2021-2025

Strategic Plan
2 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Message from the Director

Message from the Director

Each day of the year, the staff of the Federal Voting Assistance Program 

(FVAP) come to work to support the voting rights of Uniformed Service 

members, their families, and overseas Americans living and working around 

the world. In pursuit of this mission, the FVAP team applies a spirit of 

customer service not only to voters themselves, but to all of our partners and 

stakeholders. FVAP does this through its uncommon dedication and a special 

passion for its work.

In response to Executive Order 14019, “Promoting Access to Voting,” 

March 10, 2021, FVAP adjusted its strategic plan to reflect not only its 

ongoing support and requirements identified through the Uniformed and 

Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, but the need to increase overall 

voter awareness for all individuals affiliated with the Department and those 

receiving assistance. This strategic plan identifies the role of FVAP as the 

Department lead to promote awareness of voting resources not only for those living and working away from 

home, but also those who register and vote in their local jurisdictions.

The goals set forth below inform FVAP’s work into a cohesive strategic plan reflecting lessons learned from 

prior election cycles and setting objectives for the program’s performance over the next 5 years. This strategic 

plan also sets forth a framework for approaching specific absentee voting challenges for the customers we 

serve. In consideration of its continuous program improvement, FVAP embarked on a multi-faceted approach 

in consideration of its Strategic Plan involving every phase of an election cycle it supports and reliance upon 

customer and stakeholder involvement.

FVAP’s program activities, after each federal election cycle, are focused on improving the resources, online 

tools and tactics necessary to measure key performance indicators in order to raise voter awareness and 

overall program effectiveness. In that spirit, FVAP recognizes the importance of applying critical thinking in its 

approach to measuring program performance. The next 5 years represent a new opportunity for FVAP to use 

structured administrative data to better identify factors that ultimately drive absentee voter success or failure 

when attempting to navigate the absentee voting process. Serving away from home in our military or living 

overseas each represent unique challenges for improving readiness and ensuring voting eligibility. FVAP’s 

Strategic Plan embraces the past successes providing quality customer service to a population of over 5 million 

eligible voters, but renews the need to lean forward and address ongoing challenges.

The opportunity for improvement is constant and the FVAP staff epitomizes the sense of purpose identified in 

the three goals of this Strategic Plan. As public servants, the team at FVAP will dedicate ourselves to these goals 

and to all the work we do on behalf of the American people.

 

 David Beirne, Director

David, Beirne, Director
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 3

FVAP's Mission

FVAP’s Mission

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) supports Uniformed Service members, their 

families, and overseas citizens with absentee voting.

Goal 1:Be a highly valued customer service program to military members, their eligible 

 family members, voting assistance officers, overseas voters, civilian personnel, and 

 election officials.

Goal 2: Reduce obstacles to military and overseas absentee voting success.

Goal 3: Increase Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voter 

 awareness of available tools and resources.
4 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Our Vision

Our Vision

The Federal Voting Assistance Program is a premier organization providing first-class assistance 

so that all Service members, their families, and overseas citizens can successfully vote absentee 

from anywhere in the world. In pursuing this guiding vision, we place value in:

• Maintaining a customer service outlook, 

• Collaborating with stakeholders on new and ongoing activities and initiatives,

• Striving for innovation in the accomplishment of our goals,

• Demonstrating dedication to work and mission, and

• Ensuring the assistance provided is timely, nonpartisan and accurate.

The goals outlined in the Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2025 are consistent with our vision 

and mission and provide a clear trajectory for FVAP in the years ahead.

In turn, this plan is aligned with the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Strategic Plan 

and the Department’s National Defense Strategy of 2018. Specifically, FVAP’s operations align 

to DHRA’s Strategic Plan goal for providing effective Force support products and services to 

stakeholders and customers.

Commitment to our vision informed FVAP’s decision to commission a research effort with the 

RAND Corporation in 2013 to align FVAP’s strategy and operations to better reflect its core 

mission. Throughout the effort, FVAP worked closely with RAND and stakeholders to begin 

implementing initiatives that align with its recommendations. The plan is in keeping with the 

findings from the RAND report, released in 2015.

