SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 – Every ballot, every vote counts!
That’s the message U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gregory S. Johnson, 63rd The Adjutant General of the Army (aka “The TAG”) wants Soldiers and family members stationed in the continental United States and overseas to understand as the 2022 U.S. mid-term elections rapidly approach.
Johnson shares on his views on the Army’s voting program and military postal operations on the premiere episode of Army Human Resources Command’s “TAG Talks” podcast.
As TAG, Johnson is the Army’s senior-most Voting Assistance Officer and, dual-hatted as Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA), makes him responsible for the effective operations of absentee voting and the mailing of those ballots in a timely manner.
This year, voters will elect members to all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, elections will occur for 39 state and territorial gubernatorial positions as well as numerous other state and local election initiatives.
“It’s very important for Soldiers to understand that deadlines are rapidly approaching for election day on Nov. 8, 2022,” said Johnson.
According to Rachel Gilman, program manager for the Army Voting Assistance Program, “It’s important for Soldiers to exercise their right to Vote because it’s a freedom that they defend. It’s also important to give your voice to your communities and have a say on issues that you care about. Issues that can also affect your family members.”
Some will recall that the 2020 election cycle drew record voter turnout with high numbers of absentee ballots.
Voting absentee is a very simple process. Those eligible who wish to vote in the 2022 elections should fill out a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and send it off to their local election office. Once the application is received by the election official, voters should begin looking for their ballots to arrive 45 days before the election. Voters can also go to the FVAP.gov website and use the state voting wizard to register and request a ballot there.
Gilman is quick to remind all that the Army Voting Assistance Program is a nonpartisan program that makes registration and voting information available to all eligible Army voters. She emphasized that the Army only tracks the number of eligible voters assisted and the number of Federal Post Card Applications which eligible voters can use to register and request a ballot.
“Federal law does not allow the Voting Assistance Program to appear to be marching troops to the polls, asking eligible voters whether they voted or who they voted for,” she added.
Soldiers and family members can find up to date voting information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website, which is FVAP.gov. They can also contact the more than 2000 unit and installation Voting Assistance Officers for information.
“We ensure unit and installation voting assistance officers provide information on key dates, deadlines, and processes. The TAG also sends information through command channels and monthly messages to unit personnel offices, Gilman said.
Johnson used the podcast to remind listeners that completed ballots accepted at military post offices are transported via express mail from the point of acceptance to the end delivery destination.
“Each ballot accepted at any Military Post Office will have an Express Mail Military Service USPS Label 11-DOD affixed to the voted ballot. The cost for this is funded by the Dept. of Defense, so the mailer will not incur any charges for this extra service”, said Don Westberry, postal program manager and guest on the podcast.
In addition to the express mail service, patrons who present a voted ballot will receive a tracking number from the USPS Label 11-DOD to track their ballot on the United States Postal Service website.
Westberry added that local military post office officials are available to explain the process and answer patron questions and concerns.
To find the TAG Talks podcast, visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/podcast/543/tag-talks
Story by Bill Costello
U.S. Army Human Resources Command