Navy makes sure sailors get their ballots

Published 10:31 pm Thursday, October 23, 2008

ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON — Issues like the failing U.S. economy, overhauling health care and getting troops out of Iraq can seem a world away when cruising the western Pacfic’s balmy waters.

But neither the vast ocean nor the long distance from home will keep Petty Officer Justin Carlisle from voting in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

Stung by criticism that it was hard for military personnel to vote in the last presidential elections — and get their ballots home in time to be counted — the Navy has made a concerted effort this year to assure that every sailor who wants to can cast a ballot.

“It was easy,” Carlisle said, standing in the hangar bay of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. “It took some time for my ballot to find me. But then I just filled it out and sent it off in the ship’s mail.”

Lt. Cmdr. Chuck Le Moyne, who serves as the ship’s elections officer, said interest in next month’s elections is high among the crew of the carrier, deployed on a Pacific tour since August.

For sailors who want to participate in the elections, a carrier is not a bad place to be.

Unlike some smaller warships, the carrier has regular mail flights, making it easier to get absentee ballots on board, and to send them off in time to make state deadlines back home.

The military has also taken extra steps this year to publicize the elections, airing public service ads explaining the registration process and assigning officers like Le Moyne to get the word out.

“We have made 100 percent contact with each sailor on board,” said Le Monye.

Le Moyne stressed that, while making sure everyone knows they have the opportunity, the Navy is not trying to force people to vote.

“Basically, if you want an absentee ballot, you will get one,” he said. “The services have taken a much more proactive role in getting the information out. But the decision to actually vote or not is an extremely personal one.”

It’s a decision, it seems, most personnel choose not to make.

Le Moyne said about 283 sailors, of the carrier’s crew of around 5,000, requested ballots, and 281 had been sent out. Other sailors may have requested and sent theirs independently, so it is impossible to know how many actually voted.