Additionally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed FVAP leading up to the 2016 

Presidential election. The GAO report, “DoD Needs More Comprehensive Planning to Address 

Military and Overseas Absentee Voting Challenges,” GAO-16-378, of April 2016, recommended a 

revised strategic plan that exhibits the six selected leading practices of federal strategic planning, 

including, but not limited to:

• A statement of mission and goals,

• An identification of strategies that address management challenges and resources neede to 

achieve goals,

• A description of leadership involvement and accountability,

• A description of stakeholder involvement in the development of FVAP priorities,

• A coordinated strategy to communicate the program’s mission and goals to other Federal 

Agencies, and

• A description of performance measures, aligned with program goals that FVAP will use to 

track progress toward achieving goals.
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 5

Strategic Context

Strategic Context:

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) extends federal absentee 

voting rights to members of the Uniformed Services on active duty and the Merchant Marine 

who are U.S. citizens as well as eligible family members of such persons. The Uniformed 

Services include the Armed Forces, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and 

the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Additionally, 

UOCAVA extends to U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. This act provides the legal 

basis for these citizens’ absentee voting requirements for Federal offices.

UOCAVA was amended in 2009 to require states to send absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters at 

least 45 days before a federal election and electronically upon request.

FVAP is the Department of Defense office charged with administering UOCAVA on behalf of 

the Secretary of Defense. In serving this role, FVAP works to ensure citizens covered under the 

law are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so from 

anywhere in the world. Furthermore, FVAP directly assists voters through its implementation of a 

centralized information resource, FVAP.gov, and by prescribing a standardized voter registration 

and absentee ballot request form, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), as well as a backup 

ballot known as the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

On March 7, 2021, the President signed Executive Order14019, “Promoting Access to Voting.” 

FVAP is the lead office for implementation of the Order’s requirements within the Department, 

which positions FVAP to support DoD efforts to promote general awareness on all voting 

resources beyond those covered by UOCAVA, including DoD civilian personnel who are eligible 

to vote locally and not just in an absentee status.

In light of these requirements, FVAP’s customer base is varied. FVAP serves the following 

customers: members of the Uniformed Services, members of the Merchant Marine, eligible family 

members, overseas citizens, DoD civilian personnel, Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs), Service 

Voting Action Officers (SVAOs), and state and local election officials.

In completing FVAP’s mission, we routinely engage and collaborate with a wide array of 

stakeholders. FVAP’s stakeholders include the following: election officials, representative nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), DoD entities (e.g., Military Postal Service Agency, Inspector 

General, representatives of the Uniformed Services), Federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Election 

Assistance Commission, Department of Justice, United States Postal Service, Department of 

State, Department of Homeland Security), overseas citizens NGOs, various election advocates, 

Congressional Oversight Committees, and Congressional staff.

Our interaction with these customers and stakeholders is additionally informed by DoD guidance 

and directives. DoD Instruction 1000.04, Federal Voting Assistance Program, establishes 

Department policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for the implementation 

of FVAP in accordance with UOCAVA. The Instruction also establishes policy and assigns 

responsibilities to: implement installation voter assistance (IVA) offices under Section 1566a of 
6 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Strategic Context

Title 10, U.S.C.; and implement jointly with each state, procedures for persons to apply to register 

to vote at Military Service recruitment offices under Section 20506 of Title 52, U.S.C. 

DoD has a well-established chain of command in carrying out its responsibilities under UOCAVA. 

The lines of accountability are articulated in the DoD Directive 5124.02, Under Secretary of 

Defense for Personnel and Readiness, June 23, 2008, and the DoD Instruction 1000.04, Federal 

Voting Assistance Program, November 12, 2019

.

