Gloucester County Provides Electronic Voting for Military Service Members and their Families
October 1, 2012
NEWS
For Immediate Release: October 1, 2012
Contact: Clerk James Hogan (856-853-3241)
Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (856-853-3395) or Freeholder Deputy Director Giuseppe (Joe) Chila (853-3382)
Gloucester County Provides Electronic Voting for Military Service Members and their Families
(Woodbury, NJ) – Gloucester County Clerk James M. Hogan, Freeholder Director Robert Damminger and Freeholder Deputy Director Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Chila said today that Gloucester County is actively working to protect the voting rights of America’s military service members and their families by promoting the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act.
The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act allows the acceptance of electronic transmission of ballots for federal elections.
County Clerk James Hogan said, “Every vote counts and our service men and women who are protecting democracy deserve to know that they can cast their ballot with confidence and it will count in this election. The Clerk’s Office is responsible for getting ballots to our citizens who serve in the military and we will fulfill this obligation so their votes are counted.”
Freeholder Director Robert Damminger said, “Since this law started in 2008, Gloucester County has ensured that 252 of our military members or their family’s votes have been counted. Military members can face a unique set of logistical challenges when serving in other states or countries. That is why they are granted the opportunity to apply for a ballot and receive and complete it ballot electronically.”
Active-duty members of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marine, Public Health Service, NOAA, and their family members may register to vote and apply for a Vote By Mail ballot by using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
New Jersey law permits the emailing of Vote By Mail ballots to Uniformed Service Members and their families. The Federal Post Card Application is available online at the FVAP web site: http://www.fvap.gov/
The application may be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the following:
Gloucester County Clerk
Hon. James “Jim” Hogan
PO Box 129
Woodbury, NJ 08096
856-251-1646 Fax
ccelections@co.gloucester.nj.us
Freeholder Deputy Director Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Chila said that once the request is submitted, voters can use the website to track the progress of their ballot. After receiving, completing and returning their ballot, voters can again visit the website to monitor their ballot‘s status along the ballot counting process.
Chila, who is also the Liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs, said that the County’s proactive efforts within the Veterans community is also be used to help get the word out to service members about their ability to vote electronically in this election. To date 69 electronic ballots have been sent.
“One of the most important rights we have in this county is the right to vote. Our service members are defending freedom and democracy throughout the world and their vote should be counted here on Election Day. We are working to bring attention to this program so our military members request their ballot and cast it even if they are moving around from one location in the world to another,” stated Deputy Director Chila.
Contact the County Clerk’s Election Division for further information (856) 384-4531 or (856) 384-4530.
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