Our elections, for whom we vote, impact what happens on the world stage. Make sure your voice is heard. Check that you’re registered to vote, or register to vote. Have a voting plan. Vote. If you’re voting by absentee ballot, vote early as possible and track your ballot to ensure it gets accepted by your voting office. More info can be found at our Military-Connected Voting Resources page. Other voting and SFI news and resources after this week’s news roundup.
A Few Headlines
Here’s what we read and caught up on this week (September 15, 2024-September 21, 2024).
1. Stranded astronauts plan to vote in the 2024 election from space (NBC News; September 14, 2024). The two American astronauts stuck on the International Space Station through February will still be able to cast their ballots while in orbit. 
If they can do it, YOU can do it. Let us know if you need help!
2. Navy to commission first sub designed for both men and women sailors (Military Times; September 13, 2024). The Navy is slated to commission its very first Virginia-class submarine designed for a fully gender-integrated crew on Saturday. A submarine designed and built for both genders has been a long time coming. The New Jersey is entering the fleet roughly 14 years after then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates ended the ban on women serving on subs in 2010.
3. Inside the U.S. city churning out Ukrainian weapons (NPR, Morning Edition; September 16, 2024).
The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant has ramped up production of these artillery rounds since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. They can be used to strike targets up to 20 miles away, making them one of Ukraine’s most requested items. This plant makes weapons for Ukraine and Taiwan, but cannot give specific numbers on how many are going to each country for security reasons. …
This increase in production has led to more jobs in Scranton, a small city with less than 80,000 people. The city, once a hub for coal mining and small American manufacturing, now relies on the defense installations in the area for good, high-paying jobs.
4. More Wireless Devices Explode in Lebanon in Second Attack (New York Times; September 18, 2024). Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday were tensely awaiting a potential response by Hezbollah and its allies after at least 12 people were killed and thousands more injured in Lebanon in an apparently coordinated attack that targeted members of the group by blowing up their pagers.
More Voting News and SFI Resources
1. Did you know? September 17 is designated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.
At SFI, we honor and respect our military service members who take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution – against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
2. SFI has staff and Voting Ambassadors at the ready to answer any questions you have about voting. We’ve also put out some resources that can help answer common questions.
3. If you’re located in the Northern Virginia area, there is a Military Families Welcome and Voter Registration Drive at Burke Centre Library on Thursday, September 26. It is a NONPARTISAN Voter Registration Drive.
Come meet fellow military families, connect with local resources and get registered to vote. Light refreshments will be served and kids are welcome. The National Capital Region Military Spouses group has partnered with Secure Families Initiative and League of Women Voters, to assist with the voter registration drive. Military Homeschoolers Association, BlueStar Families NCR Chapter, VetJobs, Office of Ombuds for Fairfax County Public Schools, Moms Demand Action and more will also be in attendance.
4. This week, we launched the SFI White Folks Ally Caucus. This new Caucus is for military family members who are white, want to take action against racism, and follow the incredible leadership of our Military Families of Color Caucuses. The White Folks Ally Caucus will meet virtually monthly to explore the historical context about the moment we are in and access tools to take action towards one of racial equity. Sign up to join here.
Watch an introduction of the SFI White Folks Ally Caucus from our launch day, in which SFI’s Organizing Director, Brandi Jones, discussed the premise of the group with our Communications Director, Kate Marsh Lord, and Director of External Partnerships, Rebecca Nowatchik.