One vote matters Published May 10, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Mariah Tolbert 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- What does saving President Andrew Jackson from impeachment, having English as the American language and Rutherford B. Hayes as president of the United States, all have in common? The answer: one vote. There have been many incidents since 1645 where one person's vote has impacted the results, showing how important voting can be. "If enough people think that their vote doesn't matter then it adds up," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Amanda Burnette, 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron aerospace and operations physiology training officer in charge and the installation voting assistance officer. "There has been a lot of pretty close elections where a couple hundred votes have made a difference." As the presidential elections approach, Burnette encourages Airmen and their families to take a second to register for an absentee ballot from their home state. Typically, voting is as easy as registering, going to a local voting office and walking out with that little sticker that says, "I voted today!" However, being in the military, things become a little more challenging, but there are Airmen here to help everyone's opinion be counted. "Anyone on base can come to the voting office at the fire station and we can help them in any way we can to get them registered to vote," said Senior Master Sgt. Craig Milton, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron voting representative, who hails from Los Angeles. "Most people aren't North Carolina residents, so voting is all done through absentee ballots and we can help them with any of their questions and to get them registered." Airmen who have voted before say it's more than just sending in an absentee ballot, it involves doing research and understanding the issues. "[My first time voting] was intimidating," said Burnette, a native of York, Penn. "You know all the presidential candidates but the local candidates aren't that well known, especially being away from home. I was wondering how I should go about voting or if I should stay along party lines, but afterward I felt really good, like I was taking control of as much as possible." To many, voting in the presidential election is more than a right, it's a responsibility. For service members it's choosing their future leader and boss, someone who can determine the rights of citizens, but also the benefits that service members will obtain or keep. "In the military we don't necessarily get a lot of say in what the policies are and voting is a way we could do that," Burnette said. "It's a right and responsibility we have as service members, because it allows us to speak out about the things we believe in." In the upcoming months, an Armed Forces Voters Week will be held from June 28 through July 7. Airmen will be able to stop at booths set-up around base to register and get information about the upcoming presidential election. For more information or to register to vote, contact the 4th Fighter Wing fire department, talk to a squadron representative or visit www.fvap.gov.