Guiding our interaction with other federal agencies is the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 

32, Part 233, Federal Voting Assistance Program. The procedures in Part 233.6(c) clearly state 

the responsibilities of government departments, agencies, and other entities in providing voter 

assistance to uniformed employees, overseas employees, and their families to the maximum 

extent practicable with assistance available from FVAP. These procedures include the requirement 

for each agency to enter into agreements with FVAP toward this end.

FVAP and each of its employees are evaluated under yearly performance measures tied to 

work done on a daily basis. These measures are tied to FVAP’s overall mission and this strategic 

plan. The annually updated performance measures track upward from the individual to FVAP 

leadership, the Defense Personnel and Family Support Office, the Defense Service Support 

Center, the Defense Human Resources Activity, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 

Readiness, and overall Departmental strategies and goals. The strategic goals below are informed 

by these rules and directives, which inform and guide collaboration with stakeholders (as outlined 

above) and FVAP staff. All of these goals and key performance indicators are included within 

post-election and annual Congressional reports.
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 7

Goal 1

Goal 1

Be a highly valued customer service program to Uniformed Service members, their eligible family 

members, voting assistance officers, overseas voters, civilian personnel, and elections officials.

It is FVAP’s mission to ensure Uniformed Service members, their families, and overseas citizens 

are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from 

anywhere in the world. For UOCAVA citizens, FVAP provides information for potential voters to 

learn about the absentee voting process and find the necessary forms, materials, and assistance 

to vote from wherever they are. FVAP promotes awareness of voter registration participation 

methods for DoD civilian employees through internal messaging and other U.S. citizens through 

U.S. Armed Forces Recruitment offices.

Objective 1.1: Provide professional, timely, and helpful assistance to UOCAVA voters and the 

general public to ensure the ability to successfully register, request, and return an absentee ballot. 

Strategies for Achieving the Objective

• Provide accurate and timely state-specific absentee voting information and other voting 

materials, in print and online, to UOCAVA voters in order to facilitate an individual’s 

awareness of the voting process, important dates, and local election official contact 

information.

• Partner with state and local election officials to discuss updates to FVAP.gov in order to 

maintain up-to-date information and easy access to crucial voting information for voters, to 

include the listing of federal candidates in federal elections. 

• Provide direct customer service by providing accurate nonpartisan absentee voting 

information within an established service level.

• Work within the Department of Defense, the Military Departments, and Service structure to 

ensure DoD civilians are aware of the election process and provided support in contacting 

their election office for voter registration and voting.

Performance Measures

• Customer satisfaction with our Voting Assistance Center as evidenced by post-inquiry survey 

data. Goal is to maintain a customer satisfaction rate at or above 4.0 out of 5.

• Customer satisfaction with trainings as evidence by feedback on pre- and post-workshop 

evaluation forms. Goal is to maintain an attendee satisfaction score at or above 4.5 out of 5.

• Usefulness and satisfaction feedback on tools and resources as shown by post-election 

survey data. Goal is a 75 percent or higher usefulness rate for FVAP resources.

• Qualitative feedback from stakeholders (i.e., communicating with voters at public fora and/

or digital platforms) as well as more informal “face-to-face” feedback after and during 

presentations or workshops.

• Quantitative feedback data from the Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), 

the EAVS Section B (ESB) Data Standard Information Collection, and the Overseas Citizen 

Population Analysis.
8 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Goal 1

• Maintaining critical relationships with state and local election officials to facilitate the most up 

to date information for voters, as well as provide UOCAVA policy support when required.

Objective 1.2: Provide professional, timely, and helpful assistance to election officials, who 

administer elections, to ensure the ability of UOCAVA and other U.S. citizens to successfully 

register to vote, request an absentee ballot or vote in-person.

Strategies for Achieving the Objectives

• Re-evaluate and update, as needed, the UOCAVA training program for election officials.

• Partner with state and local election officials and stakeholder organizations to discuss 

updates to FVAP.gov and state provided UOCAVA information to maintain up-to-date 

information and easy access to crucial voting information on the respective websites.

• Provide valuable training and presentations for state and local election officials to help them 

understand their requirements under Federal law and how to help UOCAVA citizens to vote 

successfully.

• Provide resources in alternative languages to support eligible voters who have Limited 

English Proficiency.

• Work with the Service Recruiting Commands to ensure responsibilities are carried out in 

accordance with Section 3.5 of the DoDI 1000.04.

• Work with the Services to ensure responsibilities associated with implementation of 

Installation Voter Assistance Offices are implemented.

Performance Measures

• Continued operation of the Voting Assistance Center in a manner that ensures election 

officials receive accurate, timely, and professional help.

• Customer satisfaction with our Voting Assistance Center as evidenced by post-inquiry survey 

data. Goal is to maintain a customer satisfaction rate at or above 4.0 out of 5.

• Usefulness and satisfaction of tools and resources as evidenced by customer satisfaction 

surveys of state election officials.

• Qualitative feedback from election community meetings, conferences, and the Post-election 

survey.

• Leverage partnerships to ensure awareness of best practices and challenges election officials 

experience.

• Quantitative feedback data from the Election Administration and Voting Survey and 

administrative data to better identify success and challenges in the absentee voting process 

through ballot acceptance and rejection rates.

• State feedback on registration applications received from Armed Forces Recruitment Offices 

or Installation Voter Assistance Offices.

Objective 1.3: Provide professional, timely, and helpful support to VAOs at all levels, ensuring 

their ability to assist voters in successfully casting an absentee ballot.
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 9

Goal 1

Strategies for Achieving the Objective

• Deliver valuable training in a variety of mediums to ensure VAOs understand their 

responsibilities in carrying out the law and the state-specific rules and deadlines.

• Re-evaluate and update, as needed, our training program for VAOs to address operating 

conditions and adult learning tactics.

• Provide updated Voting Assistance Guides and other voting materials to VAOs and overseas 

citizens in order to facilitate an individual’s awareness of the voting process, important dates, 

and local election office contact information.

• Partner with relevant stakeholders to discuss updates to the voting assistance portal and 

FVAP.gov in order to maintain an up-to-date resource and easy access to crucial voting 

information.

• Produce useful tools and resources for VAOs that help them fulfill their requirements as 

described in DoD policy and Federal law, respectively.

• Provide direct customer service to VAOs to answer questions about the UOCAVA voting 

process as well as maintaining Portal accounts.

Performance Measures

• Continued operation of the Voting Assistance Center in a manner that ensures customers 

receive accurate and professional help.

• Customer satisfaction with our Voting Assistance Center as evidenced by post-inquiry survey 

data. The goal is to maintain a customer satisfaction rate at or above 4.0 out of 5.

• Customer satisfaction with trainings as evidence by feedback on pre- and post-evaluation 

forms.

• Usefulness of and satisfaction with tools and resources as evidenced by post-election survey 

data.

• Qualitative feedback from the VAO workshops.

• Quantitative feedback data from the Election Administration and Voting Survey, the EAVS 

ESB Data Standard Information Collection, Post-Election Voting Surveys: Voting Assistance 

Officers, and Post-Election Voting Surveys: Active Duty Military.

External Factors and Emerging Issues

Most factors that influence the success of a voter are outside the control, or even influence, of 

DoD. States run elections and individual voters must take the actions necessary to register to 

vote, request a ballot, and vote in a timely manner. FVAP works to facilitate the process between 

these groups and to monitor and assess postal impacts for UOCAVA voters both domestically and 

internationally. This includes working with key agency partners such as the Military Postal Service 

(MPS), the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the State Department. 

In anticipation of these factors, FVAP can and does develop materials, online resources and 

communications to assist voters. For example, FVAP maintains online assistants on FVAP.gov 

to cut down on the time it takes to fill out the form (and process it). FVAP provides messaging 

throughout the year concerning dates and deadlines, as well as reminders to sign and date forms 
10 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Goal 2

and other important aspects necessary to fill out the form. FVAP further provides direct customer 

service in the form of a call center, so that voters can quickly have their questions answered. 

