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NEWS | Oct. 3, 2008

Know when to vote early or by absentee ballot

By Maj. Karen Berkeley 437th Airlift Wing voting officer

Just because some Airmen don't vote in person at a local polling place does not mean their vote doesn't count.

There are two additional methods available for those who want to participate in the electoral process in selecting the 44th president of the United States. Early voting allows any registered voter to appear in person and vote prior to Election Day. Early voting will occur from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2.

Absentee voting is available for those unable to cast a vote in person on Election Day due to work or duty requirements, physical limitations, residing away from voting location, etc.

Absentee voting can be done by completing a Federal Post Card Application and mailing it to the local board elections in which the person is registered to vote. Airmen are reminder to be aware that each state has different deadlines for accepting absentee ballots and all ballots have to be postmarked by the deadlines.

Here is a listing of ballot return deadlines by state:

Nov. 2: Mississippi by close of polls for overseas citizens and stateside military; North Carolina.

Nov. 3: Alabama, Arizona, American Samoa, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming by close of polls; Florida for stateside military; Mississippi for overseas military; Massachusetts for stateside military; Ohio and stateside military; Texas and stateside military; Wisconsin and overseas citizens

Nov. 7: Georgia, postmarked by Nov. 4; North Dakota

Nov 10: Iowa, postmarked by Nov. 2; Texas, overseas citizens, delivered by Nov. 4

Nov. 11: New York by close of polls and for overseas citizens, and Pennsylvania postmarked by Nov. 3

Nov 13: Arkansas, D.C., and Virgin Islands; Alaska and stateside military; Florida for overseas citizens and overseas military; Ohio for overseas citizens and overseas military by close of polls; Wisconsin for military, postmarked by Nov. 3

Nov. 17: New York by close of polls and military postmarked by Nov. 3

Nov. 18: Illinois, postmarked by Nov. 3; Utah, postmarked by Nov. 2

Nov. 19: Alaska for overseas citizens and overseas military

Nov. 25: Washington oath signed and dated by Nov. 3