Voting is a privilege Published Aug. 28, 2008 By Capt. Jared Mitchell 27th SOW Comptroller Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- As one of the wing staff's voting assistance officers, there are a couple of things I want to relay concerning this November's elections and your part in them. First and foremost, you all have the right to vote! While it might sound trite, many Americans forget that it wasn't always this way. People forget that American service members have died fighting to establish, extend or maintain democracy and our right to vote. People forget that it wasn't until 1869 and the 15th Amendment that African-American men were guaranteed the right to vote. However, because of discrimination and racial tensions, it wasn't until the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 that African-Americans could exercise that right. People also forget that the beginnings of women's suffrage can be traced back to 1848. However, the right to vote wasn't extended to women unit the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920. People forget that Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans were not even eligible to vote until the Voting Rights Acts of 1965, 1970 and 1975. So please remember, the right to vote (or not to vote) was bestowed upon you by the blood, sweat and tears of many great Americans before you. Second, Armed Forces Voting Week is 29 Aug - 7 Sep. You will see various messages from me and my counterparts in the wing about this. There will be several registration drive areas throughout the base such as the commissary, BX and gym where Airmen can pick-up registration cards and receive help completing them during duty hours. Also, there will be several information centers such as the library and post office where Voting Assistance Guides will be available along with the applications at the library and post office for the duration of the week. In the meantime, the website www.fvap.gov contains a plethora of useful information. For example, one of the first things you're going to need to do is determine your state of legal residence (we can help if you are not sure). Once you have that, you can check your registration status on www.fvap.gov (please note that not all states provide this service). You can also find contact information for your local clerks/officials and register to vote at www.fvap.gov. BOTTOM LINE: This year's election will not only determine our future Commander in Chief, but also 35 Senators, 435 US Representatives and 13 State Governors. You should vote! If you have any questions or need any help voting, please do not hesitate to ask. If you need help, feel free to call or send an e-mail to your assigned voting assistance officer. The wing voting assistance officer is Capt. Emily Wood at 784-2265.