Greene County News

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — As fall 2016 quickly approaches, so will the 56th presidential election. The Federal Voting Assistance Program’s purpose is to ensure that military members and their families can exercise their right to vote and meet important election date deadlines.

“You are eligible to use the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, [if] you meet [this] criteria,” said Lt. Col. Edward Kosterman, Biomedical Science Corps, public health flight commander and the installation voting officer. “[If] you are absent from your voting residence; or you have applied for a regular ballot early enough for the request to be received by the appropriate local election official; or the date is 30 days before the general election.”

Senior Airman Brittaney Kallio is a paralegal with the 88th Air Base Wing Judge Advocate, and this election will be her very first time voting. She has been in the Air Force for three and a half years, joining right out of high school from Germany where she was an Army dependent.

“I’m excited, and it’s very important to vote,” said Kallio. “I think I’m registered in Ohio to vote.”

Kosterman assured her that if she had an Ohio driver’s license, she was fine.

“You may only have one legal residence at a time,” he said. “But [you] may change residency each time you are transferred to a new location. However, once the residence is changed, you may not revert to the previous residence without re-establishing a new physical presence and intent to remain or return.”

He explained that spouses don’t automatically assume the legal residence of their active duty member upon marriage, and minors can claim the legal residence of either parent. When that dependent turns 18, they have the option of establishing their own legal residence.

Whether you are a first-time voter like Kallio, or have been voting for years, he suggests you start looking into absentee voting or mail-in ballots early. For questions or concerns about voting in this upcoming presidential election, contact Lt. Col. Kosterman at (937) 787-9805, or email him at [email protected].

Submitted photo Lt. Col. Edward Kosterman, installation voting officer, reviews the Federal Voting Assistance Program paperwork and voting deadlines with Senior Airman Brittaney Kallio, 88th Air Base Wing, Judge Advocate.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2016/09/web1_160826-F-GW346-2003.jpgSubmitted photo Lt. Col. Edward Kosterman, installation voting officer, reviews the Federal Voting Assistance Program paperwork and voting deadlines with Senior Airman Brittaney Kallio, 88th Air Base Wing, Judge Advocate.

Story courtesy of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.