# 16, October 1, 2008

ARIZONA OFFERS OVERSEAS CITIZENS OPTION OF UPLOADING VOTED BALLOT

Secretary of State Jan Brewer announced a new web-based voting system for Arizona overseas voters to securely submit their voted ballots for the upcoming General Election on November 4. The system uses industry standard, 128-bit SSL encryption technology to ensure security, privacy and the overall integrity of the voted ballot. This is the same type of security used for online banking and credit card transactions.

The voting program incorporates a newly designed secured website that provides a direct secured connection from which the overseas voter can transmit their voted ballot directly onto the State's computer servers in Arizona.

Under the new program, overseas citizens will receive their ballot and print it out along with their official affidavit form that requires their signature for verification purposes (this material is received via the counties’ early voter program). After the voter marks, completes and scans this material into their computer, he or she will next log on to the overseas voting system with a specific user identification and password (provided separately with their requested ballot). The user ID and password allows the voter a direct and secured access to upload both their voted ballot and signed affidavit.  The voter’s registration and signature will be verified before tabulation.

This online program is currently available on the Arizona Secretary of State's website at www.azsos.gov by clicking on the “Military & Overseas Voter” icon.
Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC  20301-1155 or through email: vote@fvap.ncr.gov. Visit the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov.