RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 2061841-UUUU--RUCRNAV.
ZNR UUUUU
R 241841Z JUL 08
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
BT
UNCLAS
ALNAV 058/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUL// SUBJ/EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT 
TO VOTE// RMKS/1.  THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 
RIGHTS WE HAVE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS AND ELECTIONS ARE OUR OPPORTUNITY 
TO HAVE A VOICE IN DETERMINING THE COURSE OF OUR NATION.
WE OUGHT NOT TAKE THIS IMPORTANT RIGHT FOR GRANTED.  NEVER FORGET THAT 
THIS RIGHT - THOUGH FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES - IS NOT 
UNIVERSALLY AVAILABLE IN MANY COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD.
2.  THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND 
WHAT THE RIGHT TO VOTE MEANS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HAD THEIR VOICES 
HEARD BEFORE.  ON ELECTION DAYS IN BOTH IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, MANY 
IRAQIS AND AFGHANS BRAVED DEATH THREATS, LONG LINES, AND ATTEMPTS AT 
INTIMIDATION JUST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.  YET THEY REFUSED TO BE 
SILENT ANY LONGER, AND THEY VOTED BY THE MILLIONS.  ALL WHO HELPED MAKE 
THOSE ELECTIONS POSSIBLE SHOULD FOREVER BE PROUD OF THEIR ROLES IN 
HELPING TO ESTABLISH ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF DEMOCRACY - ELECTORAL 
FREEDOM - IN A REGION OF THE WORLD THAT HAS LIVED UNDER TYRANNY FOR TOO 
LONG.
3.  FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ALREADY REGISTERED TO VOTE, I ENCOURAGE YOU 
TO DO SO EARLY THIS YEAR.  IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE REGISTERING TO VOTE, 
SEE YOUR COMMAND VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICER OR VISIT THE NAVY VOTING 
WEBSITE AT: HTTPS://WWW.CNI.NAVY.MIL/CNIC_HQ_SITE/BASESUPPORT/
COMMANDSTAFF/NAVYVOTINGPROGRAM/INDEX.HTM OR THE MARINE CORPS WEBSITE 
AT:  HTTPS://WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL/VOTING.  YOU CAN ALSO OBTAIN 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
WEBSITE AT:  HTTP://WWW.FVAP.GOV.
4.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED AND FAITHFUL SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
5.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE 
NAVY.// 
BT 
#0000 
NNNN