It’s your right to vote Published Oct. 29, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Dustin Mullen 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Giving citizens the right to vote is the key in a democratic society. And just because someone is not currently living in their home-state, does not mean their voice can't be heard. The Air Force Voter Assistance Program is a program aimed at assisting military personnel and their family members, to register and vote either at the polls or by absentee ballot. "The mission of the Voter Assistance Program is to provide assistance for all elections, regardless of when they are held, with special emphasis on the period prior to general elections," said Senior Master Sgt. Angela Stovall, Airey NCO Academy director of education and voting assistance officer. "The VAP is a year-round program." The Department of Defense recognized that service members were defending their country but were not able to let their voice be heard through the election process, said Stovall. "Due to the nature of our service, uniformed military members will often find themselves far from the places they call home," said Capt. James Johnston, 325th Operations Support Squadron F-22 Raptor intelligence formal training unit chief and votering assistance officer. "They may be deployed, protecting the very freedom that allows them to vote, and we need to give them the opportunity to exercise that right!" There are many ways to get involved in the Voter Assistance Program. Contact the Installation Voter Assistance Officer by calling 850-283-8011, emailing vote@tyndall.af.mil or visiting the office in the Base Support Building.