This includes providing contact information for their local election officials in order to make the 

process that much more clear and efficient. 

Goal 2 

Reduce obstacles to military and overseas voting succes

DoD’s voting assistance resources work together to support Uniformed Service members and 

overseas voter’s ability to participate in the electoral process. Since an election cycle includes 

primary, general, and run-off elections for Federal office, FVAP provides continual support over 

the course of an election cycle. FVAP also emphasizes metrics as a method of tying the execution 

and performance of supporting voting assistance activities to that of program effectiveness 

during an election cycle. Effectiveness for FVAP, therefore, includes reducing obstacles that allow 

for voter participation should a voter decide to vote in a given election.

Objective 2.1: Provide voting assistance tools and resources for Uniformed Service members 

and overseas voters to support their ability to participate in the electoral process.

Strategies for Achieving the Objective

• Evaluate and update the Voting Assistance Guide in order to reflect accurate, up-to-date, 

state-specific guidelines with standardized content written in plain language. This includes 

coordinating with local election officials to verify these guidelines and voting deadlines.

• Produce, re-evaluate, and solicit stakeholder input every 2 years (including state election 

officials, active duty military, and U.S. citizens living overseas) to better understand changes 

in state laws and the obstacles the UOCAVA population experience during the voting 

process.

• Produce, re-evaluate, and solicit UOCAVA stakeholder input every 2 years to update, as 

needed, the key forms used by UOCAVA citizens to request voter registration, request an 

absentee ballot, and successfully vote by absentee ballot.

• Provide website and online tools to guide voters through the process of filling out key 

absentee voting forms according to their state’s laws, rules, deadlines, and regulations.

• Continue to provide accurate information to stakeholders via email and telephone regarding 

key voting forms and election dates as well as information on the general UOCAVA absentee 

process via the FVAP Call Center.

• Continue to create innovative solutions to known barriers and increase voter awareness of 

their status in the UOCAVA absentee voting process, which may include pilot programs and 

cooperative agreements to spread general awareness of the UOCAVA voting process and 

seek usage of inexpensive but timesaving measures.

• Use data to understand trends impacting U.S. citizens worldwide to anticipate the effective 

support necessary for UOCAVA voters.
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 11

Goal 2

Performance Measures

• General resource usage data, especially information on FVAP’s Online Assistant and website 

usage results (Google Analytics).

• Continued operation and functional enhancement of FVAP.gov throughout election cycles.

• Voting Assistance Metrics from VAOs and the FVAP Call Center.

• Continued updates to the Portal on a quarterly basis, targeting new arising issues.

• Feedback on the effectiveness of current forms, website, and Portal from SVAOs, FVAP staff, 

election officials, and other stakeholders. This information is used to inform possible future 

form changes.

• Metrics on overall awareness, use, and effectiveness of FVAP products and services for SEOs, 

VAO, ADM, and local election officials regarding awareness, use, and effectiveness of FVAP 

products and services.

• Creating After-Action Reviews to streamline FVAPs projects and procedures including AARs 

for workshops as well as for new projects.

• Overall utilization of the FPCA as the preeminent tool for voters.

Objective 2.2: Work with stakeholders to identify and address obstacles to UOCAVA absentee 

voting process.

Strategies for Achieving the Objective

• Assist election officials with identifying policies, strategies, and best practices in customer 

service and increase their awareness of their requirements under Federal law.

• Continue working with the Council of State Governments (CSG) focusing on the importance 

of issues surrounding the UOCAVA absentee voting process to the election community and 

seeking potential innovations.

• Examine the effect of technological improvements made by USPS and MPS on the delivery of 

absentee ballots.

• Explore innovative techniques to support UOCAVA voters in the absentee voting process.

• Coordinate with MPS to develop and promote recommended mailing deadlines.

Performance Measures

• Assess whether USPS and MPS mail modernization efforts reflect a positive impact on 

delivery of absentee ballots.

• Identify best practices for supporting UOCAVA voters regardless of operational conditions 

and international postal disruptions.

