All posts tagged vote

FVAP Releases 2008 Survey Methods

by waybeyondthebeltway on October 11, 2009 in Americans Abroad with No comments

FVAP has released the 2008 Survey Methods and invites questions and comments from academics and others.

October 5, 2009 – Arlington, VA – The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) is pre-releasing its 2008 Post-Election Survey methods and questions and is inviting election officials, military and overseas voting advocates and members of academia to review FVAPs methods for statistical reliability and that they meet the industry standards.

FVAP is required by law to conduct these surveys after every Presidential election and report specifically on the effectiveness of assistance provided by FVAP to military and overseas citizens, an analysis of Uniformed Services and overseas nonmilitary voter participation, and a description of State-federal cooperation.

However, the greatest public interest has been in the statistical analyses of voter participation rates. With that interest has also been significant criticism of the statistical methods used in previous surveys, especially the 2004 survey. In response to that criticism, FVAP engaged the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) to incorporate FVAP’s survey questions into its annual Status of Forces Survey (SOFS), a well-respected, widely accepted survey methodology for assessing military personnel issues, and marks a substantial improvement in the methodology used for FVAP’s 2008 voting survey.

The early release of this section of the 2008 final report is done so that the UOCAVA voting community, other government agencies, and interested professionals can review the survey’s methodology in advance of the final survey analysis and report writing. It is FVAP’s hope that this cycle of surveys will set a new benchmark for analyzing military voting participation, and that the early release of the survey methodology and questions will help identify any remaining statistical issues before issuing the final report, and to address many of the criticisms raised regarding the 2004 and prior surveys. Specifically, a DMDC Survey Note is also being released describing the key statistical methodological differences between the 2004 and 2008 surveys.

FVAP Director Bob Carey invited interested observers to critically assess the 2008 Survey methodology, “Broad public acceptance of the statistical methods underlying this survey is crucial to public acceptance of their results. I invite the academic community, election officials, and the UOCAVA voting advocacy community to take a ‘wire-brush’ to our methods and tell us where we can improve, before we write the final report.” Comments can be submitted to FVAP’s Survey Manager erin.stpierre@fvap.ncr.gov by October 26th, 2009.

All methods can be found at http://www.fvap.gov/reference/18threport.html.

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California Special Primary

by waybeyondthebeltway on July 22, 2009 in Americans Abroad with No comments

California to Hold a Special Primary Election on September 1, 2009, for Candidates for Representative in Congress from the 10th District

On Tuesday, September 1, 2009, there will be a special primary election in the 10th Congressional District of California to determine the political parties’ candidates to appear on the ballot for a special general election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, to fill the seat vacated by Representative Ellen O. Tauscher. If one candidate receives a majority of the votes (50% + 1) in the special primary election, no special general election will be held. To determine if your legal residence is in the 10th Congressional District, click on http://www.fvap.gov/reference/electoff.html and then on “United States House of Representatives.”

Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs) should contact those citizens who are California voters and inform them of this news release and assist them in requesting and returning their absentee ballot.

DEADLINES:

For September 1, 2009 Primary-

Absentee Voter Registration: August 17, 2009

Ballot Request for Registered Voters: August 25, 2009

Ballot Return: September 1, 2009

For November 3, 2009 General-

Absentee Voter Registration: October 19, 2009

Ballot Request for Registered Voter: October 27, 2009

Ballot Return: November 3, 2009

REGISTERING TO VOTE AND REQUESTING A BALLOT:

All members of the U.S. Uniformed Services, their family members and citizens residing outside the U.S. who are California residents within the 10th District must request a ballot for this special election by completing and submitting a registration and ballot request, Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, by August 17, 2009, if they have not done so already in calendar year 2009. The online version of the FPCA is available from the FVAP at www.fvap.gov. The FPCA may be submitted by fax or email in addition to regular mail. County Election Office information is available at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_d.htm.

Your county elections official must receive the request for an absentee ballot not later than Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

Voters who are California residents within the 10th District, who requested and received a ballot for the Federal General Election on November 4, 2008, will automatically receive a special election ballot, and need not take any further action unless their mailing address has changed.

