Every vote counts

  • Published
  • By 2d Air Postal Squadron
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The election season is in full swing and the 2d Air Postal Squadron is working diligently to ensure every vote in U.S. Air Forces in Europe counts.

Squadron personnel monitor 51 postal locations on a daily basis throughout USAFE to make sure absentee ballots and voting material is properly handled and processed expeditiously.

In November 2007, the squadron, in partnership with Air Force postal units throughout the command, ensured postal voting representatives were appointed, trained and briefed on requirements in the 2008 Department of Defense Strategic Voting Action Plan.

"Post offices have the responsibility to ensure absentee ballots and voting materials are given the utmost attention upon receipt and dispatch to stateside locations," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Walker, command postal operations manager.

Official election material is given precedence over all other mail.

Postal clerks individually postmark each ballot and use special tags and tape on mail transportation equipment to clearly identify containers containing ballots awaiting ground and air transportation. Balloting material is given priority over all classes and categories of mail in the mail transportation network.

"The use of the internet will play a key role for absentee ballot processing and a new Web-based daily voting survey requirement was added this year," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Simpson, command postal operations manager.

Postal activities are required to log into a centralized database to report voting material problems and mailing delays. This gives 2d AIRPS personnel the opportunity to resolve issues and provide solutions to ensure problems and delays are corrected in a timely manner.

"It's a total team effort and postal personnel throughout USAFE are doing all they can to ensure every vote counts," said Master Sgt. Kirk Baldwin, postal operations superintendent.