• By October of each odd numbered year, develop recommended mailing deadlines and 

include these deadlines in FVAP messaging efforts.
12 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Goal 2

Objective 2.3: Influence improvements to the absentee process and support the absentee 

voting process.

Strategies for Achieving the Objective

• Serve as a legislative resource at both the state and Federal level by responding to requests 

for feedback or input on a given, UOCAVA-related topic. 

• Monitor the passage of voting-related state and Federal legislation and continue working 

with the states to reduce additional requirements to the UOCAVA process.

• Work directly with state and local election officials to identify best practices to better serve 

military and overseas voters.

• Work with state and local election officials to examine the use of administrative data and 

technology to assess the impact of technology in election administration.

• Continue to examine the impact of electronic blank ballot delivery and Federal mandates for 

the transmission of ballots 45 days prior to each Federal election.

• Work with stakeholders to explore content and process improvements for military and 

overseas voter data.

• Utilize FVAP’s innovative performance management dashboard to apply a critical thinking 

model to identify locations where additional voting assistance is needed.

• Develop targeted research to guide current policy and guide/adjust future policy 

implementation and program operations.

Strategic Measures

• Further collaborative efforts with the CSG and state and local election officials to develop 

targeted and actionable proposals that states can easily implement either through 

administrative or legislative action.

• Advance collaborative efforts with CSG and state and local election officials to standardize 

data and explore technology best practices in order to provide an improved sense of the root 

causes for ballot rejections.

• Consolidate information collection efforts and leverage administrative data to provide a 

greater amount of actionable information on the impact of technological and administrative 

requirements in the UOCAVA process. 

• Leverage the performance management dashboard as a resource to ensure installations or 

Service members are receiving sufficient assistance and support.

External factors and Emerging Issues

FVAP recognizes that the act of voting is between a voter and their state, as the states run 

elections. Therefore, FVAP can work with stakeholders, such as CSG and election officials, to 

identify and recommend policy and technology best practices. States can then implement 

these best practices to improve existing processes for serving UOCAVA voters. FVAP also 

works to conduct research, offer guidance, and communicate trends reported from the election 

community.
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 13

Goal 3

Additionally, FVAP understands there are other barriers (whether real or perceived) for overseas 

citizens who are attempting to vote successfully, including those identified in the Overseas 

Citizen Population Analysis. For example, depending on where the voter lives, the time needed 

to send ballots for federal elections may be longer than anticipated or there may be a significant 

distance between a voter and their nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate for voter assistance 

services including voted ballot drop-off. Further, there may be a lack of available resources such 

as a stable internet connection or access to scanners or fax machines. A voter may also live in a 

country with a slow or unreliable postal system. 

FVAP focuses on factors that have the potential to be resolved in future elections through voter 

education, state legislation changes, and communication with local election offices. This includes 

communicating voting and mailing deadlines for all voters who fall under UOCAVA, making forms 

and other information readily available in a central location (FVAP.gov), and evaluating new ways 

to expand education and outreach initiatives.

Goal 3

Increase UOCAVA general voter awareness of available tools and resources

Survey data over several election cycles consistently indicate that UOCAVA voters are more 

successful in casting a ballot when they have consulted a DoD resource (e.g., FVAP.gov or VAOs). 

FVAP will initiate activities to increase awareness and encourage use of tools and resources based 

on the strategic application of enhanced performance metrics, including increased stakeholder 

engagement and a strong communications plan. 

Objective 3.0: Create and administer more efficient outreach, education and general voter 

awareness initiatives for all UOCAVA populations and encourage the use of tools and resources.

Strategies for Achieving the Objective

• Identify lessons learned from previous election cycles and plan and implement new 

approaches for upcoming election cycles. This includes FVAP staff off-sites and FVAP’s 

various program analysis reports.

• Send emails to .mil addresses highlighting absentee voting information, deadlines, key 

resources, forms, election dates, and general reminders using simple, concise messages (90, 

60, 30 days during a Federal election year).