California law allows members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and their family members to send the FPCA for registration and ballot request by fax. After faxing, submit the original FPCA by mail. The faxed FPCA must include a Transmittal Cover Sheet, which may be found at www.fvap.gov/resources/media/coversheet.pdf. If you are unable to get normal mail delivery, use the California State Special Absentee Voter Ballot. It is available up to 60 days before the election to any voter unable to vote in the regular absentee voting process due to military or other contingencies. To request it, write: “I cannot vote an absentee ballot during the normal absentee voting period due to military or other contingencies that preclude normal mail delivery. [Specify reason(s).] I request a special absentee ballot.” Or contact your County Election Office.

You can fax directly to your local elections office. Fax numbers can be found at: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_d.htm or by using the following toll-free fax numbers through FVAP for the U.S. and Canada:

1-800-368-8683, (703) 693-5527 or DSN 223-5527 (military). At www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreefax.html, there is a list of additional toll-free fax numbers from overseas countries.

To ensure delivery by the deadline, MPSA recommends military voters putting your ballot in the mail by August 17, 2009 for OEF/OIF locations and August 22, 2009 for other overseas locations. Overseas citizens should return their ballot as soon as possible to allow adequate transit time.

RETURNING YOUR BALLOT:

California allows overseas Uniformed Service Members and overseas citizens to return ballots by mail or fax. If returning the marked ballot by fax, you must complete and sign the Transmittal Cover Sheet found including the acknowledgment that they are waiving their right to cast their ballots secretly at www.fvap.gov/resources/media/coversheet.pdf. Your ballot will be counted if it is returned by close of polls (8:00 p.m. PST) on September 1, 2009.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the California Secretary of State’s website at: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_mov.htm.

The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html. Questions may be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1155 or: vote@fvap.ncr.gov. Visit the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov.

Absentee voting fix not enough — need comprehenive reform

by waybeyondthebeltway on June 13, 2009 in Americans Abroad with No comments

Absentee voting fix not enough, advocates say – Army News, news from Iraq, – Army Times

A bill to improve overseas voting passed the House Administration Committee, but voting rights advocates say a more comprehensive fix is required.

According to the Army Times, the Military Voting Protection Act, HR 2393 introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) would establish an express mail collection system for sending cast ballots back to state election officials. The bill also:

  • establishes a tracking system that would allow service members to find out whether their ballot had been delivered
  • requires the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) to set a deadline for receiving absentee ballots of noon on the fourth day before federal elections, beginning with the November 2010 elections — if necessary, the deadline could be set earlier
  • makes FVAP officials responsible for collecting ballots and delivering them to the states via express mail
  • requires FVAP to submit a report to Congress after each general election on the effectiveness of the system

Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president of the Overseas Vote Foundation notes that sending the ballot back to the US is the last step in the absentee voting process and that:

The irresistible urge to focus on the last step of the process, the step that is held hostage by all others that precede it, is an unfortunate distraction if it is the only measure taken in the face of other very real remaining challenges. Speeding the return of the voted ballot won’t help much if the voter’s request for the ballot is late and if is/her ballot does not show up in time to be cast.

A comprehensive approach is necessary. Please contact your state’s Congressional delegation and make your voice heard on thios critical issue.

Calling all UOCAVA voters!

by waybeyondthebeltway on June 8, 2009 in Americans Abroad with 1 Comment

A call to action (a reminder for those who read Saturday’s post).

FAWCO has posted an excellent summary of two key bills impacting American voters abroad that the House will mark-up on Wednesday. FAWCO’s call to action includes a sample letter to members of Congress in support of these measures. What is more, FAWCO provides a concise overview of the legislation.

The bills will be marked-up on Wednesday so please send your letters of support as soon as possible — Wednesday morning at the latest.

Vote

by waybeyondthebeltway on November 4, 2008 in Americans Abroad with No comments

Today is Election Day, so if haven’t done so already, get out and vote!

Follow the results on Political Wire which will have live election results for the presidential race and all the Senater and House of Reprsenatives races direct from the Associated Press in real time.

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