Upcoming Features of the FVAP Website

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) will add a series of new features to the FVAP website, the first of which will launch in December of 2007. These new features help facilitate the absentee voting process for military and overseas citizens through the use of electronic solutions.

On September 26, 2007, the FVAP awarded a Firm-Fixed price contract to Criterion Systems to develop a comprehensive, secure solution that will provide citizens covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act (UOCAVA) with the ability to electronically complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote and/or request a ballot.

The first feature, available this December, is an automated version of FPCA which will be tailored to state-specific requirements and guide users through the process of completing and submitting the form. In addition, this new feature will allow voters to securely transmit the completed form to their local election office through a Department of Defense server.

Next spring, in preparation for the 2008 General Election, the FVAP will be adding two additional features to the FVAP website. The first will allow the local official to provide a blank ballot to the voter through the secure Department of Defense server, and the second will allow citizens to digitally sign their FPCA.

The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683 and by using the toll-free numbers from 67 countries listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov <http://www.fvap.gov> . Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC, 20301-1155, and at vote@fvap.ncr.gov <mailto:vote@fvap.ncr.gov> .