cm-happy Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 are absentee ballots available for American citizen expats from the embassy or consulate? If they are what is the procedure, do I have to register or bring any special documents with me other than my passport. If I have to register, how far in advance of the next general election would I have to do so? Getting a ballot from the county seat of my voting address in US was always a pain in the butt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 CM, I registered with the embassy and receive ACS emails from time to time. I believe I read that you can vote at the embassy as well, you can check out the fvap website and the ACS section of the US Embassy website to confirm. I just received this email the other day: Voting Information for the 2008 Primary and General ElectionsThis is a reminder that in just a few months we will be entering the U.S. presidential and state primary season. Five primaries are currently slated for January, another 20 are scheduled for February, and the rest take place from early March through early October. Registration for the first primary (the District of Columbia) closes December 10, 2007. We encourage you to act now so that your opinion is heard - not only in the November 2008 presidential and general elections, but also in the presidential primary and state primary elections! The official U.S. Government website for overseas absentee voting assistance is the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website www.fvap.gov. <http://www.fvap.gov> Generally, all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who are or will be residing outside the United States during an election period are eligible to vote absentee in any election for Federal office. This includes primary, run-off, and special elections that occur throughout the year, as well as the general election in November 2008. Some states allow overseas voters to vote in elections for state and local offices, and for state and local referendums.http://www.fvap.gov Voting eligibility and residency requirements are determined by the various U.S. states, and are available on-line at http://fvap.gov/pubs/vag.html. Your "legal state of residence" for voting purposes is the state where you last resided immediately prior to departure from the United States. Voting rights extend to overseas citizens even though they may no longer own property or have other ties to their last state of residence, and even if their intent to return to that state may be uncertain. For those who have never resided in the U.S., sixteen states, to date, allow eligible U.S. citizens to register where a parent would be eligible to vote. To register to vote and/or apply for an absentee ballot, you can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). <http://www.fvap.gov/services/fpca.html> The on-line version, the OFPCA, is accepted by all states and territories except American Samoa and Guam. Voters from American Samoa and Guam must use the standard form of the FPCA, available at the Consulate General or through many American civic groups. The on-line OFPCA form must be completed legibly, printed, signed, dated, and mailed to your local election officials. Your state may allow faxing to speed the process, but you will still need to send in the original by mail. Use an envelope and affix proper postage. The official U.S. Government website for overseas absentee voting assistance, www.fvap.gov <http://www.fvap.gov/> , has a wealth of information about absentee voting, including the state-specific instructions for completing the FPCA form, links to state and local officials, and a downloadable emergency ballot for use by those who register in time but fail to receive an official ballot. As a general rule, you should try to send in the FPCA so that it reaches your local election officials at least forty-five days before the first election in which you are eligible to vote --- ample time for them to process the request and send you a blank ballot. If applying for both registration and an absentee ballot, you may want to mail the FPCA earlier. One FPCA will qualify you to receive all ballots for Federal offices for the next two regular Federal elections (through 2010). However, we recommend that you submit a new FPCA in January of every year, and whenever you move, to ensure that your most recent mailing and e-mail addresses are on file with your local election officials. Under normal circumstances, most states and territories begin sending ballots to overseas citizens 30-45 days before an election. However, if you haven't received your ballot within three weeks of your state's ballot receipt deadline, and you are required to return your voted ballot by mail, you should download, complete, sign, date, and send in a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available at http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefwab.html. Make sure it is witnessed if required by your state. If you subsequently receive your regular absentee ballot, execute it and return it regardless of when you receive it. Court decisions sometimes require late counting of ballots voted by Election Day, but received by local election officials for a specified period of time following Election Day. Be an Educated Voter Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues is widely available and easy to obtain via the Internet. Use the links appearing on the FVAP website at http://www.fvap.gov/links/otherlinks.html <http://www.fvap.gov/links/otherlinks.html> , read your hometown newspaper on-line, or search the Internet to locate articles and information. The Voting Assistance Officer at the Bangkok Embassy is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting. To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call 02-205-4049 or send an e-mail to [email protected]). News Release # 17 November 27, 2007 NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MICHIGAN PRIMARY ELECTION DATES New Hampshire and Michigan have scheduled their Presidential Primary elections. New Hampshire will conduct their Presidential Primary election on January 8, 2008 and Michigan will conduct their Presidential Primary election for January 15, 2008. Voting Assistance Officers should inform New Hampshire and Michigan voters and provide help as required in requesting and returning their absentee ballot. REGISTERING TO VOTE AND REQUESTING A BALLOT: If you have not done so already in calendar year 2007, all members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and their family members and citizens residing outside the U.S. who are either New Hampshire or Michigan residents should request a ballot by completing and submitting a registration and ballot request Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, as soon as possible. The online version of the FPCA is available from the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html. OTHER EARLY PRIMARY ELECTIONS The following states will hold Primary elections early in 2008. An asterisk indicates a change from the date printed in the Voting Assistance Guide: New Hampshire* January 8, 2008 Michigan* January 15, 2008 South Carolina* ® January 19, 2008 Florida January 29, 2008 South Carolina* (D) January 29, 2008 Alabama February 5, 2008 Arizona* February 5, 2008 Arkansas February 5, 2008 California February 5, 2008 Connecticut February 5, 2008 Delaware February 5, 2008 Georgia February 5, 2008 Illinois February 5, 2008 Missouri February 5, 2008 New Jersey February 5, 2008 New Mexico (D) February 5, 2008 New York February 5, 2008 Oklahoma February 5, 2008 Tennessee February 5, 2008 Utah February 5, 2008 Louisiana February 9, 2008 District of Columbia* February 12, 2008 Maryland February 12, 2008 Virginia February 12, 2008 Washington February 19, 2008 Wisconsin February 19, 2008 Massachusetts March 4, 2008 Ohio March 4, 2008 Rhode Island March 4, 2008 Texas March 4, 2008 Vermont March 4, 2008 Puerto Rico March 9, 2008 Mississippi March 11, 2008 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov. 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, and email at [email protected]. News Release # 16 November 20, 2007 OHIO TO HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION ON DECEMBER 11, 2007 FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE 5th DISTRICT As noted in News Release #12, there will be a special election in Ohio's 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 to fill the seat of Representative Paul Gillmor. To determine if your legal residence is in the 5th Congressional District, you can click on "Communicating with Your Elected Officials", then "Who is my Representative?" at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website, www.fvap.gov/comm/communicating.html. VAOs should contact those citizens they assist who are Ohio voters and inform them of this news release and provide help to them in returning their absentee ballot. REQUESTING A BALLOT: All members of the U.S. Uniformed Services, their family members and citizens residing outside the U.S. who are Ohio residents from the 5th District should request a ballot for this special election by completing and submitting a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, as soon as possible, if you have not done so already in calendar year 2007. The online version of the FPCA is available from the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html. Specific instructions for Ohio are available at: www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/pdfvag/oh.pdf. If you are already registered, the County Board of Elections must receive your absentee ballot request not later than noon on Saturday, December 8. Ohio allows members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and their family members to send the FPCA for ballot request by fax. After faxing, submit the original FPCA by mail. Use the following toll-free fax numbers for the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-368-8683, (703) 693-5527 or DSN 223-5527 (military). At www.fvap.gov/services/faxing.html, there is a list of additional toll-free fax numbers from overseas countries APPLICATION FOR BALLOT BY PROXY: If you are a member of the Armed Forces on active duty, or the spouse or dependent of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty, your father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, son, daughter, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece may request an absentee ballot for you, using either a special form provided by the county board or an FPCA. RECEIVING YOUR BALLOT: Ohio allows members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and their family members to receive the blank ballot by fax. RETURNING YOUR BALLOT: When returned within the U.S., your ballot will be counted if it arrives at the appropriate county board of election's office not later than the close of polls on December 11, 2007. If you are voting from outside the U.S., your ballot will be counted if it arrives at the appropriate county board of elections not later than December, 31, 2007, as long as it is signed not later than the close of polls on election day. Ohio does not allow return of the voted ballot by fax. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Ohio Secretary of State website, www.sos.state.oh.us/. The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov. Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, [email protected] and on the World Wide Web at www.fvap.gov. News Release # 15 November 2, 2007 VIRGINIA TO HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION ON DECEMBER 11, 2007 FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE 1ST DISTRICT On December 11, 2007 there will be a special election in Virginia's 1st U.S. Congressional District to fill the seat of Representative Jo Ann Davis. Voting Assistance Officers should inform Virginia 1st District voters and provide help as required in requesting and returning their absentee ballot. To determine if your legal residence is in the 1st Congressional District, click on "Communicating with Your Elected Officials", then "Who is my Representative?" at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website, www.fvap.gov. REGISTERING TO VOTE AND REQUESTING A BALLOT: If you have not done so already in calendar year 2007, all members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and their family members and citizens residing outside the U.S. who are Virginia residents from the 1st District should request a ballot for this special election by completing and submitting a registration and ballot request - Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, as soon as possible. The online version of the FPCA is available from the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html. Specific instructions for Virginia are available at: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/pdfvag/va.pdf. If you are already registered and only wish to request an absentee ballot, send a completed FPCA to the General Registrar so that it arrives not later than Tuesday, December 4, 2007 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. You may submit the FPCA for registration and for absentee ballot request by fax or as an email attachment. After faxing or emailing, submit the original FPCA by mail. Use the following toll-free fax numbers for the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-368-8683, (703) 693-5527 or DSN 223-5527 (military). At www.fvap.gov/services/faxing.html, there is a list of additional toll-free fax numbers from overseas countries. UNIFORMED SERVICES - To register permanently and request an absentee ballot, send a completed FPCA to the General Registrar so that it arrives not later than Tuesday, December 4, 2007 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. CIVILIANS OUTSIDE THE US - Residents of Virginia who reside temporarily outside the U.S. and maintain their Virginia place of abode