MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Throughout each election year, the Federal Voting Assistance Program receives an abundance of questions concerning state of residence for voting purposes from military personnel and their family members.
As the 2004 General Election approaches, Tri-Command Marines, sailors, their family members, and all citizens who fall under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act must be aware of the guidelines before casting their vote.
"It is important that [military members] understand the procedures mostly because this is a big election year for us, especially since the recent war," said Capt. Melanie Hudson, Depot Adjutant and Voting Assistance Officer. "A lot of people are going to reflect back on the war when making the decision on how to cast their vote. Also, there are a lot of prior military running for office this time."
Before considering how to vote, Uniformed Service members and their families must first determine their legal voting residence. In order to do this, they have to understand what state they are a legal resident of. To be a legal resident of a particular state, the guidelines for residency must be followed.
Home of Record is not necessarily going to be the same as legal residence. Home of Record is the address that a military member gives his/her service upon entering. Legal residence can be wherever individuals have their vehicles registered, where their driver's licenses were issued and where they should be registered to vote.
The two residences may, in fact, be the same, and in most cases of military members, they usually are. Those who have changed legal residency since joining the service may not revert back to their Home of Record as their legal residence without physically moving back there with intent to stay for a prolonged period.
"Home of Record will never change, unless there is a break in service," said Staff Sgt. Veronica Sanchez, admin chief, Depot Consolidated Administrative Center.
Military members may live somewhere other than their Home of Record and still claim that as their legal residence, as long as they have not gone through the process of changing residency in another state. They must also have the intent to return after completing service.
Spouses should be aware that their legal residence might differ from that of the active duty member. In order to change it after marriage, the spouse must fulfill physical presence requirements, maintaining the intent to stay or come back.
For U.S. citizens living and/or working overseas, legal residence is considered the state the individual last resided before leaving the United States. This remains true even for
those who have nothing left that binds them to that particular state, as in property or relatives, and may not know if they will ever come back.
Overseas citizens will be required to fill out a Federal Post Card Application, which will provide them with absentee ballots and ensure registration is completed. Voting Assistance Officers, located at U.S. Embassies or U.S.
Consulates around the world, are available to assist citizens with this process or answer any questions they may have. Certain American organizations that exist overseas, including Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad, can also provide citizens with the appropriate voting materials.
This year, another option may make voting easier for military members, as they are now allowed to vote online for the first time. Visit www.serveusa.gov to find out how.
"It's not only important for us as Marines to exercise our right to vote, but for all Americans, especially since that right did not always exist," said Hudson.
For more information on voting residency guidelines or how to vote under the UOCAVA, log on to www.fvap.gov, or contact your unit Voting Assistance Officer.
To speak with Hudson, call 228-2592 or e-mail at hudsonmr@mcrdpi.usmc.mil.