Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he is encouraging active duty military personnel and college students to vote in the upcoming elections to be held in American Samoa.

            “The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) is a federal law established by Congress to make sure active duty military personnel serving overseas, their families, and other citizens living abroad (including college students) may vote in federal elections.  According to federal law, each State and Territory is required to allow absent uniformed and overseas voters to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in general, special, primary and runoff elections for Federal office,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.

“If you are a US citizen or national and are going to be overseas or if you are in the military and wish to vote absentee, there are special provisions for you to register and receive an overseas absentee ballot.  To do this you will need to complete a ‘Federal Post Card Registration and Absentee Ballot Request’ and mail your application to Mr. Soliai T. Fuimaono, Chief Election Officer, Election Office, American Samoa Government, Pago Pago, American Samoa, 96799.  American Samoa allows you to send the FPCA for registration and absentee ballot by fax.  After faxing, submit the FPCA by mail.”

“American Samoa does NOT allow you to receive the blank ballot by fax and American Samoa does NOT allow you to return the voted ballot by fax,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “If you are an UNregistered citizen of American Samoa, the Chief Election Officer must receive your FPCA not later than 4:30 pm, 30 days before the election.”

“If you are a registered citizen, the chief election officer must receive your FPCA between 75 and 15 days before the election.  However, given the mail delays, I would encourage you to request your FPCA today,” Faleomavaega said. 

“For our active duty service members whose home of residence is American Samoa, the Department of Defense has outlined 10 additional steps to make sure your absentee vote is counted.” 

1. Start by contacting your Unit/Embassy/Organization Voting Assistance Officer for help in absentee registration and voting.
2. Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website at www.fvap.gov for information on the absentee registration and voting process.
3. Ensure that you have applied for your absentee ballot using the hard copy of the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
4. Make sure your local election official has your current mailing address.
5. Sign and date all election materials.
6. Fulfill your state’s witness/notary requirements (if required).
7. Ensure that your ballot or FPCA is postmarked.
8. Register to vote and request your ballot in a timely manner – not later than September.  Send your FPCA application to the Chief Election Officer in American Samoa at the address listed above.
9. VOTE – mail your ballot not later than October 15, 2004.
10. Use the Federal Write In Absentee Ballot if you are overseas and your Territory’s absentee ballot does not arrive in time to be mailed back by the Territory’s deadline.

           “The Federal Write In Absentee Ballot is a back-up ballot in case the Chief Election Office in the Territory is unable to send you an absentee ballot in time for your vote to be counted in the November election,” the Congressman said.  “Your Voting Assistance Officer (VOA) will be able to answer additional questions you may have about the back-up ballot.  You may use the back-up ballot only if you have requested an absentee ballot from the Election Office in American Samoa and did not receive a ballot in a timely manner.”

             “As this year’s election approaches, I hope this information is useful and I again encourage our active duty military personnel and college students to get out and vote.  You have every right to vote in Federal elections held in American Samoa.  As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, ‘The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.’  It’s your future.  Vote for it and request your FPCA today,” the Congressman concluded.