Milper Message Number

10-323 

Proponent 

AHRC-PDP-P

Title

GUIDANCE IN IMPLEMENTING INSTALLATION VOTER ASSISTANCE OFFICES (VA 

OFFICES)

...Issued: [09 Dec 10]...

A. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PERSONNEL AND READINESS), DIRECTIVE –TYPE 

MEMORANDUM (DTM) 10-021–GUIDANCE IN IMPLEMENTING INSTALLATION VOTER ASSISTANCE 

OFFICES 

B. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVE INSTRUCTION 1000.04, FEDERAL VOTING 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FVAP) 

C. 2010-2011 ARMY VOTING ACTION PLAN, DTD 19 MARCH 2010

D. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) for FY 2010

E. ARMY REGULATION 608-20, ARMY VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

1. EXPIRATION: CANNOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME

2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING VOTING 

ASSISTANCE OFFICES ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. 

3. UPDATED GUIDANCE 

A. PER REFERENCE A, UNIFORMED SERVICES WILL ESTABLISH VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES 

WITHIN THE INSTALLATION HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATION THAT REPORTS DIRECTLY TO 

THE GARRISON COMMANDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES SHALL BE 

DESIGNATED AS A VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCY. 

B. FVAP HAS DEVELOPED SPECIFIC TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THIS PROCESS IS 

IMPLEMENTED FULLY, CORRECTLY AND PRECISELY IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW 

AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDANCE DEVELOPED BY THE DOD. TRAINING CAN BE 

FOUND AT WWW.FVAP.GOV. 

4. VOTER ASSISTANCE OFFICES SHALL BE ESTABLISHED ON U.S. ARMY INSTALLATIONS:
A. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE INSTALLATION 

HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATION REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE GARRISON COMMANDER, 

EVEN IF GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN A SEPARATE OFFICE SUCH AS A PERSONNEL 

SERVICE OFFICE, FAMILY READINESS OFFICE, IN & OUT PROCESSING CENTER, COMMUNITY 

SERVICES OFFICES, OR OTHER CENTRALIZED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SITE. AS OF THE 

DATE OF THIS DTM, THE IVAO SHALL ALSO BE LOCATED IN A WELL ADVERTISED, FIXED 

LOCATION AND SHOULD BE PHYSICALLY CO-LOCATED WITH AN EXISTING OFFICE THAT 

RECEIVES EXTENSIVE VISITS BY SERVICE PERSONNEL, FAMILY MEMBERS AND DOD 

CIVILIANS.

B. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PRE-EXISTING IN-PROCESSING 

ACTIVITIES REQUIRED OF REPORTING PERSONNEL. PROVIDE WRITTEN INFORMATION 

REGARDING VOTER REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND ABSENTEE BALLOT PROCEDURES. 

OFFICES SHOULD PROVIDE ABSENTEE VOTING MATERIAL AND VOTING ASSISTANCE TO ALL 

UNIFORMED SERVICES PERSONNEL, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND DOD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES TO 

INCLUDE INTERNET ACCESS, WHERE PRACTICABLE.

C. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL PROVIDE ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL ASSISTANCE IN 

REQUESTING VOTER REGISTRATION, UPDATING THE INDIVIDUAL’S VOTER REGISTRATION 

INFORMATION BY COMPLETING A FEDERAL POST CARD APPLICATION (FPCA-SF 76) AND 

REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.

D. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL PROVIDE THE FPCA TO ALL UNIFORMED SERVICES 

PERSONNEL, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS (BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE U.S.) AND DOD 

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES (OUTSIDE THE U.S.) WHO REQUEST VOTING ASSISTANCE. DOD CIVILIAN 

EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE U.S. SHALL BE PROVIDED THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION 

APPLICATION (NVRA).

E. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO THESE CITIZENS IN 

COMPLETING THE NECESSARY FORM.

F. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL MAIL THE COMPLETED FORM TO THE APPROPRIATE 

STATE OFFICE, IF REQUESTED BY THE CITIZEN.

G. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL PUBLISH THEIR LOCATION, ADDRESS, HOURS OF 

OPERATION, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE INSTALLATION AND SERVICE 

VOTING WEBSITE. 

H. VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICES WILL MAINTAIN MONTHLY RECORDS REGARDING THE 

NUMBER OF CITIZENS ASSISTED IN THE REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST 

PROCESS, THE NUMBER OF FPCA AND NVRA FORMS GIVEN TO CITIZENS, THE NUMBER OF 

FORMS MAILED TO ELECTION OFFICES, AND THE NUMBER OF FORMS TAKEN BY THE CITIZENS 

THEMSELVES.

5. THESE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE OUTLINED IN THE 2010-2011 ARMY VOTING 

ACTION PLAN.

6. THE U.S. ARMY POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MS. RACHEL GILMAN, DSN 983-

8475 OR COMMERICAL 502-613-8475.