By Tim Cherry
Staff Writer
Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Fort Belvoir garrison offers military members and civilian personnel the opportunity to assist in the 2012 election season by serving as Voting Assistance Officers.

VAOs assist Soldiers and civilians with the voting process for each of the 52 states and are specifically beneficial to servicemembers and civilians who vote absentee. Interested personnel must be appointed by their superior officer and inform the Directorate of Human Resource’s Military Personnel Division of their willingness to participate.

“They assist the servicemember, especially active-duty members, not so much in the federal elections but in the state elections. As military members they could be residents of Alaska, but they’re stationed at Fort Belvoir,” said Jefferson Robinson, DHR human resources specialist. “In order to vote in their general and primary elections back home they have to fill out an absentee ballot. VAOs point them in the right direction.”

According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website, VAOs ensure that citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act understand their voting rights and how to register and vote absentee. They provide accurate, non-partisan, voting information and assistance. They may be members of the uniformed services, civilians, or members of an overseas U.S. citizen’s organization.

VAOs help people navigate numerous voting procedures such as, finding election dates, requesting ballot forms, and determining the various requirements for each state.

Robinson said all Belvoir service units should have a VAO to assist servicemembers and he encourages tenant organizations to also have representatives.

“Soldiers are sworn to uphold and defend the constitution and part of that constitution gives everybody the right to vote, to include Soldiers, so it’s their right and their duty to vote,” Robinson said.

Personnel can conduct self-training or in-person workshops to become an voting assistance officer.

MPD is hosting a voting assistance workshop, which is open to current and prospective VAOs, in the Barden Education Center at noon March 28.

The training covers responsibilities, describes the absentee voting process and the resources available to conduct a successful voting assistance program.

Personnel can visit the FVAP’s website to download PowerPoint slides containing the self-training lessons.

MPD is gearing up for an heavy election season that features state and federal elections, including the presidential election, in the fall.

DHR has made voter registration, election schedules, absentee ballots and other supplies available in the garrison’s Welcome Center for the Belvoir community.

Robinson hopes to have plenty VAOs assisting throughout the year.

“It’s extremely important this year,” Robinson said. “It’s one of the few opportunities that allow you to pick your boss and for Soldiers that’s a pretty big deal.”

Call (703) 805-5562 for more information on how to become a VAO.