FVAP Seeks to Modify Military Voting Forms


FVAP is Updating Key Forms for 2014 – We Need Your Input!


 ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (SF-76) and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) (SF 182) forms are being updated to increase their ease-of-use and effectiveness. The two forms are available on the Federal Register for your review and comment. 


We are seeking technical and design comments and recommendations from:



  • Those who use the forms: military members, their spouses and overseas citizens;

  • State and local election officials who process these forms;

  • Organizations who assist the above groups; and

  • Members of the general public.

Suggestions are welcome on all aspects of the forms: layout, flow and design, form instructions, wording, and technical issues. The goal is for the voter to provide all required information on the first submission and reduce the need for additional communication between voters and election officials.


 A summary of the changes from the current versions of the FPCA and FWAB can be found in the Supplementary Information section of the Federal Register Notices. When you send your comments and suggestions, please indicate if you are a military or overseas citizen absentee voter, an election official, or a member of the public.


 Form usability is an important part of this redesign process. Please download and complete the forms as if you were registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or completing a back-up ballot to help ensure the forms are easy and intuitive to use. Provide any usability comments using the process below.


 To view Federal Register Notices:


 FPCA: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-07485


FWAB: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-07486


To view Draft Forms:


FPCA: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOD-2013-OS-0061


FWAB: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOD-2013-OS-0065


To submit comments and suggestions:


Online: Comments and usability feedback should be submitted on the Federal eRulemarking Portal. Use the links above or http://www.regulations.gov.


Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office


         4800 Mark Center Drive


         East Tower, Suite 02G09


         Alexandria, VA 22350-3100


Please do not send comments directly to FVAP. Also, pass this notice on to anyone who may have valuable input toward improvement of the forms.


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For more information on FVAP or assistance with the absentee voting process, visit FVAP.gov, call FVAP at 1-800-438-VOTE or DSN 425-1584 (CONUS)/312-425-1584 (OCONUS), or email vote@fvap.gov. Remember, you also can contact your unit or installation voting assistance officers for assistance during any step of the process.
Facebook.com/DoDFVAP
Twitter @FVAP

Voter ID and the Wisconsin Judicial Elections

Big night for conservatives in Wisconsin elections.  John Fund at National Review:

“In a third judicial election, Milwaukee County circuit judge Rebecca Bradley won an election with 54 percent of the vote over Janet Protasiewicz, a veteran prosecutor backed by Democrats. Bradley had been appointed to the bench by Governor Walker last year. Protasiewicz’s TV ads attacked Bradley as Governor Walker’s “handpicked” judge and accused her of being a member of the Republican National Lawyer’s Association, calling it an “extreme” group because of its support for voter-ID laws. Voters obviously didn’t buy that pitch, and reelected Bradley in a county that gave Barack Obama 67 percent of its vote in 2012.”

National League of Women Voters (LWV) voice concerns over Presidential Election Commission

“We do have some concerns that picking two partisans that have
represented the parties is not necessarily going to lead to the best
solutions for citizens,” Elizabeth MacNamara, the president of the
League of Women Voters, told MSNBC.

Interesting that the partisan League of Women Voters (LWV) who consistently march lockstep with the Democrats is complaining of partisans leading an election commission. 

FVAP Deputy Enjoys Opening Day Afternoon

The Department of Defense Inspector General has found that the Federal Voting Assistance Program has dropped the ball when it comes to compliance with federal law requiring voting assistance offices on military installations.  FVAP and DOD have established fewer than 50 percent of the offices required by federal law.  Because of these failures, servicemembers were unable to receive help registering to vote and with casting ballots in the 2012 election.

Maybe too many FVAP employees attended too many Washington Nationals games in 2012.

Yesterday afternoon was opening day in Washington and FVAP was represented at Nationals Park.  Paddy McGuire, Deputy Director at FVAP took in a Nationals game from the first base line, (Section 130 Row F, as in Fun, to be precise). 

Now we are assuming that Mr. McGuire filled out all the appropriate leave slips.  We aren’t suggesting he was bilking the taxpayers.  Thats between him and Matt Boehmer.  And who’s to blame him for wanting to kick back on a work day afternoon and take in a ball game?  But given the sorry state of military voting, maybe it’s time to skip Nationals’ games and get those Voting Assistance Offices open.  Chairman Candice Miller can ask at the next oversight hearing whether opening day is a priority, or if military voting is.  McGuire once told a fellow FVAP staffer (according to FVAP sources with direct knowledge) – “I’m just collecting a paycheck, avoiding work, trying to do as little as possible.”  Nice work, if you can get it.





New York Dem Arrested for Trying to Rig Election

New York Post. “State Sen. Malcolm Smith and city Councilman Dan Halloran were arrested this morning on charges they were plotting to rig this year’s mayoral election through fraud and bribes.

The pols allegedly formed an alliance built on cash payments and fraud to get Smith — one of the state’s top Democrats — placed on the GOP mayoral ballot, sources said.


FBI agents arrested them both at their Queens homes shortly after 6 a.m.


“I have no idea,” Halloran, in handcuffs, told a Post reporter when asked if he knew why he was being arrested.”