, local election officials, or overseas citizen organizations to conduct events encouraging people to return their absentee ballots.
- Put up posters that tell people how to reach you for help. Hang voting banners near installation entrances or display a voting slogan on installation marquees.
- Run voting Public Service Announcements (PSAs) at the installation theater.
- Host unit or installation "Voting Days" where computer terminals are set up for the purpose of receiving, completing, and printing ballots.
