It's a freedom that you defend--Vote! Published June 20, 2012 By 2nd Lt. Sarah Bergstein 36th Wing Public Affairs Andersen Air Force Base, Guam -- Voting season is set to begin for Team Andersen as Overseas Voters Week kicks off June 27 to July 6. The Installation Voting Assistance Office, located on the second floor of the Mission Support Group building in room 201, will be open for business every Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. until the national election on Nov. 6. "This year is a federal election," said Maj. Jamal Williams, 36th Wing Force Support Squadron operations officer and this year's installation voting assistance officer. "We're doing a big push to let everyone know to come out and vote." On Nov. 6, elections will be held for the presidency of the United States, one third of U.S. Sentators, every member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 13 state and territorial governors and thousands of state and local officials. "All Airmen should be aware of the mechanisms that enable them to register, request ballots and vote," reads a memorandum signed by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Chief of Staff Norton A. Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy. "It's a freedom that you defend--Vote!" is the 2012-2013 Department of Defense's voting slogan. The Department of Defense has taken steps to make absentee voting easier for military members, their families and overseas voters, including federal employees working overseas. Voters can visit www.fvap.gov for information regarding registration, absentee ballots and voting. Installation and unit voting assistance officers are also standing by to provide assistance. "Even if you are getting ready for a permanent change of station, you can still have your ballot sent to your new address or installation," said Major Williams. Major Williams suggests voters have their ballots submitted by Sept. 30. "This is the right amount of time to ensure the process happens and you have enough time to make your vote count," he said."Your vote can make a difference." Overseas Voters Week's first event will take place at Andersen on July 3 during Freedom Fest, where the Voting Assistance Office will have a booth set up so that voters can get information, get registered and get their ballots. The second opportunity to make your vote count will take place on both July 5 and 6 at both the base exchange and the commissary to encourage Team Andersen to come out and vote. "Voting is a freedom that you defend," said Major Williams, stressing DoD's voting slogan. "It's a privilege and a right for you to determine the future of the country that you fight for." For more information click the Voting Assistance Program tab on Andersen's homepage or visit www.fvap.gov