may register permanently and request an absentee ballot by sending a completed FPCA to the General Registrar so that it arrives not later than Tuesday, December 4, 2007 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Residents of Virginia living outside the U.S. who no longer have a Virginia place of abode may be registered temporarily. To register temporarily and request an absentee ballot, send a completed FPCA to the General Registrar so that it arrives not later than Tuesday, December 4, 2007 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. RECEIVING YOUR BALLOT: Local Election Officials mail absentee ballots 30 days or as soon as available prior to the special election. UNIFORMED SERVICES - Virginia allows overseas military members to receive the blank ballot by email or fax upon request. CIVILIANS OUTSIDE U.S. - Some Virginia counties and cities allow you to receive the blank ballot by email or fax upon request. For a list of these counties, check the Virginia State Board of Elections website at http://www.sbe.virginia.gov To request that your ballot be sent to you by email or fax, indicate your preference on the FPCA. Write your email address or your fax number with all necessary prefixes and country codes and the range of time (e.g. 8am - 4pm Eastern Standard Time) that you would be able to receive the fax. After receiving your ballot by email you must print out the ballot and oath envelope. You must complete the faxed or emailed ballot and return the voted ballot and oath envelope by mail or a commercial delivery service. Refer to http://www.sbe.virginia.gov for more information. FEDERAL WRITE-IN-ABSENTEE BALLOT (FWAB): Virginia allows registered voters to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) for this special election simultaneously as an absentee ballot request and ballot for Federal offices as long as it arrives not later than Thursday, December 6, 2007. The oath on the return envelope or on the Voter Declaration/Affirmation on the FWAB must be witnessed, and the witness must provide his/her signature, printed name and address in the witness signature box. The FWAB is available online at: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefwab.html Virginia does not allow you to return the voted FWAB by fax or email. BALLOT RETURN DEADLINE: Voted ballots must arrive by the close of polls which is 7:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on December 11, 2007. Virginia does not allow you to return the voted ballot by fax or email. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Candidate names will be available on no later than November 19th at the Virginia State Board of Elections website at http://www.sbe.virginia.gov. The Virginia State Board of Elections can be contacted via email at [email protected]. The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov. 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 and via email at [email protected]. News Release # 14 November 2, 2007 Upcoming Features of the FVAP Website The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) will add a series of new features to the FVAP website, the first of which will launch in December of 2007. These new features help facilitate the absentee voting process for military and overseas citizens through the use of electronic solutions. On September 26, 2007, the FVAP awarded a Firm-Fixed price contract to Criterion Systems to develop a comprehensive, secure solution that will provide citizens covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act (UOCAVA) with the ability to electronically complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote and/or request a ballot. The first feature, available this December, is an automated version of FPCA which will be tailored to state-specific requirements and guide users through the process of completing and submitting the form. In addition, this new feature will allow voters to securely transmit the completed form to their local election office through a Department of Defense server. Next spring, in preparation for the 2008 General Election, the FVAP will be adding two additional features to the FVAP website. The first will allow the local official to provide a blank ballot to the voter through the secure Department of Defense server, and the second will allow citizens to digitally sign their FPCA. The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683 and by using the toll-free numbers from 67 countries listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov <http://www.fvap.gov> . 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, and at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . News Release # 13 October 19, 2007 MISSOURI TO ALLOW DESIGNATED ABSENTEE VOTERS TO RETURN THEIR VOTED BALLOT FOR THE FEBRUARY 5, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BY EMAIL OR FAX Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has declared that voters who are in Federal service and are eligible to receive hostile fire, imminent danger pay, or are in a location designated as a combat zone by the IRS (see http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108331,00.html), may return their voted ballots by fax or email. This declaration applies only for the February 5, 2008 Presidential Preference Primary election. Under Missouri election law, a person in Federal service includes: (a) Members of the armed forces of the United States, while in active service, and their spouses and dependents; ( Active members of the merchant marine of the United States and their spouses and dependents; © Civilian employees of the United States government working outside the boundaries of the United States, and their spouses and dependents; (d) Active members of religious or welfare organizations assisting servicemen, and their spouses and dependents; (e) Persons who have been honorably discharged from the armed forces or who have terminated their service or employment in any group mentioned in this section within sixty days of an election, and their spouses and dependents. Missouri does not allow UOCAVA citizens to receive their blank absentee ballot by fax or email. The absentee ballot must be mailed to the citizen. Absentee ballots for the Presidential Preference Primary will be available by December 24, 2007. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Missouri Secretary of State website, http://www.sos.mo.gov/. The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683 and by using the toll-free numbers from 67 countries listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov/ <http://www.fvap.gov/services/tollfree.html> . 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, and at [email protected]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 What if you are a US citizen and do not want to affiliate with a specific state (for tax reasons )... Where do you send it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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