• Develop targeted marketing and communication plans to reach appropriate audiences 

in multiple languages: Uniformed Service members with particular emphasis on younger, 

potential first-time voters; known active duty Uniformed Service members; military spouses; 

overseas citizens; and election officials.

• Develop earned media and shared media campaigns to advance FVAP’s brand strategy by 

raising awareness of resources.

• Continue working with and furthering FVAP’s relationship with the Department of State in 

order to reach overseas citizen populations.

• Use data from EAVS data and the ESB Data Standard Information Collection to better 
14 | Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan

Goal 3

understand how to encourage UOCAVA voters to take action earlier and to help local officials 

understand the UOCAVA voting population.

• Structure supporting activities for UOCAVA voters across all Executive Branch agencies.

• Evaluate new ways to expand educational and outreach initiatives, including the possibility of 

pilot programs.

Strategic Measures

• Executed communication plans resulting in meeting or exceeding the intended goals as 

shown by various analytics (i.e., impressions or interactions and engagements on digital and 

social platforms, downloads of information in foreign languages).

• Results of expanded outreach efforts reflected in post-election survey results and digital/

online analytics when comparing data across similar election cycles (i.e., midterm election 

cycle versus presidential election cycle). This data can be seen in the following metrics 

included in FVAP Congressional reports:

o Voter registration rate

• Voter participation rate

• Awareness of voting assistance resources

• Satisfaction/usefulness of voting assistance resources

• Usage of voting assistance resources

• Percentage receiving voting information from family and friends, especially among married 

active duty members

• Web traffic to FVAP.gov

External Factors and Emerging Issues

UOCAVA voters span the world and are highly-mobile. Reaching U.S. citizens requires the 

development of targeted and engaging communications strategies given that U.S. citizens 

consist of diverse groups such as; study abroad students, long-term residents, Uniformed Service 

members on active duty, eligible families, and others. FVAP is committed to better understanding 

where U.S. citizens are around the globe and to creating informative and engaging materials for 

these communities. 

When creating any program, the issue of continuity and partnerships is at the forefront. Within 

the voting realm, VAOs are a significant resource for active duty members, their families, as well 

as overseas citizens. Often times, the functions of VAO are collateral duties that fail to take priority 

and are transferred from person to person based on the length of an individual’s tour of duty.

Anticipating this situation, FVAP.gov has a dedicated section as a resource for VAOs. It includes 

VAO training, information on directives and guidance that are crucial to their roles, as well as 

materials that explain their duties. Further, FVAP requires that military VAOs maintain a continuity 

binder designed to be passed onto the next Service member who is given the duty of Unit or 

Installation Voting Assistance Officer. Each Service, including the Department of State, has a 

Service Voting Action Officer as a resource for Service- or department- specific information. 

FVAP’s Call Center is also a great resource for questions.
Federal Voting Assistance Program Strategic Plan 15

Summary

Summary

FVAP is committed to supporting Uniformed Service members, their families, civilian personnel 

and overseas citizens with the voting process by:

1. Being a highly valued customer service program to Uniformed Service members, their 

eligible family members, voting assistance officers, overseas voters, civilian personnel, and 

election officials;

2. Reducing obstacles to Uniformed Service members and overseas voting success;

3. Increasing UOCAVA voter awareness of available tools and resources. 

FVAP intends to accomplish these goals by continuing to refine its program operations and 

resources while working with its key stakeholders to respond effectively to any change to the 

overall election administration environment. This overall strategic plan reflects past efforts to 

align FVAP mission elements directly to its statutory authorizations, but also to look forward and 

recognize how voters interact with the absentee voting process. This strategic plan captures the 

series of improvements made in the past, addresses key measures in meeting future goals, while 

providing key opportunities for updates on FVAP progress through its Congressional reporting 

requirements. This plan will continue to guide these efforts and ensure that UOCAVA voters, and 

all agency civilian personnel, are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to 

successfully do so - from anywhere in the world.