Absentee Voters are encouraged to verify their address

The Postal Service and the Department of Defense (DoD) will combine efforts and expertise again to delivery absentee ballots to members of the armed forces serving abroad during this election season.

As in 2004 and 2006, the Postal Service is working with the DoD's Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) to make certain ballots are transported and delivered to and from Army/Air Force Post Offices (APOs) and Fleet Post Offices (FPOs) overseas.

Postal officials explained how it works:

• Service members should request their absentee ballots early from their local election officials, and
• Verify with local election officials that their address on-file is correct.
• Local election officials mail the absentee ballots to overseas service members about 45 days before elections.
• Service members overseas return their ballots free of charge from any APO/FPO, American embassy or consulate.

Accurate addresses are essential to timely delivery, Postal officials stressed.

"Please help us make your voice heard," says Jeff Burger, Military Mail Operations Specialist. "Make sure that the address on file with local election officials is correct."

The Postal Service and the MPSA have special handling procedures in place to expedite the transportation and delivery of absentee ballots. The ballots will be shipped via the Postal Service's Express Mail transportation network, the fastest delivery option.

Voting by mail is a convenient way for Americans living anywhere to exercise their right to vote. Last year more than 17 million absentee ballots were delivered by the Postal Service.