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FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
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UNCLAS//N01000//
NAVADMIN 215/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/AUG 11 
SUBJ/THE RIGHT TO VOTE - CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY//
REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/15MAY2007
AMPN/REF A IS OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1742.1B, NAVY VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
POC/WATKINS/LT/CNIC/MILLINGTON, TN/TEL: 901-874-6647 
RMKS/1. HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IS 
THE CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY AMERICANS TREASURE MOST AND THAT WE PLEDGE 
TO DEFEND AS A NAVY TEAM EVERY DAY. IT IS OUR DUTY AS LEADERS TO ENSURE 
THAT EVERY NAVY FAMILY MEMBER, PARTICULARLY THOSE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS AND 
OUR YOUNGER SAILORS ARE MADE AWARE OF THE PROCESS NECESSARY TO CAST A 
BALLOT SO THEIR VOICES CAN BE HEARD.
2. COMMANDER NAVY INSTALLATIONS COMMAND (CNIC), IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 
NAVY VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. CNIC HAS TRAINED AND EQUIPPED YOUR 
VOTING ACTION OFFICER (VAO) BY PROVIDING MORE THAN FIFTY TRAINING 
SESSIONS TO 1,500 VAOS AND DISTRIBUTED 10,000 POSTERS, 15,000 BROCHURES, 
15,000 INFORMATION CARDS, AND OTHER PERTINENT FORMS AS WELL AS VOTING 
GUIDANCE. AS THE 2008 ELECTION DRAWS NEAR, ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL 
MATERIAL WILL BE PROVIDED TO EACH VAO. 
3. YOU CAN HELP TO ENHANCE NAVY VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AWARENESS BY 
MAKING SURE:
A. VAOs ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR ROLE, HAVE RECEIVED NECESSARY 
TRAINING, ARE ACTIVELY USING THE MANY TOOLS ALREADY AVAILABLE TO THEM 
AND ARE REGISTERED IN THE VOTING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DATABASE. 
B. PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS HAVE ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT FEDERAL VOTING 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION CONCERNING REGISTRATION AND VOTING LAWS, 
WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ABSENTEE VOTING REQUIREMENTS AND THAT THIS 
INFORMATION IS PUBLISHED REGULARLY IN THE BASE NEWSPAPER, PLAN OF THE 
DAY, AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA. 
C. MILITARY POST OFFICES ARE ALERTED TO BALLOT CUT OFF DATES AND 
RECOGNIZE AND PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PROPER POSTMARKING AND DATE 
STAMPING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
D. PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY TO PREVENT FRAUD, VOTER 
COERCION, AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
E. ALL MEMBERS OF THE KHAKI COMMUNITY ARE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT AND 
OTHERS SUCH AS OMBUDSMAN, SPOUSE, AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS KNOW WHERE TO 
OBTAIN VOTING INFORMATION.
4. WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF YOU OR YOUR VAO NEED 
ANYTHING, CONTACT THE CNIC VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER, LT JASON WATKINS: 
JASON.E.WATKINS@NAVY.MIL TEL: (901) 874-6647, FAX: (901) 874-6829, DSN 
882.
5. RELEASED BY VADM J. C. HARVEY, JR., DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF.// 
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